What kind of car do you drive? 2012 Lincoln MKZ. Favorite dinner meal? Snack? Some would be disappointed I don't say 'Fried Mush' but I have to say a small filet with garlic mash, sauté spinach, Caesar salad, and a Pinot Noir, or any dinner meal I've had in France. For snack, Dr. Sue's trail mix with an eight oz. diet Coke in a glass bottle. What is your favorite all-time track to visit? Why? I've been lucky enough to visit racetracks all over the world but I don't think anything equals a sunny afternoon in The Red Mile grandstand with friends. What is your favorite big event in racing? Why? The Hambletonian of course. It's the greatest day in the sport. What is your favorite thing to do outside of the racing world? Travel and watch classic movies on TCM, or better yet on the big screen. I've also accumulated a wonderful racing library, which I enjoy browsing. What is your favorite sport to watch? Team? College football - Kentucky Wildcats and Ohio State Buckeyes, in that order. What is one thing about you most fans/bettors don't know? I started as a groom and thought I was a pretty good one at that. I like to think I retired as the caretaker for the Hambletonian and the Breeders Crown. What is one word that describes harness racing for you? Dynamic. Things change week-to-week, season-to-season. What is the best advice you've ever gotten about harness racing? Judge Russell once told me that when a procedure becomes routine you have to be extra careful to avoid mistakes . . . and never do something that can't be undone if necessary. How did harness racing enter your life? Going to the Madison County fair in London, Ohio I saw a friend Rick Hackett taking care of the family horse Barbara Hudson and thought it was the coolest thing ever. You spent some time working for Delvin Miller. What was that like? Delvin is the greatest man I've met my life -- given the number of people he positively impacted. He was not only an extraordinary horseman and ambassador for the sport, but the most intellectually curious person I ever met. So many dimensions. He loved the history, the legacy and the international scope of the sport. More than once I would stop by Meadow Lands Farm when Delvin was up from Florida during the winter and he was in his library reading sometimes turn of the century trade magazines and he wanted to share. His grandfather was a client of Edward 'Pop' Geers. Delvin was well-read and familiar with horses and horsemen of the era up to the modern times, in that many came by Grandpa Miller's farm in Avella, Pa. I'm proud to say that I have his library now. His was a relatively small operation (compared to earlier years) by the time I worked for him so he was also not afraid to give a young person responsibility and then help them along when opportunity for them to advance presented itself. Many of his f ormer grooms and trainers moved on to succeed as trainers on their own, farm managers and executives. Fifty-three years ago I wrote him a letter when I was in college and I haven't had to send out a job application since. Some 40 years ago you worked as a Racing Secretary. Do you think the challenges of that job are more difficult now? It's probably more challenging given the technology, fewer track barn areas and the fluidity of the horse supply, the competition for horses given the overall increase in purses at competing tracks across the industry, and the marathon programs of 12+ race cards common these days. What was it like in the early years of the Breeders Crown? Exciting and challenging in that we built the events from the ground up. However it couldn't fail no matter how many missteps we made with the extraordinary support of the industry breeders and stallion owners, horse owners and horsemen and the enthusiasm of the host tracks. We were willing to fine tune it and did so on several occasions and probably will in the future. Did you think almost 40 years later the Breeders Crown would still be going strong? I hoped so but there's a lot of industry initiatives that have come and gone in those four decades. I think it's a compliment to all involved that the Breeders Crown is still strong. You became President and CEO of the Hambletonian Society in 1998. Would you call your run successful? I think it was. Of course I had the advantage of some great mentors, such as: Max Hempt; Andy Grant; Norman Woolworth; Charlie Keller; John Cashman; Jim Simpson and Ebby Gerry -- really an extraordinary roster of wisdom and experience. The whole board in fact was tremendously supportive. We expanded the number of races the Society services to 130 thereabouts, standardized conditions, maintained and enhanced the Hambletonian, promoted hands-on the Hambletonian and the Breeders Crown and resurrected the Hambletonian Maturity, as well as enhanced partnerships with The Meadowlands and our other host tracks. We also tackled issues such as television and new media, international racing including simulcasting, whipping and illegal medication. We did all that without ever losing a dime of horsemen's money. And I'm proud to say John (Campbell) and Moira (Fanning) as well as the present Board have continued those initiatives. Was there anything you wish you could've accomplished during that time but that just wasn't possible? Uniform rules. How about your staff over the years at the Hambletonian Society. Can you talk a minute about their contribution? I was so fortunate to have great staff who were hard working and as passionate about the sport as I am. The four individuals (Moira Fanning, Judy Davis-Wilson, Callie Davies-Gooch and the late Mary Lou Dondarski), who were with me the longest, all had racetrack, especially backstretch experience, and each brought their own particular skills that furthered and enhanced the Hambletonian Society's mission. They made me look good and I learned a lot from them over the years. I'm pleased to say we are still friends. You retired a few years back. How much time are you still spending thinking about racing? Everyday! The office is just down the road and John and Moira have been very attentive in keeping me up-to-date on what's going on and discussing precedent and the history of various current issues. I'm still a director of the Society and a part-time employee with the title of Executive Vice President. I'm also a director of the Little Brown Jug Society. I look forward to the end of the COVID lock-down and to get back to the races. You've been known to wear some colorful clothes to big events. How did that begin? Or were you always just a snazzy dresser? I don't know about colorful or snazzy. My father managed a men's fine clothing store and I guess I picked it up there. I grew up in the era of "a coat & tie" and always tried to dress appropriately whether I was in the paddock or going to the winner's circle (especially when representing the Society). I rarely wear a tie to the track now because invariably a customer will mistake me for management and want to explain some dissatisfaction or disappointment. I notice even network news anchors and sideline basketball coaches have forsaken ties lately. As for my hat, one Hambletonian day I was in the front paddock and Mike Kimelman took pity on my sunburned forehead and gave me his straw Panama and I loved it; reminded me of my dad. I have a fine collection of hats. What was your favorite moment in harness racing? Delmonica Hanover's first Roosevelt International. I was working at Meadow Lands Farm at the end of the summer. When she got in the field, I and another groom at the farm, a young Frenchman named Phillippe Boudreau, decided to drive up. When Delvin found out, he invited us to sit with him in the clubhouse, the Cloud Casino "on the glass." When she won we rushed with him to winner's circle and later we went to the after-party at the Island Inn. It was a magical night! Other favorites: the night she got her mark the last start of her life at Hollywood Park. And there are many Hambletonians and Breeders Crowns that could be categorized as favorites. One is tough over 50 years. Which is your favorite horse from your time in the sport? Delmonica Hanover, an immortal of the Hall of Fame, who looked after me pretty well. You were nominated into the Hall of Fame in 2019 and will be inducted this year. Will that be an emotional day for you? Very emotional! I've had almost two years to get my arms around it and I'm still not sure of it. Many of those already enshrined there are giants - the heroes of my youth people - whose accomplishments really mattered to our sport. A long list of thank you's for those that got me there to that podium. If you had the power to change one thing in the sport, what would it be? Coordinated post times and eliminate the drag . . . sorry that's two! How do you view the future of harness racing? Positive. I refuse to believe the best times are all behind us. I think there's great horses and horsemen ahead and I look forward to great racing and I hope I have great friends to share it with. Time for the stretch drive: Best Horse You Ever Saw?: Varenne, at any age over 2, any distance, any venue/country. Best Driver Ever?: John Campbell, enough said. Best Trainer Ever?: Ron Burke (and his dad Mickey) has the most complete management skill set and record. Favorite TV Show?: American Experience. Trotters or Pacers?: Trotters.