by Katie Dukes, Hoosier Park publicity department

Anderson, IN — Standardbred racing is in full swing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, and drivers are thrilled to be back racing around the track. This year, Hoosier Park is excited to have two teenage drivers joining the meet. Tyler Smith and Kyle Wilfong, both under the age of 20, are racing and are already showing signs of positive results.

At the age of 18, Smith is excited to be racing in Indiana and is thrilled about recording his first win on Wednesday (April 6). Smith guided Glenview Flight in the evening’s fifth race as a catch driver for trainer Mervin Schmucker.

Hoosier Park photo

Tyler Smith (left) and Kyle Wilfong (right) are the two youngest drivers currently racing at Hoosier Park.

Smith began his pari-mutuel racing career earlier this year only one day after his 18th birthday on Jan. 24 at Northfield Park in Cleveland, Ohio. He is now racing exclusively at Hoosier Park and overseeing seven horses for his family’s stable. Smith is considering adding Balmoral Park to his schedule on Sundays to give him six days a week of driving opportunities.

Smith’s involvement with horse racing comes from his father and uncle, which was an encouragement for him to start. As well as his background with the family stable, Smith has also been announcing races for some time. From his hometown of Washington Court House, Ohio, Smith started announcing races at the Fayette County Fair. He later went on to announce races at The Red Mile in Lexington, Ky., and even during Little Brown Jug week in Delaware, Ohio, which he considers a great opportunity.

“I just sort of fell into announcing,” said Smith. “From there, that was even more incentive and push for me to begin racing myself. I like it out here (driving) and this is what I want to be doing.”

The second youngest driver at Hoosier Park this year is Kyle Wilfong, who is 19 years old. In his second year of driving, Wilfong has been waiting all winter for racing to start back up and is extremely excited to be back out on the track. His excitement was shining through when he won the 11th race on the opening night card at Hoosier Park with Jamboree for his dad, Brett, who trains the horse.

Wilfong returned on the second night of racing to pick up another win with his family’s horse, Hoopin’ It Up. During the first four nights of racing, he has had two wins, one second, and two thirds in only seven starts.

“I’m off to a good start this meet,” said Wilfong. “I only have a few races every night that I’m here, but I hope to get more and continue to win.”

When Wilfong is not racing at Hoosier Park, he also races at Balmoral Park on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, giving him six days of driving action.

Like Smith, Wilfong had much persuasion from his father and grandfather to get him into racing and is grateful for the encouragement that he has received. Being around racing his entire life, Wilfong says that he was “practically born on a bike” and is glad that he is racing. Prior to getting his pari-mutuel license, he won the Tim Fouts Amateur Championship at Delaware, Ohio, in 2009.

Be on the lookout for Smith and Wilfong this year at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Both have done well so far and only hope to improve as the year goes on.