The Harness Horse Youth Foundation is probably best recognized for its summer camp programs that introduce and teach youth about harness racing. But, as the organization kicks off its 40th year of industry service, scholarships are not just part of the HHYF mission, they're a major part.

In fact, the scholarhips were one of the foundation’s original purposes.

The HHYF has awarded more than $625,000 in scholarships, an average of over $16,000 per year, since it presented cheques to its first recipients Michele Rene Carlson and William Horwell in 1978.

Many of those scholarship recipients have gone on to careers in harness racing. Some became veterinarians, including Patty Hogan, Anthony Petrowitz, Tim Ober, Katrina Jackson and Catherine Furness. Others are well-established trainers or drivers including Jodi (Stark) Schillaci (more than $8 million in trainer earnings), Tyler Stillings (over 1,100 driving wins), and Ryan Angus. There are college professors and marketing executives, as well as a veritable plethora of racing executives and administrators, including Chris McErlean, currently vice president at Penn National Gaming; Ohio Harness Horseman’s Association boss Renee Mancino; Hoosier Park director of racing Scott Peine. There’s Kelly Young from the New York Farm Bureau and TV personality Heather Vitale. There’s the United States Trotting Association’s Jessica Schroeder and noted announcer and pedigree reader Kurt Becker. The HHYF can’t list all 350-plus recipients here, but you get the idea. HHYF is extremely proud to have been able to make a difference in each of those people’s lives.

Over time the scholarships have changed and the program is constantly being reviewed to ensure that HHYF is meeting the needs of today’s students. Those first 1978 scholarships were unnamed, but in 1979 HHYF began honouring Francis McKinzie’s (renowned farm manager) memory with a scholarship, which continued to be awarded through 2002. The Critchfield/Oviatt (both founders of HHYF) Memorial Scholarship was also established in 1979 and continued to be awarded through 2002. Other former scholarship honourees were Vincent Abate, Doug Brown, Don Evans, and Margot Taylor. HHYF also administered the CHHA’s Rambling Willie Scholarship from 1990 through 2003 as well another award for the Agricultural Technical Institute at Ohio State.

Currently, HHYF awards the Gallo Blue Chip Scholarship, sponsored by Martin Scharf, as well as the Curt Greene Memorial Scholarship. The Sweet Karen Alumni Scholarship was established in 2013 and is designed to assist graduates of HHYF summer activities.

In 2015, HHYF awarded $23,500 in scholarships. HHYF also maintains an industry scholarship clearinghouse, established in 2012, which details nearly a quarter of a million dollars of available equine scholarships awarded annually. To list your scholarship, contact HHYF Project Manager Keith Gisser via email at [email protected]. 2016 HHYF scholarship applications, as well as the scholarship clearing house, are available at hhyf.org.

(HHYF)