Frank Canzone started his path in harness racing as a teenager attending the races at Yonkers Raceway and those early encounters sparked a love affair with the sport. He got involved as an owner in the early 2000s and currently ranks as one of the leaders in terms of earnings with a 30-plus-head stable of mostly overnight horses. The 51-year-old Canzone took some time away from his construction business to discuss his journey in harness racing, the sport in general and what it's like to juggle many  different trainers. How did you get started in harness racing? I used to go to Yonkers when I was 16 years old, to double-headers [on Tuesdays] watching Luc Ouellette and Walter Case race. I won my first day there and ever since I've been hooked. So did you grow up in the area? I grew up in Yonkers and then I moved to New Rochelle. In a couple of months, I'm moving to Florida. I bought a house down there. Will it be weird for you not being able to go to the track all the time to see your horses? I still have family up here and my business is up here, so I still have to come back, but my wife and my son are moving down to Florida. I'll fly back and forth. How did you end up getting into ownership? A friend of mine's uncle had a horse with a trainer at Yonkers named Carl Tirella. Me and two other partners ended up getting a $5,000 claimer called Potomatt River and that started it. That was with Zippett Racing stable. Then one horse turned into two horses. Carl was my first trainer, then Brian Horlacher. I wound up meeting Yannick [Gingras] in like 2002 or 2003. His then girlfriend Vicki Mosher [now Vicki Gingras] was training and we ended up buying horses together. You are in the top 15 in owner earnings this year. What made you pick up your game in terms of numbers? Just reinvesting the money I've made. I've been very fortunate to win a lot of races and get hooked up with the right people. I love the game and it is very addicting. Besides having my children, there is no greater feeling than winning a horse race. Being in that winner's circle with your friends and having a great time is priceless. You've had a number of partners but one that has been with you from the start is Yannick Gingras. What is that relationship like? It is great. We see things eye to eye. His knowledge of the game is great. He's trustworthy. I had a horse called Miami and Yannick qualified the horse at The Meadowlands. Yannick asked me if I owned the horse by myself and I said yeah. He asked if he could buy a piece of the horse and I said absolutely. He asked how much and I told him whatever you want to give me just write out a check. Three days later the check came. That's the type of relationship we have. Yannick is a Hall of Famer and I congratulate him and Ron Burke on getting into the Hall this year. It has to be a huge help having someone you trust so much on the journey with you? Absolutely. If I'm not buying a horse with him, I can always ask him about it. He remembers about horses he drove like five years ago and can tell the me the horse is no good or too hot. Having that knowledge from his experience is priceless. What kind of car do you drive? Jeep Wrangler. Favorite dinner meal? Snack? Veal Parm; Cheez Doodles. What is your favorite track to visit? Why? Meadowlands. As an owner it is great to go there for dinner with friends. They are very hospitable and fan-friendly. What is your favorite big event in racing? Why? Hambletonian. Hopefully one day I'll have a horse in the race. To see all of the people at the track and all the great horses and drivers competing, there is nothing better than that. How often is racing on your mind? Every day, every minute. That is my passion, besides my construction business, which takes up a lot of my time. Being an owner I can be on the phone or bidding OnGait during working hours. When I'm not racing, I feel like I'm lost. How many horses do you own? Between 32 to 35 horses. What is your favorite sport to watch? Team? Football -- Pittsburgh Steelers. What is one thing about you that most fans/bettors don't know? That I'm a good-hearted person. I try to please everyone but unfortunately in this game and in life you can't please everyone. What is one word that describes harness racing for you? Life -- It is in my blood. There is something about that feeling of winning and being around that beautiful animal. Once I stop my construction business in a couple of years, that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to try to be like Mark Weaver. Yannick isn't your only partner in the sport. What is it like to work with so many owners and trainers? Everyone has the same passion for winning and once you have too many partners you can upset some by buying horses with different people. It is a fine line you have to walk, with the trainers, too. I probably have eight to nine trainers. I just started racing in Indiana. I race in Delaware with Ed Gannon. I'd invite him to my house in Florida. He's just a great guy. The trainers are becoming my friends. When you have a good partner there is a bond. I have horses with Jenn and Joe in JB Racing and now I have a bunch with Per Engblom who is great and hands-on. Certain horses fit certain people, their personalities or their training regimens. Horses are like people, some will do well with some people and some with others. If one trainer can't do well with a horse, I don't want to give up on them without giving the horse to someone else before moving on. