The Florida United States Harness Writers' Association (FL-USHWA) has announced the selection of Fred Segal, Broward County Farm Bureau President, for induction into its prestigious Harness Racing Hall of Fame. The ceremony will take place January 29, 2006 at the Annual Awards Dinner to be held at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott North Hotel in Pompano Beach. Other honorees are Dick Wilson, former general manager of Pompano Park Harness Track; Mickey McNichol, a leading driver and trainer; and in the equine division, Saxaphone Sally, a pacing brood mare.
Segal's involvement with harness race horses dates back to his childhood when his grandfather was a horse owner and investor in several racetracks. Fred became an owner of standardbred race horses himself starting in 1983. One of his more notable horses was Bolero's Son, who campaigned at Pompano as well as Freestate in Maryland. And he co-owned Coast Express, a Florida Aged Trotter of the Year. He and a partner built, owned and operated the equine jacuzzi at Pompano Park Harness Track in the 1980s. During this time, Fred also earned a Florida Trainer's License working with his own horses.
As an owner of harness race horses, he was elected to the Board of Directors of the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association (FSBOA). There, he served a term as Treasurer and 10 terms as President of the FSBOA. During his tenure he restructured the awards program and developed a point system to maximize awards without putting the organization in the red. He also negotiated horsemen's contracts with Pompano Park Harness Track management and worked to protect the horsemen with insurance benefits and in legislative matters including simulcasting. He is still a Board member.
Fred published a weekly newspaper about harness racing at Pompano Park Harness Track for more than 20 years. It began with several partners as The Pompano Park Post in 1979, and then after Fred became sole owner he renamed it the Florida Racing Review in 1982.
He became a member of the Florida Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association (FL-USHWA) in 1979 and has served actively in various offices ever since. He was one of a handful of members who established the Florida Harness Racing Hall of Fame and before that the FL-USHWA annual awards dinners, working tirelessly behind the scenes. He also served as a director and president of the North American Harness Publicists Association.
Currently, Fred is president of Broward County Farm Bureau and serves as a member of the Florida Farm Bureau State Equine Advisory Committee. He was appointed by the state Commissioner of Agriculture to be the standardbred representative for the establishment of the Florida Horse and Ag Park and served as Secretary/Treasurer on that Board for six years.
As the long-time President of the Broward County 4-H Foundation, Fred has worked to broaden the scope of equine activity and agriculture through involvement of the area's teenagers. He facilitated the generous donation of a standardbred mare for the 4-H kids to care for and breed. He also has worked tirelessly on fund-raising efforts to raise money for 4-H members to continue this and other agriculture-related projects. This year he was inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame.
Most recently, he was instrumental in coordinating bringing much-needed food to the grooms at Pompano Park Harness Track following the devastation of Hurricane Wilma. Through his efforts, 540 meals were provided and placed under the care of Linda Kakaley at the racetrack. He also donated 240 bottles of water to the grooms through Broward Farm Bureau.
Fred's lifelong and continuing contributions to the Florida harness racing industry on every level make him a worthy inductee for the Florida Harness Racing Hall of Fame.
Copyright © 2010 Broward Farm Bureau, All Rights Reserved.
This page and its contents may not be reproduced without the written consent of
the Broward Farm Bureau. HTML and background by Rachel Hajducko.