by Ken Weingartner, Media relations, Harness Racing Communications

Goshen, NY — Last September, Dan Telle watched his father Ed’s horse, Big Bad John, win the Little Brown Jug at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in central Ohio.

Someday in the future, Telle would like to win a race at the famed track himself – as a driver.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Dan Telle.

Telle, a sophomore majoring in business administration at Ohio State, is among the 67 participants at this year’s U.S. Trotting Association Driving School. The annual four-day program, which runs through Sunday, is being held at Goshen Historic Track and the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame for the first time after 13 years at the Delaware County Fairgrounds – the home of the Little Brown Jug.

In fact, last year’s driving school students got to see Big Bad John, who was trained by Ron Potter and stabled at the central Ohio fairgrounds, during his morning workouts.

Telle, who lives near the fairgrounds, joked he could have ridden his bike to the driving school if it was still held in Ohio. But having to travel to New York was fine with him.

“I’m really interested in getting my fair license,” Telle said. “They’ve got the test here, so why not come and learn more about horses and take the test. I’d never been to Goshen, so why not take a little road trip? Start summer off right. I just thought it would be fun.”

Participants at driving school receive hands-on experiences at local stables as well as classroom sessions with trainers, drivers and veterinarians. Trainers opening their stables to the students include Ray Schnittker at Goshen Historic Track plus Mark Ford, Scott Blackler, Tyler and Amber Buter, Jean Drolet, Rob and Patty Harmon, and Brandon Simpson at the Mark Ford Training Center.

Saturday’s classes included sessions on veterinary care and conformation/diagnosing lameness by Dr. Brian Lauzon.

The driving school continues through Sunday, when participants can take the written portions of the trainer’s and driver’s exams. There also will be a special race at Historic Track for several of the students in conjunction with a matinee card that starts at 1 p.m. and is open to the public.

“I wanted to come here and spread awareness about harness racing,” Telle said. “You don’t really have a lot of advocates for harness racing. It’s time to make a big change with that. I enjoy helping the less experienced people, to show them the ropes. These grooms here have been great, really wonderful. (The students) have been learning a lot.”

Telle still enjoys Big Bad John’s win in the Jug on a daily basis. He wakes up every morning to an alarm that features track announcer Roger Huston’s call of the final eighth of a mile of the race. Big Bad John was the first horse in history stabled year-round at the Delaware County Fairgrounds to win the Little Brown Jug.

“People are always like, ‘You’re trying to relive it.’ But if you were there, you’d be doing the same exact thing,” Telle said. “I was in tears walking to the winner’s circle because it meant so much to my dad, and to me. You don’t ever expect to get there. You’re one of 66 horses to win it; we got put in a nice class.”

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USTA/Mark Hall photo

Adrien Synnott.

Adrien Synnott has owned horses in partnerships since the late 1980s, but it wasn’t until this week that she drove a horse for the first time.

“They were too far away and I work a lot,” Synnott said, adding with a laugh, “to support them.”

Synnott lives in New Jersey and teaches music at Monmouth University in addition to performing on weekends playing the bass. Although she never drove a horse prior to attending the driving school, she has ridden Western.

“I’ve been a horse nut since the age of 3 and into harness racing since the age of 8,” Synnott said. “Eventually when I retire I’d like to be able to buy a small farm and take in turnouts and rescue horses. Hopefully that’s not too far in the future.”

She wanted to attend the driving school to learn more about horse care and would like to become a trainer.

“I don’t mind the stable work,” Synnott said while cleaning a stall, “but I really enjoy being behind the horse. It was great. It was just such a cool feeling, being in motion behind a horse, feeling the breeze in my face. I enjoyed communicating with the horse through the lines, and talking to him.

“It’s a totally different experience than riding. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. This is the time to do it.”

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USTA/Mark Hall photo

Samantha Chamberlain.

Samantha Chamberlain began riding horses when she was 7 and has shown and driven Morgans, but she fell in love with Standardbreds while working at a veterinary clinic that also had a breeding farm.

“We foaled out a ton of Standardbred mares and I just truly fell in love with the breed,” Chamberlain said. “Through that job I was given a (Standardbred) gelding. I’ve been riding him. I thought it would be interesting to learn how to drive and learn more about the harness racing part.

“I’ve always owned horses. This is driving of a different sort and I wanted to learn more about it. It was definitely a wonderful opportunity.”

Chamberlain, who lives north of Cooperstown, N.Y., was unsure of her future in racing, but would like to keep working with Standardbreds.

“I don’t see myself becoming a trainer or driver, but I could see myself grooming,” she said. “It might be difficult because I don’t live near a track.”

In addition to working with the horses at driving school, Chamberlain was impressed with the walking tour of Historic Track provided by the USTA’s Ellen Harvey.

“I enjoy history, so the walking tour was phenomenal,” Chamberlain said. “She talked a lot about history and not just the horses; I found that very interesting. She was great. It was wonderful.”

The walking tour will be repeated at 10 a.m. Sunday and again during the Grand Circuit meet at Historic Track.