by Jennifer Starr, for The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — The 2018 Harness Horse Youth camp had an exciting finale to their week-long stay at the Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono with three thrilling exhibition races on the world-famous five-eighths mile oval on Saturday (July 21). Accompanied by the track’s drivers, the children donned colors and thrilled the crowd made up of family and friends.

Curtis Salonick photo

The HHYF campers were celebrated with a special winner’s circle ceremony at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

The first exhibition was won by Logan Keller of Kingston, Pa., who drove Pokie’s Topshot accompanied by driver Joe Poliseno. His brother, Jatym, won the second race with Royal Attire and was assisted by driver Matt Romano. The third exhibition race was a tightly contested affair between Pokie’s Topshot and Alivia Smith (with Matt Romano) and CD’s Miss M, driven by Lucas Rideout and assisted by Joe Poliseno, coming right down to a nose win by Pokie’s Topshot.

All campers were joined in the Hanover Shoe Farms Winner’s Circle by Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association (PHHA) Executive Director Mike Harant and Horsemen’s Representative Pete Antosh, along with Marketing Manager Jennifer Starr, for a special trophy and medal presentation. A few tears were shed as the children said goodbye to their fellow campers and Ellen Taylor, camp director, and her counselors, Katie Eick, Morgan Kiehl, and John Reames.

The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono and the PHHA are looking forward to next year’s camp, and extend a special thanks to all volunteer horsemen who made this year’s camp such a huge success.

The Harness Horse Youth Foundation is a charitable 501(c)3 organization dedicated to providing young people and their families educational opportunities with harness horses, in order to foster the next generation of participants and fans. The Foundation was established in 1976 and its programs include interactive learning experiences with these versatile animals, scholarship programs and educational materials. For more information on opportunities through HHYF and its mission, go to www.hhyf.org.