Bruce Saunders to be keynote speaker at USTA Standardbred Driving School
March 8, 2012,from the USTA Communications Department
Columbus, OH — Bruce Saunders, trainer of 2010 Horse of the Year Rock N Roll Heaven, will be the keynote speaker when the 2012 class of the USTA Standardbred Driving School gathers at the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in Goshen, N.Y., on Wednesday, May 30.
“Bruce is a class-act who always seems to say the right thing at the right time to further the image of the sport,” said driving school head Chip Hastings of the USTA. “We are very happy that he has agreed to come to speak and share his experience and knowledge with our students.”
USTA/Mark Hall photo
Rock N Roll Heaven captured Horse of the Year honors in 2010.
A licensed trainer since 1979, his best horse to date is millionaire Rock N Roll Heaven. Saunders had “the time of his life” campaigning that colt to Horse of the Year honors in 2010. He also received numerous personal accolades that year, including the Grand Circuit Trainer of the Year Award and the W.R. Haughton Good Guy Award from the United States Harness Writers Association.
Saunders also trained two different Delaware Valley Horses of the Year — Perky Fiddler and Chipper Frost — early in his career. Some of the other top pacers that he has handled include Misfit, Casimir Camotion, Mandretti, Indiana Sam, Master Barney, Die Lute, Armbro View and On The Way Again.
In 2012, Saunders will campaign Hitting The Cycle, from the first crop of 2008 Horse of the Year Somebeachsomewhere and out of Artistic Vision, dam of Rock N Roll Heaven. This past fall at the Lexington Selected Sale, Hitting The Cycle drew a winning bid of $450,000, surpassing the previous record of $430,000 for a pacing colt set in 1983 by Mustang Almahurst. Saunders signed the ticket on behalf of owner Frank Bellino, who also campaigned Rock N Roll Heaven.
For the first time in 2012, the USTA Standardbred Driving School will be conducted in the Goshen, N.Y., area from May 30–June 3. Classroom instruction will be held at the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame with all stable work taking place at the Mark Ford Training Center and Goshen-Historic Track.
If you are interested in owning, training or driving Standardbreds or are simply a fan of harness racing, we urge you not to miss this once in a lifetime experience. Sign up now while there is still space available!
Full details and registration information is available at the following link.
- USTA offers Standardbred driving school at new venue (Friday, January 27, 2012)
The 14th annual edition of the USTA Standardbred Driving School will be held in the Goshen, N.Y., area from May 30-June 3.
- Trainers and stables announced for USTA Driving School (Thursday, March 01, 2012)
A number of notable trainers and stables in the Goshen, N.Y., area have volunteered to assist in the “hands-on” education that will be part of the 2012 USTA Standardbred Driving School, including Mark Ford, whose training center will be host to some of the school’s events.
- Driving School discount for ‘new’ USTA members (Thursday, March 15, 2012)
As a benefit for any person who joined the USTA as a “new” member between March 1, 2011 through February 29, 2012, the USTA is offering $50 off the enrollment fee for the upcoming Standardbred Driving School.
- Prominent owner to participate in USTA Driving School (Thursday, March 29, 2012)
Thomas Pontone has seen the view from atop the sport, having been among the owners of 2009 Horse of the Year Muscle Hill. In two months, he will see it from the rear.