The Harness Horse Youth Foundation has announced an extensive 40th anniversary summer program schedule which includes several new locations and also the organization’s established leadership program at the Goshen Historic Track in New York.
The complete 2016 schedule information, is available here. Applications will go live on the website in mid-February. HHYF’s popular five-day overnight camps, for students 12-14, will be held June 18-22 at the Delaware, Ohio Fairgrounds; at Vernon Downs in New York from July 12-16, and at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in Wilkes Barre, PA from July 19-23. A five-day, non-overnight camp at Gaitway Farm in New Jersey will be held July 25-29.
These camps culminate with driving exhibitions. One participant from each location will be invited to participate on Hambletonian Day at the Meadowlands Racetrack on August 6. The leadership program for high-school-age students with previous HHYF experience is set for Goshen Historic Track and the Harness Racing Museum from July 5-9. All events feature hands-on experience, including driving the organization’s stable of Trottingbred horses as well as field trips and guest speakers.
Shorter introductory programs for children ages 11 and up are scheduled for Ahoskie, North Carolina on June 25 and 26; Ocean Downs (date pending) in Maryland on June 28; Rosecroft Raceway, also in Maryland, on June 30 and at Ohio’s Scioto Downs on August 9. Check the website for possible additional public programs. A number of closed programs for interested groups (4-H, scouts, etc.) are scheduled and dates remain available for additional programs for similar organizations.
“It seems only fitting that we will begin our season at the home of the Little Brown Jug and end at the Hambletonian to celebrate our 40th anniversary,” explained HHYF Executive Director Ellen Taylor. “The Ohio camp returns us to our roots as the organization began in Ohio back in 1976.”
(Harness Horse Youth Foundation)