Ken Weingartner

Hightstown, NJ — Bob Krivelin has faced challenging times before with his restaurant-supply business, but nothing quite like the situation he confronts now as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic. But Krivelin is hoping he can overcome these difficult days while also helping the harness racing community do the same.

As first reported by Bob “Hollywood” Heyden in Harness Racing Update, Krivelin is offering to distribute unused inventory at cost to horsemen and horsewomen. Krivelin’s inventory includes a wide variety of goods, from food to paper products and cleaning supplies.

In one of his first endeavors, Krivelin is partnering with the GSY Amateur Club to send a truckload of food and supplies to horsemen at Monticello Raceway, hopefully next week.

Bob Krivelin has 223 career wins in the sulky. USHWA photo.

“I’m operational, I’ve got people, I can deliver all over,” said Krivelin, a 68-year-old New Yorker who has enjoyed success in harness racing as an owner, trainer, and driver. “The difficulty is somewhat in distributing, but people can give out food safely with masks and gloves. It can be done.

“I’d like to help out in other areas, like Delaware or Pennsylvania, or wherever they need it. If someone reaches out, I’ll try to help.”

Krivelin added it was possible for supplies to be picked up at his company’s warehouse in Jersey City, N.J.

“If people call ahead and make arrangements and tell us what they want, they can come and buy stuff very cheaply,” Krivelin said. “That’s out there as well. If horsemen want to send a truck and a trailer they can load up and feed people.

“The majority of what I have is food, but I have paper products, latex gloves, toilet paper, cleaning products; I have everything. Frozen foods, tuna fish, flour, cheese, butter, eggs. A lot of stuff that people could use. But it has to be a coordinated effort.”

Krivelin’s company, which supplies a number of restaurants in New York City, has seen a substantial downturn in business as many clients have closed their doors as a result of the pandemic.

“As a businessperson, I’m always thinking worst-case scenarios,” Krivelin said. “You try to prepare for things, but how could you prepare for this. It’s an incredible moment, to say the least.

“We’ve been through a lot, like (Hurricane) Sandy. When 9/11 happened, we were located in Manhattan a mile from the World Trade Center. We made it through that. We sent food to the Port Authority area to feed people, and we always give food to City Harvest (food rescue) and places like that.

“We’re always doing the charitable thing when we can, but it’s now more difficult to do than before because my own people are hurting. I’m struggling myself financially to keep my operation going. I can’t give all of (the inventory) away because I’m trying to support the people who are still working for me. But I will give part of it in charity. Hopefully I can help other people at the same time. That would be nice.”

For more information, or to arrange a pick-up or distribution of supplies, call Krivelin at 917.583.7466.