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter What was your best moment in Harness Racing? Winning the Matron with Type A. Was that your first stakes win? It was probably my first big stakes win. I won one New York Sire Stakes with Our White Knight and two Maryland races with Goodoo Doll. I haven't been lucky in the stakes program. What is the favorite horse you've owned? Privilege Hanover. Hopefully it will be I Da Princess or Infinity Stone. In 20 years maybe I'd answer that differently. From my perspective the most important horse you've ever owned is Direct Order as he accounts for my lone pari-mutuel win as an amateur driver. Do you remember that? I knew you drove for me. I think I was in the winner's circle that day. Is it more frustrating watching an amateur drive your horse? No, because I've sat behind horses jogging them and I realize how strong the horses are. On TV it looks like slow motion but out there they are moving very fast. It is easy to sit at home and critique the race, but when you are in the race driving it is a different ballgame. I give you guys all the credit, I could never do it. The gift the pros have and even the amateurs; these horses are very powerful and it is very scary when you are jogging, so I can only imagine going 35 or 40 miles per hour. When will you give me my next winning drive? Whenever you ask. Any horse you see of mine, if it fits the qualifications, it's yours to drive. You have mostly owned overnight horses but lately you've gone in with the Takters on some younger ones. What brought that on? Everyone wants to have a 3-year-old or 2-year-old champion, so I've tried it and hopefully one day I'll get lucky. I have a couple with Chris Ryder this year. I didn't go crazy with the babies this year because the money for the overnights is so good. I always tease Yannick that hopefully I'll get a Hambo winner for him because I know that is the one thing missing on his résumé, and I would love to give it to him. Is there one particular horse that you are excited to watch through the rest of 2022? I Da Princess. She is just so fluid trotting. I've been very lucky buying these horses through OnGait and giving them to the right people. I can't thank my trainers enough. I'm very hands-off. They run the ship. You mentioned having eight to nine trainers. How do you decide who will train each one? We will buy a horse [from] OnGait and decide who will be the right fit. You have to look at how many horses they have and how many they have in the class. With The Meadowlands they will let you race uncoupled entries so you have to check all that. If a trainer has two or three in the class you might not get in. Sometimes it is just a feel. If a horse doesn't fit a program, you try someone else out. If it still doesn't work out, you cut your losses. That's one thing I've learned. Mark Beckwith told me 15 years ago, 'Frank, sometimes you are going to spend $50,000 for a good $10,000 claimer.' That's this business. Some horses you can buy for $20,000 and they can be worth $50,000 and others you can buy for $50,000 and they are worth $10,000. You just try to negate the losses. The bills get expensive and you have to put the horses in the right classes. How involved are you as an owner? I'll text the trainer after the race and tell them my thoughts or congratulate them, but I don't tell the driver what to do. I don't like my horses being abused. I hate them being parked out, although I know it is the nature of the game. If they are parked out, sit them out there and let them race; don't abuse them. I try to let the trainers have their personal space because they are busy, and I'm busy too. If you had the power to change one thing in the sport, what would it be? I would love to get more young people involved. I used to go to the track when I was 16 or 17 years old. Winning the first time, seeing those animals and having a good time as a youth is what made me love the game. I was a bettor first and it is possible to go to the track as a young person and eventually own horses. No one owned horses in my family. I just loved the game. Being around good people is huge; trustworthy people. Maybe that is the one thing I would change: getting rid of the bad trainers out there that take advantage of good owners. They see you have money and they are selfish at the time. If you have a good owner, why screw that owner? I've been burnt in the business before and I keep those memories in the back of my mind. A happy customer is a return customer. How do you view the future of harness racing? Hopefully it continues the way it is. The program in Ohio and Kentucky, and now Virginia is getting big. I'm hoping it continues in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The whole thing is getting younger people involved. The syndicates are great because you can get involved with a small percentage and if you are successful, you can get other horses on your own. That helps get young blood into the game. Time for the stretch drive: Best horse you ever saw? Scenic Regal with Harold Story. Best Driver ever? Yannick Gingras. I may be a little biased. Lasix -- Yes or No? If the horse needs it, yes. If not, no. Favorite TV Show? Yellowstone. Trotters or Pacers? Trotters.