Harness racing exec Stanley Bergstein dies at 87

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Stanley Bergstein, a member of the harness racing Hall of Fame and longtime executive vice president of Harness Tracks of America, died Wednesday. He was 87.

He died of heart failure at his home in Tucson surrounded by his family, according to U.S. Trotting Association spokesman Ken Weingartner.

``His contributions to harness racing are innumerable and will never be duplicated,'' said association President Phil Langley.

Besides his role as an industry executive, Bergstein also served as a television analyst, columnist, historian, auctioneer, race announcer and racing secretary. He is the only person inducted twice into the Hall of Fame in Goshen, N.Y., as a member of both the Living Hall of Fame and the Communicator's Corner.

In 1962, Bergstein called the first of 17 consecutive Hambletonian races.

Born in Pottstown, Pa., Bergstein was first involved with harness racing at local county fairs. He attended Northwestern University and served briefly as a publicist for the Harlem Globetrotters. He was part of the D-Day invasion at Normandy during World War II.

He is survived by son Al Bergstein, daughter Lisa Bergstein Tremback, and four grandsons. His wife, June, died last year, shortly after the couple's 60th wedding anniversary.