Joseph A. Faraldo
A 20-plus-year member of the Board of the USTA. President and chief executive officer of the Standardbred Owner’s Association of New York since 1980. Started in harness racing in 1966 as an owner. Long an advocate of horsemen’s rights in the courts. Twice honored as SOA “Man of the Year.” He helped the passage of slot legislation in New York which created a renaissance in New York racing. Founder and director of the North American Amateur Driver’s Association. National Amateur Driver in 1997, he was the U.S. representative to the World Amateur Driver’s Championships in 1998. He is a two-time Billings amateur driving champ. He successfully conducted the World Cup for Amateurs once again in the USA in 2008, with the cooperation of track managements at Balmoral, Maywood, Freehold, Yonkers, Monticello and The Meadowlands. In 1994, he was selected as HHI’s “Man of the Year,” and in 2001 received that organization’s Appreciation Award. In 2003, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the Monticello-Goshen Chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers Association. Was recently a nominee for USHWA’s Proximity Award and received that organization’s 2007 President’s Award. Served as USTA chairman of the board from 2003-2007.