by John Manzi, for Historic Track

Goshen, NY — Goshen Historic Track, where it all started and where it is today, is gearing up for it 172nd season of exciting harness racing and 2009 will mark the 99th year of Grand Circuit Racing at “the Cradle of the Trotter.”

On tap this year will be three matinee programs in June followed by five days of Grand Circuit racing from July 1 through July 5. Action at Historic Track commences on Saturday, June 6, with the first of three matinee programs and matinee racing will continue on the consecutive Saturdays of June 13 and June 20.

Post times for all three matinee race cards will be at 1:00 p.m. and all three matinee racing programs have themes: June 6 will be Youth Day, June 13 will be Animal Shelter Day and June 20 will be Senior Citizen Day.

However, arguably the most notable of the three matinee cards will be the Youth Day Program on June 6. Besides the name the foal contest, face painting and hair braiding demonstrations the afternoon will feature a Scholarship Fundraiser in which eight local high schools who participate in the Orange County Athletic League will be vying for their share of scholarship money.

An idea spearheaded by Ray Schnittker to raise scholarship money for local students will also introduce much needed youth to the sport of harness racing.

“Each of the participating schools will be represented by one senior, male or female — selected by the school — and they will be paired with a top professional driver on double-seated jog carts for a one-mile race and the order of finish in that race will determine the amount the high school will receive for their schools’ scholarship fund for 2010,” Schnittker explained.

“We currently have donations from some breeding farms and some gracious individuals and we are hopeful to raise $40,000 for scholarships. Of course, we are still hoping to receive more donations.”

According to Schnittker, as long as there are no conflicts, he has commitments from top horsemen including John Campbell, George Brennan, Cat Manzi, Brian Sears and David Miller, just to name a few. They, and others, will be the drivers on the double-seated jog carts with the students riding shotgun.

The participating high schools include John Burke, Chester, Goshen, Middletown, Monroe-Woodbury, Monticello, Washingtonville and Pine Bush, though Schnittker says there could be some changes.

Anyone who would like to donate to this worthy scholarship fund drive, which includes youth introduction to harness racing, can do so by contacting Historic Track at (845) 294-5333 or they can call Schnittker at (914) 456-3275.