Harness: Profile of driver/trainer Joe Chindano Jr

What kind of car do you drive?

Ford 250 Lariat Pickup Truck.

Favorite dinner meal? Snack?

Pizza; Buffalo wings.

What is your favorite track to race at? Why?

Pompano Park because it is in South Florida, which is kind of like a vacation spot. We've done well here. It is a five-eighths track, which I like. I also like the people down here.

What is your favorite big event in racing?

Little Brown Jug -- I always thought it would be cool to win that race.

How often is racing on your mind?

All the time; it's all we do.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of racing?

Hang out with family.

What is your favorite sport to watch? Team?

Football -- I don't have a team. I just jump back and forth.

What is one thing about you most fans/bettors don't know?

Probably that I'm only 21.

What is one word that describes harness racing for you?

Lifestyle.

How did you get started in the sport?

My family has participated since I was a little kid. My father showed me what it was all about and I got the bug. I won my first matinee race when I was 12.

Was there ever a chance that you wouldn't be involved in harness racing?

Probably not. I thought about college and maybe getting a real job, but I kind of didn't have a choice with the horses always around. Someone had to take care of them. I just got hooked and I couldn't get away from them.

Your first purse drive came the day after you turned 16 at the Malone Fair in New York. Five years later, does that win behind Steuben Cindy seem long ago?

It's been a while, though I guess it really isn't that long ago. There have certainly been a few horses between now and then. That was a significant and cool win. I do remember crossing the wire but I don't remember the race itself.

You are like a throwback in that you train and drive. Why did you choose that route?

I just like being able to know what I have to deal with when I'm getting into the bike. I've done quite a bit of catch-driving down here [Pompano]. When you get behind other people's horses, you just get to listen to the trainer's instructions, you don't get to spend time with them the whole week. They know the horses better than you do and you are just kind of going on a whim unless you have driven them before. With my horses, I know them and work with them every week. I know what they are capable of doing and I interact with them. It's also more rewarding when you win with your own horse.

Are you a better trainer or driver?

I'd like to think I'm halfway decent at both. I guess in more time we'll figure that out. So far this year has gone pretty good, I think we are batting .400 or .500 [UDRS/UTRS] trainer and driving other people's horses we are batting like .250 or .300. I guess I'm probably better at training judging by that.

As a regular at Pompano Park this year you've already set career highs in wins (58), starts (407) and purse money won ($364,080). Is this your breakout year?

I guess you could say that. So far it is a pretty good year. I won in (1:)49 with one of my own horses [Skip To My Lou]. That was a career goal of mine, to win in 1:48 or 1:49.

Your driving style seems to be very versatile and you aren't afraid to make big moves. Has it been a work-in-progress to get you to this point?

I've always been aggressive. Patience is something I still need to work on a bit. Instead of bum-rushing out of the gate or pulling first-up immediately, I guess I could sit the wood sometimes, come up the inside and hope at the top of the stretch something opens up. It all takes time. Practice makes perfect.

Pompano closes on May 2. What is next for you?

My owner [Garret Doyle] has a farm in New Paltz [New York], so I'll go back up there. I'll race my own horses at Yonkers, Pocono and a little at Saratoga, maybe at Tioga Downs on the weekends.

Was it a plan for you coming into this year to commit to driving more often?

It just worked out well. I had some decent horses and when you do, you finish one-two-three, which makes you look halfway decent. So I guess I caught on a little bit and it all worked out.

What is the best advice you've ever gotten about harness racing?

Be humble. When you get off the bike, say thank you and be appreciative of the drives you've gotten.

What was your favorite moment in harness racing?

Winning in 1:49 with Skip To My Lou at Pompano.

Which is the best horse you've ever driven?

Skip To My Lou. He was second last night (4/19) in the Open.

Which horse is/was your favorite?

Neptune -- He's an old stud horse of mine that I've had since he was 3. He's 12 now. He's been a family pet. He was the best horse we had before Skip To My Lou.

What's the one race that you most want to win in your career?

Probably the Little Brown Jug or Hambletonian.

At 21, are you viewing winning one of those races as a realistic goal?

It's something I'd like to do. I don't know if anything will come of it at this point.

How many horses do you have in the barn?

Nine.

What was it like driving against Hall of Famers at Pompano?

It was kind of cool. You definitely learn a thing or two from them. Having David Miller and Wally Hennessey. There are also some good trainer/driver guys like Rick Plano, he has a few thousand wins, many with his own horses.

If you could choose any horse in history to train or drive, which horse would it be and why?

Always B Miki. He was so gutsy and training the horse with the all-time fastest record would be cool.

If you weren't involved in harness racing, what would you be doing?

Probably something in construction. My family was in the business. Certainly something with my hands because I'm not much of a desk person.

If you had the power to change one thing in the sport, what would it be?

I'd like to make the sport last for my lifetime.

Do you say that because Pompano is expected to close a year from now?

Yeah, I wish it would keep going. I like New York in the summer and being able to race at different tracks then coming down to Florida during the winter and being able to stable right at the track. It is kind of like a working vacation. Otherwise I'll have to stay up north in the wintertime where it can be a little cold. It is also a little rougher on the horses.

How do you view the future of harness racing?

I hope it keeps going and tracks can stay open.

As a young person in the sport (21 years old), do you have any tips on how harness racing can reach the younger generation?

I'm not much into social media. I guess interact with the younger crowd that way and try to work with them.

Do you ever bring your friends to the track?

Yeah, a couple of friends of mine have gotten interested and bought a few horses. I try to bring as much attention to it as I can.

Thinking long term, do you have aspirations of moving to a bigger circuit down the road?

I'd like to race in New York at Yonkers, and Pocono. If something ever happened out east, I'd like to try the Midwest, maybe Ohio. Ohio seems to have a few tracks that are rolling all the time and there is plenty of opportunity to race.

Time for the stretch drive:

Best Horse You Ever Saw: Always B Miki.

Lasix -- Yes or No?: It seems to help some horses. I try to avoid it as much as I can but it really depends on the horse. They are all individuals. Some need it and some don't.

Favorite TV Show?: Two and a Half Men.

Trotters or Pacers?: It doesn't matter to me, but probably pacers.