by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Manalapan, NJ — The Harness Racing Youth League capped a week of activities at Gaitway Farm with three exhibition races at the facility on Friday, July 16.

Winning races, with help from professional counterparts in double-seated jog carts, were Mary McDermott (assisted by Jim Marshall III), Cara DiGiuseppe (John Duer) and Gina Fagliarone (Tony Alagna). A total of 10 girls participated in the program, which is run by the Harness Horse Youth Foundation.

A total of 10 girls participated in the Gaitway program. They are, kneeling: Hayley Miller, Caroline Fanning and Mary McDermott. Second row: Molly Goldberg, Cara DiGiuseppe and Julia Previte. Back row: Alissa Fortney, Rylea Aiken, Vanessa Heindel and Gina Fagliarone.

HRYL camps are designed for young people ages 12 to 14 who want to learn more about harness racing. No previous experience with horses is necessary. During the five-day program, participants are immersed in the daily care of seven horses, learning about their equipment and the regular routine of barn chores.

In addition, the participants are introduced to career opportunities, equine conformation, driving techniques and strategies and many other facets of the horse industry.

“It was a lot of fun,” said Fagliarone, who is the daughter of Freehold Raceway Race Secretary Karen Fagliarone. “Everyone was happy and doing stuff they love.”

Fagliarone won the day’s final exhibition race, driving CD’s Miss M to victory over three rivals.

“It felt good,” Fagliarone said. “It was a big accomplishment. I wasn’t expecting it. I think (my family) is really excited. They’re the kind of people that get excited over ‘A’s on a report card, so this is going to be a big deal for them because they’re proud.”

Which feels better, the ‘A’s or winning a race?

“Definitely the race,” Fagliarone said, smiling.

Fagliarone, who lives in Freehold, spends time at Gaitway, helping at the barn of Donna and Jim Marshall III.

“I want to get where I can own my own Standardbreds and be a driver/trainer,” she said.

USTA/Ken Weingartner photos

Mary McDermott and Jim Marshall III combined to win their HRYL race.

McDermott, too, has ties to the sport. Her father, Kevin, is a longtime trainer in the game. His top horse at the moment is older pacer Hypnotic Blue Chip.

The younger McDermott picked up her win Friday with Justaway, romping to a decisive triumph.

“She was on the gate and wanted to go,” McDermott said. “It feels good. This has been fun. I didn’t really know how to harness up a horse until now, except for watching my mom and dad. I want to be a trainer.”

DiGiuseppe has ridden hunter-jumper ponies since the age of 4, but knew little about harness racing, other than what she learned from neighbors like trainer Chris Ryder and his wife, Nicola.

“I want to stay with the (harness) racing and become a driver/trainer,” DiGiuseppe said. “You get to jump when you ride, but with this you get to go really fast.”

DiGiuseppe won with Royal Attire, who surprised the driver with his burst of energy.

“When he’s training, just jogging, he’s kind of slow,” DiGiuseppe said. “I never knew he could go that fast. It’s kind of cool.”

Other participants in the HRYL at Gaitway were Rylea Aiken, Caroline Fanning, Alissa Fortney, Molly Goldberg, Vanessa Heindel, Hayley Miller, and Julia Previte.

The HRYL moves to Goshen Historic Track in upstate New York for a program July 18-22, followed by trips to Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in northeastern Pennsylvania on July 27-31 and the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, N.J., on August 6-7.

To learn more about the HRYL and the Harness Horse Youth Foundation, visit the organization’s website at www.hhyf.org.