College students from The Ohio State University and Rutgers University visited The Meadowlands from Aug. 2-5 for the 21st annual Clyde Hirt Journalism Workshop, presented by the Hambletonian Society in conjunction with the U.S. Harness Writers Association (USHWA).
The attendees of the workshop included Ohio State's Madison Kinner, who received a scholarship from the Ohio chapter of USHWA to cover travel expenses (meals, lodging and local transportation are covered by the workshop). Rutgers students Naaima Abd-Elhameed and Madison Castro also attended.
The focus of the workshop is to enable journalism students to cover the Hambletonian, both writing advance and results stories on deadline, while being mentored by media and industry professionals. The workshop also is an opportunity for students to learn about harness racing. None of this year’s students were familiar with the sport prior to arriving at the workshop.
In addition to covering the Hambletonian, students jogged horses at Ray Schnittker’s stable in Goshen, New York, and toured the adjacent Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame. They also worked with editors at the New York Post and had the opportunity to attend New York Giants’ training camp, where they interviewed players Deonte Banks, Tommy Sweeney and Oshane Ximines.
Those generous with their time included Lia Eustachewich (workshop graduate; managing editor, news/New York Post), Pat Leonard (NFL columnist/New York Daily News) and Kristin Roberts (education coordinator/Harness Racing Museum).
The students also attended races at The Meadowlands the day before the Hambletonian to prepare to cover the 98th edition of the event. They met with The Meadowlands judges Tom Salerno, Larry Julien and Jim Grow, and official timer Joe Joselson, were given a ride in the starter car from starting judge Merle LaFountaine, and toured the paddock.
Stories written by the students were filed to the Boston Globe, Trentonian (New Jersey) and Lexington Herald Leader (Kentucky).
The workshop is named for the longtime sports columnist and member of the Communicators Hall of Fame, Clyde Hirt. The workshop would not be possible without the generous support of the industry, including the Hambletonian Society and The Meadowlands, as well as the program’s volunteer advisors: Debbie Little (associate editor/Harness Racing Update), Dave Little (TV talent/The Meadowlands), Garnet Barnsdale (freelance handicapper and analyst), Nick Barnsdale (harnesslink.com), Ken Weingartner (media relations manager/USTA), Edison Hatter (2022 USHWA Breakthrough Award winner), Amanda Johncola (workshop graduate) and Kelly Young (formerly of the New York Sire Stakes).
(With files from USHWA)