There’s no place like home for Ray Schnittker
June 30, 2004,by Harness Racing Communications, a division of the USTA
Good food, refreshments and no travel — it’s no wonder Ray Schnittker enjoys the Grand Circuit meet at Goshen’s Historic Track over the Fourth of July weekend.
Schnittker, who lives and trains in Goshen, won nine races and $52,594 during Goshen’s four-day meet last year, tops among all drivers. He is listed to drive six horses on Friday afternoon when Historic Track opens this season’s meet with 11 races for two-year-old pacers and trotters.
“It’s kind of nice not to be shipping anywhere,” Schnittker said. “We’ve got a bunch of food and refreshments over at the barn for the afternoons and we get to see a lot of people we don’t see all the time. It’s a lot of fun. It’s more like county fair racing.”
One of Schnittker’s trotters scheduled to race on Friday is Connors Blue Chip, a full brother to 1996 Merrie Annabelle winner Vernon Blue Chip. A $32,000 yearling purchase, Connors Blue Chip (Sir Taurus-Amanda T Collins) has competed in two qualifiers at Pocono Downs, finishing second in both. He is owned by Schnittker’s Eat My Dust Stable, Stephen Demeter, Kindergarten Stud, and Herbert Burns III.
“He’s kind of on the small side,” Schnittker said. “I think he should do a half [mile track] pretty good. He went 2:04 in the mud at Pocono, and that was a pretty good mile that day.”
Schnittker also will drive pacers Caliban, Reska, Another Zinger and Partly Artly in addition to trotter Hewitt Blue Chip. Hewitt Blue Chip, owned by Schnittker along with Demeter and Seal Stable, has the top win time among trotters competing on Friday, taking a qualifier in 2:05 at Pocono Downs on June 22.
Caliban, a Schnittker homebred gelding, finished second in his most recent qualifier in 1:58.2 at the Meadowlands. Another Zinger, bred and owned by Mathias Meinzinger, has a 1:59.3 qualifier win at Pocono and finished fourth, pacing 1:57.1, in an overnight race June 23.
“They should be competitive,” Schnittker said. “Basically, if they stay together they should be very competitive in the New York Sire Stakes. It all comes down to staying sound. If they’re quick, that’s built in. But lameness stops a lot of them; nothing serious, just little things that slow them up.”
Dee Motor Man, owned by Ken Jacobs and trained by Arnold Marks, has the top win time among pacers competing Friday. He won a qualifier in 1:59.2 at Vernon Downs on June 25.
Post time is 1 p.m. for racing at Goshen Historic Track, and there is no pari-mutuel wagering. Admission is $3 for adults; children are free. Historic Track is located at 44 Park Place in Goshen. In addition to racing, admission to the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame, open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 240 Main St., is free during the Fourth of July weekend.