Ken Weingartner

Even in defeat, Jennifer Baranski felt like a winner.

Baranski was one of 67 participants enrolled in the 14th annual U.S. Trotting Association Driving School, which for the first time was based in Goshen, N.Y., at Historic Track and the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame. For the first 13 years, the program was conducted at the Delaware County Fairgrounds, home of the Little Brown Jug, in central Ohio.

Photo by Mark Hall

The USTA Driving School Class of 2012, with Schnittker waving in the background

The five-day program, a combination educational program/fantasy camp for harness racing enthusiasts, gave attendees the chance to spend mornings working in the stables of local trainers and afternoons in classroom sessions that covered care and conditioning, stable management, driving and racing strategy, amateur driving, veterinary care and shoeing.

To wrap up the event, six participants were selected to drive with professionals in an exhibition race at Historic Track. Kimberly Gilman, from New Hampshire, teamed with Gareth Dowse from the Ray Schnittker Stable to win the 2:20 time bar race. Baranski, who was partnered with Schnittker, was among the other competitors.

Photo by Mark Hall

Instructor Steve Oldford gives some tips before heading out

“The race was a lot of fun,” Baranski said. “That was probably the highlight, but the whole school was a lot of fun. You learn a lot, the barn work is great, and you get to sit behind some really nice horses. Everybody should do it, really, just for fun. I know a couple people I’m going to send here next year.”

As part of the school, Baranski took the written exam to become a harness racing trainer and driver. She works as a groom for trainer Rich Gayton.

“I want to train, have my own stable,” Baranski said. “That’s the hope, in the far-off future.”

The driving school is open to anyone at least 16 years old. Participants this year came from 15 different states, as far away as California, as well as Ontario. One-third of the class was female and 22 people had never driven a horse before attending the school.

Photo by Mark Hall

Dan Telle gives a post-race bath

Ryan Riboldi, a longtime harness racing fan from northeast Pennsylvania, was one of 14 participants that did not own a horse. He attended the school as the first step toward becoming an owner, and possibly more. He got to work in the Ray Schnittker Stable.

“This was a good start for me to learn a little bit more about what it takes,” said Riboldi, who works as the senior director of quality assurance for a vaccine manufacturer. “I’d like to own horses and maybe later be able to train my own horses. The program was phenomenal. It went well beyond my expectations.”

Riboldi jogged a horse for the first time at the school, partnering with Schnittker for a few trips around Historic Track.

“It’s hard to imagine the power of those animals until you’re behind them,” he added. “Just to feel that is awesome. It was a great experience. I’ve wanted to do that for a long time.”

For other participants, the driving school was a chance to get reacquainted with the sport. Tyler Bollinger, from Ocean City, Md., has been involved with his family off and on over the years.

“I’m here to refresh my memory and start getting into it again,” said Bollinger, whose brother, Troy, also attended the school. “There are things I’ve forgotten and I wouldn’t want to learn by myself. I’d like to own my own horses someday and I want to bring my brother into it.”

Photo by Mark Hall

Ray Schnittker advises Olivia Kimelman on proper driving technique

The chance to get a behind-the-scenes appreciation of racing brought a number of participants to the school, including several already involved prominently in the sport. Among those were Thomas Pontone, who co-owned 2009 Horse of the Year Muscle Hill; Olivia Kimelman, the daughter of Blue Chip Farms President Mike Kimelman; and Jonathan Klee, who is among the owners of 3-year-old pacer Hurrikane Kingcole. Klee brought his dad, Howard, to the school as a Father’s Day gift.

“It was tremendous,” said Pontone, who also was among the participants in the exhibition race. “I want to get my driver’s license and join some of the amateur clubs and do this all the time. It was amazing.

Photo by Mark Hall

Kimberly Gilman celebrates after winning the driving school exhibition race

“I’ve owned horses for 15 years and you think you know about the industry, but you don’t. Not until you come here and see all the work that goes into it, with the grooms and the trainers and the care that goes into the horses. It’s something every owner needs to do. I’m probably going to come back again next year.”

Among the speakers at the school were professional drivers Jason Bartlett, Jeff Gregory and Jordan Stratton, amateur drivers Joe Faraldo and Lon Frocione, trainer Mark Ford, stable managers Amber Buter, Kelly Ford and Michelle Smith, and veterinarian Dr. Brian Lauzon.

Trainers opening their stables to the students in addition to Schnittker and Ford were Scott Blackler, Tyler and Amber Buter, Jean Drolet, Rob and Patty Harmon, and Brandon Simpson at the Mark Ford Training Center in Middletown. Ford and his wife, Kelly, hosted a cookout on the program’s final night.

Other activities included the chance to tour the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame and take a walking tour of Historic Track.

“I was very happy with the way things turned out,” Ford said. “This is a great investment; it was very well-received. We got a great cross-section of people. They were all very into it and asked intelligent questions. It would be great to see people leave here and get more involved, spend some money, so we can help the sport grow.”