The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame has named D.G. Van Clief as chair of the Hall of Fame's Contemporary Nominating Committee and Josh Pons as chair of the Pillars of the Turf Committee. The appointments were announced June 23 by Charlotte C. Weber, the board chair of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
"D.G. and Josh are two of the most respected people in racing and I have great confidence they will serve the museum at a high level in leading these important committees," Weber said. "The Hall of Fame is essential to the museum's mission, and we are grateful to both D.G. and Josh for sharing their time and expertise in this capacity. We're in good hands because of their passion for the Hall of Fame and their track record in the sport."
With the new Hall of Fame committee chairs in place, museum leadership is beginning an evaluation of the overall Hall of Fame nomination and election process, including a review of the contemporary Hall of Fame voting panel.
The current Hall of Fame nominating and election procedures can be viewed on the museum website.
Van Clief, who previously served as chair of the Pillars of the Turf Committee, succeeds the late Edward L. Bowen as chair of the nominating committee. Bowen chaired the nominating committee from 1987-2024 before his death in January.
"I am honored to assume duties as Hall of Fame Nominating Committee chair and look forward to working closely with fellow committee members, National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame chair Charlotte Weber, our trustees, and the management team to ensure the results of our process embodies complete integrity, stands the test of time, and reflects well on our historic sport," Van Clief said. "Former committee chair Ed Bowen was the consummate racing historian and is greatly missed, but I am fortunate to be joining a committee which possesses such a high degree of knowledge and expertise. I am confident this will be an enjoyable challenge."
Van Clief has been a decorated leader in racing for decades, serving the sport in a variety of capacities. He is a member of the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority board of directors and an advisory trustee of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. A University of Virginia graduate, Van Clief was commissioned as a U.S. Navy officer and served with the U.S. Marine Corps as a member of the 2nd Marine Division. His leadership in racing has included stints as president and CEO of Breeders' Cup; CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association; chairman of Fasig-Tipton Co.; and CEO of Nydrie Stud (his family's Thoroughbred breeding and sales business).
Other racing industry roles for Van Clief have included serving as commissioner for the Virginia Racing Commission, including as chair; member and board of stewards for The Jockey Club; managing trustee for The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation; and BloodHorse Publications trustee and audit committee chair.
Van Clief has been recognized with the Eclipse Award of Merit, The Jockey Club Medal, TOBA National Service Award, and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Media's Ambassador of Racing Award.
Pons is a third-generation Maryland horseman who owns and operates Country Life Farm and Merryland Farm with his brother, Mike Pons. A graduate of the University of Virginia and the University of Kentucky School of Law, Pons has served on the Pillars of the Turf Committee for the past two years and is a Museum advisory trustee.
"The process of selecting inductees annually through the Pillars of the Turf category begins with the Hall of Fame mission statement: 'to honor the sport's most accomplished participants,'" Pons said. "The roster of worthy participants is rich and lengthy. I anticipate that my role will be to provide context to the nominees' history. Then it's a juried committee selection. I look forward to the process and working with the committee."
A two-time Eclipse Award-winning writer (1982, 1992), Pons is the author of three books about the Thoroughbred industry: Country Life Diary, Three Years in the Life of a Thoroughbred Horse Farm (1992); Merryland Diary, Two Years in the Life of a Racing Stable (2007); and Letters from Country Life: Adolphe Pons, Man o' War, and the Founding of Maryland's Oldest Thoroughbred Farm (2024). In addition, he is a monthly contributor to BloodHorse magazine. His service to the industry includes two terms as president of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association. Pons is currently the head of the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center, and a board member of the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
