Driver Mark MacDonald and trainer Ray Schnittker teamed up to win four dashes on the 11-race program on Saturday, July 5 at Goshen Historic Track, including two New York Excelsior Series events and two Landmark Stakes.
The tandem's first win came in a $27,027 Excelsior event for three-year-old pacing fillies, in which MacDonald used Huntsville-Worldly Treasure filly Huntingfortreasure early from post eight to secure a close stalking spot behind stablemate Cervi (driven by Schnittker) through fractions of :28.2, :56.4 and 1:26.2 before emerging in upper stretch to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:56 for owner-breeder Steve Jones.
They came right back to win a $27,027 Excelsior section for three-year-old male pacers, doing so with Holt Hanover, who controlled the pace through splits of :27.3, :57 and 1:25.4 before keeping American Son at bay by three-quarters of a length to win in 1:54.2. Schnittker co-owns the Huntsville-Heart Major colt with Joe Sbrocco, Gunjan Patel and Gewertz Latore Palumbo.
MacDonald and Schnittker swept the Landmark Stakes for sophomore fillies, taking the $10,237 pace with Bronx Mixer in 1:55.4 and the $6,554 trot with Shes A Shoe In in 1:58.
Jason Bartlett again scored a driving triple, highlighted by World Of Wishes' 1:54.1 win over eight rivals in the $26,351 Landmark for three-year-old male pacers. The Chris Ryder-trained son of Bettors Wish-Peak Of Chic controlled fractions of :29.2, :58.1 and 1:26.4 before sprinting home in :27.2 to evade runner-up Bitcoin Hanover's inside rally by three lengths for owner Philip Steinberg.
Gimlet Hanover and owner-trainer-driver D.R. Ackerman captured the other Landmark event, repelling Karinchak on the far turn to win the $10,878 three-year-old male trot in 2:04.1.
The fastest mile of the day was authored by Baleville Bomber, riding the pocket behind Ima Perfect Choice through splits of :28.4, :56.1 and 1:24.1 before emerging late to win his Excelsior division for male pacers by a head in 1:52.2 with Bartlett in tow. Nicholas DeVita trains the Huntsville-Actress Hanover gelding for David Hamm, Glenn Phillips and the DeVita Racing Stable.
The Monticello-Goshen Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA) made its annual donation to the world renowned harness racing track during Saturday's program. Due to the success of the chapter’s collaboration with the New York Sire Stakes and their combined annual banquet, this year’s cheque for $10,135 was nearly double the amount from previous years.
Track president Steve Jones accepted the donation from chapter president Chris Tully in the winner’s circle, following a race that was ironically won by a horse owned and bred by Jones.
“This year’s support from the Monticello-Goshen chapter is especially generous," said Jones. "As always, Historic Track has several projects earmarked for renovation and improvement, and this lofty sum certainly goes a long way.”
“Historic Track is one of the most distinct places in all of harness racing," said Tully. "Each year, the grandstand comes alive amid the cheers of hundreds of racing fans. It’s an incredible sight to see and it is an honour to raise money for both of our beloved ‘Cradle of the Trotter’ facilities.”
The organization makes annual donations to both Goshen Historic Track and the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame, two separate and distinct entities that share the same hallowed ground and a mutual purpose of preserving and promoting harness racing.
The 2025 Grand Circuit meet at Goshen Historic Track concludes on Sunday, July 6 with an eight-race program. First post is 1 p.m.
(Goshen Historic Track & USHWA)