Chasing Horse Ghosts - telling Greyhound's story pt. 10 - Harness Racing Museum #3

Checking out some of the Greyhound stuff that is not out for the public to see!

The Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in Goshen, NY has an amazing collection of Greyhound memorabilia!

August 15, 2023
My last day at the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame. What an experience this has been! I spent 8 days total in my research here, between 5 and 7 hours each day. Everyone was quite welcoming and glad to help. It's really great to have such a nice place full of so many treasures. I find myself a little jealous of the work they do. Imagine! Getting paid to spend time with all of that history and those amazing items from the colorful past of the sport of harness racing. I am glad to have paid an annual membership for the past three years to support the museum and gain access to the research library. 

Today was extra special as Rebecca let me see and touch some of the Greyhound artifacts! As I've said before, one of the things most important for me as a writer is to be in places my subject has been -- this extends to handling items that were part of his life. It's hard to explain to someone who hasn't experienced it, but the connection is somehow broader and deeper--when a piece of them touches a part of you.
       Among the treasures I saw today were three of Greyhound’s blankets, a full set of shoes, and a single shoe. I was allowed to handle the objects and photograph them. So amazing to be this close to items worn by the champ. There were a few white hairs stuck to the lettering on the blankets (anyone that has handled horse blankets/coolers knows it’s impossible to get all the hair off no matter how hard you try). These little hairs were a treasure in and of themselves. Call me weird if you like but I touched each one, knowing it was as close as I’d ever be to touching the horse himself. 

Greyhound's Sulky

The rest of the day was spent going through Greyhound’s guest book and Leone Putnam’s handwritten notes for her manuscript “Dooley and the Grey Ghost.” No real surprises in the guest book, aside from the sheer magnitude of signatures. I did see a couple sweet drawings made by little girls and a comment or two about what a wonderful horse Greyhound was to visit.
       In the same glass case holding the guestbook, there is the bridle Greyhound wore in retirement, the saddle he wore in his 1940 under saddle record, and Sep Palin's colors. The green of his jacket had turned purple over time--something that happens with green dye for some reason I'm sure a chemist could explain. But the buttons are still green. 
       

Palin's colors and one of Greyhound's trophies.

The rest of the day I spent with Leone's notes--what a beautiful treasure—small snippets of the life she and Dooley shared with Greyhound. There were a few surprises here that I hope to incorporate into the book. There were also several notes I’d love to be able to talk to her about, a few words written to jog her memory that appear as incomplete thoughts to me. Still, so amazing to look through these and I’m so very grateful for all the effort she put into her manuscript and that she saved everything. These notes are an invaluable resource. Thank you, Leone.

       So concluded my time at the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame. It was a lot of fun to spend time here and go through all of these treasures. I'm grateful to Janet, Rebecca, Paul, and Dillon for all their help. The harness racing sport is lucky to have them and this facility that celebrates the horses, the people, the tracks, and the history that makes our sport so great! 

Next post: A last look around Goshen and Historic Track before I move on  to my next destination!

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"Greyhound" is officially released on September 30, 2025. But you can get signed copies earlier -- find out more by clicking the image below! (US only)