National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

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Former Museum president John von Stade passes away at age 83

John T. von Stade, whose 17-year tenure as president of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame from 1989 through 2005 is the longest in the institution’s history, died Nov. 25 at his home in Lutherville, Md., after a lengthy illness. He was 83.

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The Bongard Room

Conference Room (In honor of Bertram F. Bongard and New York Thoroughbred Breeders)

The Bongard Room serves as a small meeting and conference area and is approximately 275 square feet. A selection of paintings and racing trophies from the Collection is on display in this room. Pricing for four hours is $500 and the gallery can accommodate approximately 8-10 guests. The Bongard Room is located on the second floor of the Museum and is available between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

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Hall of Fame Gallery

Our Hall of Fame Gallery has a large theater space that is perfect for dinners, seminars, fundraisers, class reunions, and more. The signature film, What It Takes: Journey to the Hall of Fame, is a 16-minute sensory experience that brings viewers on an amazing journey through the various aspects of thoroughbred racing and examines the rare honor of reaching the game’s pinnacle and earning a coveted spot in the Hall of Fame. Pricing for three hours is $3,000.00 and the gallery can accommodate approximately 150 people.

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American Pharoah, Todd Pletcher, and Jack Fisher elected to the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (KY), seven-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher, and 13-time champion steeplechase trainer Jack Fisher comprise the National Museum of Racing’s 2021 Hall of Fame class. American Pharoah and Pletcher were elected in the contemporary category in their first year of eligibility and Fisher was chosen by the Museum’s Steeplechase Review Committee, which meets once every four years.

The class of 2021 will be enshrined along with the 2020 inductees — trainer Mark Casse, jockey Darrel McHargue, horses Tom Bowling and Wise Dan, and Pillars of the Turf Alice Headley Chandler, J. Keene Daingerfield, Jr., and George D. Widener, Jr. — on Friday, Aug. 6, at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion in Saratoga Springs at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony will be broadcast live on the Museum website at www.racingmuseum.org. An announcement regarding public attendance at the ceremony will be made at a later date.

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National Museum of Racing announces 2021 Hall of Fame finalists

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Six racehorses, three trainers, and one jockey account for the 10 finalists that will comprise the National Museum of Racing’s 2021 Hall of Fame ballot, as chosen by the Museum’s Hall of Fame Nominating Committee. The finalists are racehorses American Pharoah (first year of eligibility), Blind Luck, Game On Dude, Havre de Grace, Kona Gold, and Rags to Riches; trainers Christophe Clement, Doug O’Neill, and Todd Pletcher (first year of eligibility); and jockey Corey Nakatani.

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Pierre "Peb" Bellocq and William Leggett selected to the Joe Hirsch Media Roll of Honor

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Renowned Eclipse Award-winning cartoonist Pierre “Peb” Bellocq and the late Eclipse Award-winning writer William Leggett have been selected to the National Museum of Racing’s Joe Hirsch Media Roll of Honor.