Driving School picture perfect for father and daughter

by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Goshen, NY — When Jeff Cypher was a teenager, he worked for a period of time as a harness racing groom and often took photographs of Grand Circuit horses whenever they raced in the Detroit area. One day in 1958, though, Cypher got to be in the photo with one of those horses – the great female pacer Belle Acton – thanks to trainer-driver Billy Haughton offering to take a turn behind the lens.

Belle Acton, who would be named the sport’s best older pacer that season and runner-up to Emily’s Pride for Horse of the Year, was visiting Wolverine Raceway for the Trans-America Series. She won in 2:00.

“I was making extra money doing photography,” said Cypher, who lives in Trenton, Michigan. “I was walking around at Wolverine Raceway and asked (Haughton) if I could shoot a couple pictures of the horse. We kind of bonded during that part. Then he said, ‘Here, I’ll shoot your picture.’ So we shot a couple pictures of me. I was recently going through a box of pictures and found it. I pulled it out and had it enlarged.”

USTA/Ken Weingartner photo

Jeff Cypher jogs with David Offenberg.

The 73-year-old Cypher is among the 24 participants in the U.S. Trotting Association’s 17th annual Driving School. The school is conducted at the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in Goshen and the Mark Ford Training Center near Middletown.

On Friday, the third day of the four-day program, participants spent the morning working with trainers at Ford’s complex and the afternoon gaining insight into veterinary care from Dr. Rod Stewart. They also made trips to two nearby breeding farms, Cameo Hills and Blue Chip.

Cypher received the trip to Driving School as a Christmas gift from his daughter, Becky, who also is participating in the program. Jeff read about the school when he attended last year’s Little Brown Jug. The Cyphers have spent the mornings working in Ford’s stable, receiving instruction from caretaker Christy Turner.

“It’s been interesting,” Jeff Cypher said. “I was a groom in 1957, 1958, but I forgot a lot of stuff that I knew then. And there have been a lot of changes that have come down since then. Christy at the barn is great. I really appreciate her patience and she’s a good teacher.”

Although Jeff was a longtime fan of racing, he never had the chance to sit behind a horse until the Driving School. Becky has two decades experience riding and participating in hunter/jumper competitions, but also got behind a horse for the first time this week.

“It’s really exciting,” said Becky, who lives in the state of Washington, where she is a nurse practitioner specializing in high-risk pregnancies. “I really didn’t know anything about harness racing when I came here. It’s totally different and the equipment is different and sitting behind a horse versus sitting on top is a totally different feel.

USTA/Ken Weingartner photo

Jeff Cypher and Rebecca Cypher (r) get Hawker ready to jog with Christy Turner of Mark Ford Stable.

“And it’s not an easy sport; you think you just sit there. There’s a plan. It’s kind of like jumping, except I’m out there by myself (jumping) versus seven or eight other horses with you (racing).”

By attending the Driving School, Jeff is able to check off an item on his bucket list. He has no aspirations to train or drive horses in the future, but being able to learn more about harness racing and participate in a hands-on way has been gratifying.

“I probably won’t do anything with the information I learned here except enjoy it,” Jeff said, adding with a grin. “Probably spend more time at the track, which might not make my wife happy.

“It’s been a good trip.”

He also has another trip planned, again involving Becky.

“Last year I went to the Little Brown Jug,” he said. “This year, I’ll bring my daughter back.”

Related Articles:

  • The best Christmas present ever (Monday, May 18, 2015)
    When it comes to Christmas gifts, it’s tough to beat a trip to the U.S. Trotting Association’s Driving School. At least it is in the eyes of Gail Farrell.

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