from the USTA Communications Department

Columbus, OH — The top drivers and trainers in the sport will be on hand to answer racing fans’ questions this Wednesday and Thursday (Sept. 17-18) as part of the eighth annual USTA Speakers Series, to be held at the Delaware County Fair in Delaware, Ohio.

The 45-minute sessions will be held Wednesday from 9–11 a.m. and Thursday from 8–11 a.m. in the USTA/OHHA tent located next to the Log Cabin on the backstretch. Those who can’t make it to the fair can watch a live stream of the sessions on the USTA’s Little Brown Jug mini-site at www.ustrotting.com/trackside/jug/.

The Wednesday session kicks off at 9 a.m. with trainer Ron Burke, perennial North American leader in wins and earnings. He will be joined by driver Matt Kakaley, who will steer Jug starter At Press Time and Jugette starter Southwind Silence for the Burke barn.

The nation’s top two drivers by wins will join us for the 10 a.m. session. Ronnie Wrenn Jr. and Aaron Merriman, who top the continental leaderboard with 552 wins each as of Sept. 15, will take questions from members of the audience as well as through the USTA’s Twitter (@ustrotting) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/ustrotting) accounts.

On Thursday, Derick Giwner of HarnessEye will handicap the Jug Day card during the 8 a.m. session, with special emphasis on the three guaranteed-pool wagers sponsored by the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program. The card includes a $60,000 guaranteed Pick-4 in races 12-15, a $40,000 guaranteed Pick-4 in races 7-10 and a $20,000 guaranteed Pick-3 in races 13-15.

At 9 a.m., driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Dave Menary will talk about their chances with Jug starter — and Meadowlands Pace winner — He’s Watching, along with any other topics the audience throws at them.

At 10 a.m., the series will conclude with Hall of Fame driver John Campbell, who still reigns as the winningest driver by career purse earnings and serves as president of the Grand Circuit. He will pilot On Golden Ponder in the Little Brown Jug.

Coffee and cinnamon rolls will be offered free of charge before each day’s sessions, as a “thank you” to USTA members.

The full schedule of speakers is listed below:

Wednesday (Sept. 17)
9 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.: Trainer Ron Burke and driver Matt Kakaley
10 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.: Drivers Ronnie Wrenn Jr. and Aaron Merriman

Thursday (Sept. 18)
8 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.: Derick Giwner of HarnessEye
9 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.: Driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Dave Menary
10 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.: Driver John Campbell