from the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame

Goshen, NY — Amateur drivers from driving clubs throughout the U.S. and Canada compete for the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame Amateur Driving Championship. It is won each year by the amateur driver donating the most driver’s commissions to the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame.

Previous winners are Edward B. Rudner (1995), Bud Hatfield (1996, 1999 and 2000), Joe Pennacchio (1997), Lella McIlmurray (1998), Alan Schwartz (2001), Robert Krivelin (2002 and 2004), Gene Miller (2003), Scott Woogen (2005), Dein Spriggs (2006), Tony Verruso (2008), Steve Oldford (2009 and 2011), and Todd Whitney (2010).

Steve Oldford

Now for the third time in four years, Steve Oldford has been named the Harness Racing Museum Amateur Driving Champion. He is only the second driver to have achieved this honor three times. “Trader” Bud Hatfield won in 1996, 1999 and 2000.

Oldford began his career in harness racing as a child, chasing his father’s horses around the Michigan fair circuit. He eventually became a groom, trainer and driver before choosing Western Michigan University over the world of the equine. Steve sat out from the sport for more than 25 years. During that time he took over the family business. However, he always maintained contact with his first love, the horse, by raising Standardbred foals on his farm in Croswell, Mich.

In 2006 he renewed his predilection for the sport by joining the Michigan Amateur Fair Circuit and the Delvin Miller Harness Drivers Association, sponsors of the C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Series. In 2008 Oldford won the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Driving Championship and was also named Michigan Amateur Driver of the Year. In 2009 he was elected a USTA director for District 2-A, drove in the U.S.-New Zealand world amateur friendship games and was named the Harness Racing Museum Amateur Driving Champion. In 2010 Oldford organized the Great Lakes Amateur Drivers Association for which he serves as president and again picked up the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Driving Championship.

Last year, 2011, he represented the U.S. in Taranto, Italy, bringing his entire family along for the once-in-a-lifetime experience. After winning the regional final at Northfield Park, Steve finished second in the Delvin Miller Memorial Driving Championship Gold Cup. He was again named the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Driving Champion as well as the Museum’s Amateur Driving Champion.

Oldford is a USTA Driving School facilitator and races actively in local clubs across the country in addition to being vice-president of the Delvin Miller Harness Drivers Association.

He is married to Gale, his wife of 29 years, and is a proud parent of three adult children, Michelle, Troy and Kara.

He will receive the Museum’s thanks, together with a perpetual trophy naming him 2012 Museum Amateur Champion and a framed portrait by artist R. Holmes Richichi, during Hall of Fame induction ceremonies on Sunday, July 1.

The Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame is located at 240 Main Street in Goshen, N.Y., and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last tour 4 p.m.) Thanks to USTA support the Museum is currently offering free admission for walk-in visitors and $4.00/person for group docent-guided tours. For information on the Museum, special events, gift shop services and educational programs the Museum offers, please call 845.294.6330 or visit www.harnessmuseum.com.