by John Manzi, for Goshen Historic Track

Goshen, NY — Goshen Historic Track, where it all started and where it is today, is gearing up for it 175th season of exciting harness racing and 2012 will mark the 102nd year of Grand Circuit Racing at the Cradle of the Trotter.

On tap this season will be three matinee programs on Sundays in June, followed by five days of Grand Circuit racing from June 29 through July 2.

Racing action at Historic Track commences on June 3 with the first of three matinee programs. Matinee racing will continue on the consecutive Sundays of June 10 and June 17. Post times for all three matinee race cards will be at 1 p.m.

This year marks the 51st consecutive season of matinee racing and with the help of Ray Schnittker the matinees will once again feature a scholarship race with fans and high school students getting involved.

Grand Circuit racing begins on Friday (June 29) and will feature the Landmark Stakes. On Saturday (June 30) the New York Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing colts and fillies will be featured and on Sunday (July 1) the track will host the annual Hall of Fame Trot with Hall of Fame members at the controls, which always has thrilled the crowd. And after the race the Hall of Famers will be available for photos and autographs. Also that day the NYSS for 3-year-old trotting colts and fillies will get the call to post.

The 2012 Historic Track meeting will culminate with the New York County Fair Stakes on Monday (July 2).

Along with the racing programs, Historic Track will play host to a few informative programs which pertain to the Standardbred industry.

On May 26 the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State and the NYS Breeding and Development Fund will conduct a farm and training center tour for the general public.

The tour will begin at 9 a.m. at Historic Track and focus on harness horse racing and breeding. From there the tour moves to the near-by Mark Ford Training Center and then to the Harness Racing Museum for lunch and a tour of that fabulous facility.

The day ends at Blue Chip Farms, one of the largest breeding farms in New York State.

For further information on the tour please contact info@hhbnys.com or call 518.785.5858.

Then beginning on May 30 and continuing through June 3, the United States Trotting Association will have their annual Standardbred Driving School here at Historic Track. Open to participants 16 years and older, a plethora of racing knowledge will be disseminated by racing officials and talented harness drivers. Tuition is $350 with most meals included. However, students are responsible for transportation and lodging. Click here for more information.

But that’s not all. On the dates of July 2-6 the Harness Horse Youth Foundation, with the support of the Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding and Development Fund, will host a Horsemanship Camp at Historic Track. The preferred age of applicants for the overnight camp is 14-18. The Camp fee is $200 which includes overnight accommodations, all meals and materials.

For further information concerning this, please go to www.hhyf.org.