Jay [James] Picciano, who began his career working for Hall of Famer George Sholty and more recently for Trond Smedshammer and Chuck Sylvester, passed away over the weekend
. He was 56.
As a driver, he posted 944 wins and posted $6.75 million in earnings. Most of his career, he was a valued assistant trainer and was working for Hall of Famer Sylvester when he became critically ill.
His daughter, Jenny, of Lexington, KY was at her father’s bedside.
Buzzy Sholty and Trond Smedshammer will be holding a wake for Picciano on Wednesday, August 24, 2011.
The gathering will take place at the Clarksburg Inn in Millstone, NJ from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. and everyone is welcome.
Food will be served at 4:00 p.m. and there will be music from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. The bar inside at the Clarksburg Inn will be open after that.
Sholty and Smedshammer will also be accepting cash or check donations for Picciano's daughter and family at the party. Please mail any checks to Amy Sylvester, P.O. Box 1066, Williamstown, NJ 08094. (Please make checks payable to Jenny Picciano).
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Jay Picciano.
I was fortunate enough to
I was fortunate enough to get to know Jay many years ago, he was a genuine person and topnotch horseman. He will be missed. Rest in Peace.
Mike Keeling