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New England Turf Award Goes to Irving Gushen Honored for His Contribution Towards Racing in That Area SUFFOLK DOWNS, East Boston, Mass., June 20. — At the annual dinner of the New England Turf Writers Association, to be held in the Paddock Club at Suffolk Downs this evening, Irving Gushen, popular New Englander, is to be honored as the person who has contributed the most toward New England racing this year. Gerry Sullivan, president of the scribes organization, is to make the presentation of a plaque. Jockey Anthony DeSpirito was the guest of honor at the 1952 dinner. Gushen, who hails from Swampscott, Mass., first became interested in the sport when his doctor recommended that he find some hobby that would relieve his mind of business problems. That was approximately 13 years ago and in intervening years he has run the gamut as an owner and breeder until today he owns almost 40 horses, including a stallion, broodmares, weanlings, sucklings, yearlings and race horses. In addition to owning and breeding, Gushen has been active in racings problems and has belonged to the Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association, as vice-president of its New England division, as the HBPA national liaison man with the Thoroughbred Racing Associations, and as its representative on the board of directors of The Jockey Club Foundation home, now beingxset up to take care of indigent horsemen. A leather manufacturer with his place of business, the Troy Tanning Company, now located in Salem, Mass., Gushen came up the hard way as a businessman, started selling leather at the age of 14 and at 19 he was in business for himself. As an owner and breeder of race horses, Gushen has had his share of success. Best horse that ever raced in his silks was Aandys Glory, winner of the Raceland and Granite State Handicaps at Rockingham Park, and some 0,000 in purse money before he broke down. Gushen, by the way, recently reacquired Andys Glory and has sent him to Kentucky to stand at stud at Doug Davis High Hope Farm. The award to Gushen was a popular one among New England horsemen and will be acclaimed by racing enthusiasts elsewhere.
