from the United States Trotting Association

Columbus, OH — Hall of Fame trainer Jimmy Takter has committed to be the keynote speaker for the 2015 USTA Standardbred Driving School on Wednesday (May 13). The welcome reception and dinner will be held in the Haughton Room of the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame in Goshen, N.Y., beginning at 6 p.m.

USTA photo

Jimmy Takter has committed to be the keynote speaker for the 2015 USTA Standardbred Driving School .

The 2014 racing season was Takter’s best yet in his 23-year racing career in terms of earnings and training wins. He finished the year second in North America with more than $13.3 million in earnings and was eighth in wins with 192.

Racing such high profile horses as the Hambletonian trio, Dan Patch Award winner Father Patrick, Trixton and Nuncio, as well as the other 3-year-olds including Trotter of the Year Shake It Cerry, Lifetime Pursuit, Tellitlikeitis, Lyonssomewhere and Uffizi Hanover, and the 2-year olds (now 3-year-olds in 2015) Pinkman and French Laundry, it is no surprise he had such a successful year.

Takter is currently campaigning the $1.7 million earning trotter Maven in Europe.

“We are excited to welcome Jimmy Takter to the Driving School this year,” said Driving School coordinator Kent “Chip” Hastings. “He has unique experiences racing horses such as the great Moni Maker and Maven internationally, as well as having outstanding horses racing stateside. Jimmy also has almost 750 lifetime driving wins and over $21 million in driving earnings, so the students will really connect with him for the purposes of the school.”

The USTA Standardbred Driving School will be held May 13-16 in the Goshen and Middletown, N.Y., area. Students work in the barn each morning with classroom sessions in the afternoon.

To learn more about the Driving School, and to register, visit www.USTADrivingSchool.com.