by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — Night after night, Barry Addison was at Yonkers Raceway, hanging on the fence and watching the action. A resident of nearby Mount Vernon, N.Y., he had been going to the races for as long as he could remember, introduced to the sport by his grandfather, also named Barry.

Night after night, driver Jason Bartlett saw Addison at the fence, and he would say hi to him on trips to the winner’s circle. Incidentally, Bartlett learned a good deal about harness racing from his own grandfather, Dick Bartlett, while growing up in Maine.

One night, Bartlett invited Addison to the other side of the fence. The two became friends. Addison’s dreams of becoming more than just a fan are becoming a reality.

Barry Addison has been mentored by Jason Bartlett.

“Jason kind of brought me under his wing and has been a really good mentor to me,” Addison said while attending the U.S. Trotting Association Driving School last week in Goshen, N.Y., which happens to be where Bartlett now lives. “Every chance he gets, he gives me good tips and pointers. He lets me follow him around to different tracks. He’s been great to me and it fuels my passion and love for the sport.”

Addison’s willingness to work hard has impressed Bartlett.

“He’s eager to learn, and anybody that’s eager to learn, and will go the extra mile to get himself better, is a person you want in the barn,” Bartlett said.

Addison, who is pursuing an American Studies degree at SUNY College at Old Westbury and also works as a floating bank teller, is no stranger to sports. He was a star defensive back at Mount Vernon High School and played football at Nassau Community College before turning his attention to the horses.

When he has free time, Addison spends it with Bartlett, furthering his education around the barn and on the track.

“He’ll stay at my house and go to the races with me here and there,” said Bartlett, who has won nearly 4,400 races in his career and is a three-time driving champion at Yonkers. “If I take a long trip, he’ll take a ride with me. It’s good. It’s nice to get somebody new in the business that shows real interest in the business. He wants to get into it bad.”

USTA/Mark Hall photos

Barry Addison had the chance to drive a horse at the USTA’s driving school.

The USTA’s driving school provided another avenue of learning for Addison. He spent mornings working in the stables at the Mark Ford Training Center and afternoons in classroom sessions dealing with horse care and conditioning, driving and racing strategy, and veterinary care.

“Jason showed me pointers I got to use through the whole school,” Addison said. “I just wish (the school) was longer. I wish it could’ve been a whole week. But it’s great.

“I would love to work with horses. It’s been a passion since I was a kid. I’m an inner city kid, so you don’t see (horses) unless you go to Yonkers. I’ve most enjoyed just being around the horses, getting to clean them, learn about nutrition, stuff like that. You have great trainers here helping you out and I learned a lot. It was everything I could imagine.”

Of course, the highlight was getting to drive horses in the morning. Addison donned a helmet, a gift from a friend, painted similar to Bartlett’s colors — black, white and red — in tribute to his mentor.

“I knew you couldn’t really see because they have a big backside,” Addison said about driving. “Jason told me not to look back; you can hear stuff (behind). Keep your head straight. Have a firm grip, but not a real tight grip; be comfortable, not all tense.

“Pay attention and focus and don’t be scared. If you’re scared, you shouldn’t be behind a horse because they can sense that.

“I love driving. It’s a thrill.”

Addison, it seems, is not on the fence when it comes to his future in racing.

“He doesn’t want this to be the end of it,” Bartlett said about the school. “He wants to keep going with it. That’s good. He cares about the horses and everything he does.”