by John Manzi, for the Monticello-Goshen chapter USHWA
Monticello, NY — It is a well-known fact, especially around Monticello Raceway, that Alan Schwartz is one of the best amateur drivers competing today. Racing mostly against professionals Schwartz more than holds his own. His 430 career wins can attest to his driving prowess.
Having been named the National Amateur Driver of the Year during the 2000 season, Schwartz has represented the United States three times in the World Cup of Amateur Racing. He has driven in many European countries as well as in Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Russia, and usually with good success. He has also been named Amateur Driver of the Year twice by the Monticello Goshen Chapter of USHWA. In 2002, he received the Clyde Hirt “Good Guy” award by the NYC chapter of USHWA.
Schwartz has been a Billings champion, too, and though his focus now is more on his small racing stable than traveling around the country to compete in the Billings Series, he’ll tell you that next to his wife and children and grandchildren, driving in harness races is his biggest love.
Alan Schwartz
However, the award he’ll receive when the Monticello-Goshen Chapter holds its 53rd annual awards banquet on October 30 isn’t because of his driving ability. He will be presented with the chapter’s Good Guy Award.
A few seasons ago Schwartz was elected president of the Monticello Harness Horsemen’s Association and he works tirelessly for the good of both his horsemen and for the good of racing. His rapport with track management works to everyone’s advantage. This cooperation has brought about the annual children’s Christmas Party, the gala Horsemen’s Christmas party, the Richard Ingrassia Pancake Breakfast, the summer paddock BBQ’s and this year, for the first time ever in U.S. history, an all-amateur day to promote our sport which gave scholarships to many of our horsemen’s children, along with many other horsemen and family events.
“Working with management is a two way street,” he says. “Like all business negotiations it’s give and take. Nobody ever gets everything they want. Together we have done some good things for the horsemen and some good things for management. But there never is, nor ever was, a hostile word.”
Sure Schwartz still races horses. In fact at press time he’s won 30 races this season, but prior to being a full-time horseman he was an astute businessman who founded and operated Coast To Coast Moving and Storage.
It was during the early 1970s that he got bitten by the harness racing bug. He was strictly an owner back then and even had one of the most outstanding pacers racing on the old New York metropolitan circuit in Curragh.
“He (Curragh) was the catalyst for me getting involved as a driver,” Schwartz explained. “I got my amateur license in 1988 and though I’ve had an “A” (full) license for years I never lost my amateur status.”
Schwartz was born in Monticello, N.Y., in 1945 and though he’s spent much time in the Catskills he resided for most of his life in the greater New York area. A few years ago he purchased a horse farm in Hurleyville and although he still owns a home in Hewlett, N.Y., he now spends all of his time in the mountains.
“My dad was a plumber working in the Catskills during the summertime and I was born in the old Monticello Hospital in August of 1945,” he said. “In fact I have a lot of roots in the Catskills. I used to work as a waiter and bell hop at the hotels when I was a teenager. Actually I met my wife of 42 glorious years, then Alicia Mostinsky, at the old Evans Kiamesha Hotel. We got married in 1969. It always seemed like a natural extension to return to the mountains.”
Today Alan and Alicia have two grown children and four grandchildren. Alicia is his biggest fan and is usually at the races when Alan drives.
“He needs me there,” she insists, “I’m his good luck charm and his biggest critic. I remember way back when Alan started, I would hide in the grandstand so no one would know we were related. But somehow, someone came up to me one day and said ‘Do you know what we call your husband?’ I was a little afraid to hear what this guy had to say. But he said, ‘We’ve nicknamed him Ben-Hur.’ And of course, if you’ve seen the movie, I guess you’d have to call that a compliment. Today, I’m proud and very lucky to admit we’re related. I know Alan’s had a great ride, but I’ve had a great one, too.”
“Although I’m putting in more hours and working harder today than I ever did when I was in my own business, between farm work, jogging my horses everyday, and horseman’s association business, my days are long but it’s a labor of love,” Schwartz said. “Needless to say I love the racing. Whenever I win I sing to my wife ‘There is nothing like a win. Nothing in this world.’ I am seriously committed to making things better for the Monticello horsemen. It’s my passion.”