It isn’t every day that a 15-year-old reinsman drives against older foes. Although, it is even rarer when the 15-year-old goes out and defeats those older pilots.
Fifteen-year-old alumnus Justin Irvine put an exclamation point on the Harness Horse Youth Foundation’s 40th Anniversary celebration on Sunday (June 5), as he won the Open Pace Matinee at Goshen Historic Track.
Irvine’s win came aboard Cruzing Hill and the margin of victory was massive. Irvine and Cruzing Hill won by 25 lengths. The track was rated ‘sloppy’ for the contest and the duo raced under the wire in 2:01.2. The race was Irvine’s first career charted drive.
Irvine pulled his Mark Ford-trained mount from second as the horses headed to the three-quarters pole. Needless to say, they drew off easily after that. Cruzing Hill is owned by George and Rose Bonomo of Illinois.
Earlier, over 100 attendees celebrated HHYF with brunch at the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame. They witnessed a program that featured a cavalcade of guests, with Bob ‘Hollywood’ Heyden serving as emcee. Chris Wittstruck received his Service to Youth Award from HHYF and he made a passionate plea for the industry to support HHYF’s efforts. The assembled also heard from Service to Youth winner and former HHYF President Callie Davies-Gooch, former scholarship recipient and equine vet Dr. Patty Hogan, alum and Little Brown Jug winning driver Montrell Teague, current President Marlys Pinske, and future camper Wyatt Beaver, who will be attending camp at Gaitway Farms this summer. The group then had time to tour the museum prior to the start of the matinee card at the Historic Track.
(HHYF)