18-year-old making a splash in the big pond

Harness racing driver Jesse Barnard is making a splash in the big pond of western Pennsylvania harness racing.

The lanky 18-year-old, who calls Canonsburg, PA home, began his driving career in 2024, amassing a respectable $49,685 in 85 starts, garnering 10 wins, 13 seconds, and 10 thirds, for a UDRS of .242.

Jesse grew up in a harness racing family, working as a youngster alongside his parents, trainer Robert Barnard and his wife Tina Marie Gelly. His sister Savannah, 20, recently received her trainer’s license and works for the Wilder family.

“I was always around the horses, but I really didn’t like any of being involved with them until I was 16 years old,” Jesse admitted. “I didn’t want to be in the barn, initially, but I tried out for the basketball team and got cut so I needed something to do, and it seemed natural as a summer job.”

Then, as Jesse admits, he fell in love.

“It was like I got bit by the bug, and all of a sudden a light went off and I opened my mind to it, and was hooked,” he said.

Upon graduating from Canon McMillian High School in May of 2024, Jesse contemplated a path to college but then decided to stick with the horses.

“Of course, my parents wanted me to go to college, but in the end, they let me make the decision and I thought about going, as it is probably a smart idea, but I really wanted to work with the horses full time right off the bat,” he explained. “Even in high school I got an early work release so I could start driving qualifiers, and honestly, I never really liked the idea of going to college.”

Jesse climbed into the sulky for the first time for a Meadows’ qualifier on March 5 of this year, and steered his mare Dig Deep to victory in 1:59.3, drawing off by 5¼ lengths.

“That filly, although she is not with me now, was great,” Jesse said. “That first qualifier I pulled her at the half, and she smoked the whole field. I had a smile all over my face that entire day. I drove her in some fair races after that and she always took care of me.”

Jesse’s first official start came this summer at Circleville in an Ohio Fair Stakes (OHFS) where he finished sixth with the sophomore colt trotter Dream Team Hall. His first official win followed a few weeks later at the Butler County Fair on June 26 in a Pennsylvania Sires Stake (PASS) contest, when he guided Dig Deep to a 2:01 clocking. The driver-horse team followed that up with a second PASS triumph at Stoneboro Fair on June 30 (in 2:01), and a third PASS win on July 6 at Meadville in 2:02

Twenty days later, Jesse recorded his first win at a major pari-mutuel oval, driving Zen Da Ballykeel to win a $5,000 Holton contest at Northfield in 1:56.2, on July 26.

“Honestly, going into the race, I thought the horse had a chance, but I had never driven the horse before,” Jesse said. “But I was a youth race, and everyone was gunning out of there and going like crazy to half, so I knew a bunch of them were going to get tired, and down the lane, I had a big smile, reeling them in on the front end. That was one of the best moments of my career so far.”

Jesse says that initially, all he thought about was becoming a catch driver, but now his focus has shifted somewhat.

“When I first started, I really wanted to be a catch driver, but as I’ve gotten more into the business and more involved with the horses on a daily basis, I enjoy both aspects of it,” he said. “I really like horses who have a lot of grit, and I like working with them in the mornings. Dad has taught me to be patient with horses, and where to look for soundness issues and how to treat problems.  Mostly, he and Mike Wilder have taught me to do things in slow motion with horses that can be temperamental. They both stress the importance of slowing things down and letting the horse do the work themselves and not trying to force them into anything.

“My dad, as a trainer, has talents that are underrated,” Jesse continued. “We’ve gotten horses in the barn who have had four or five trainers before, who can’t get them to go, and Dad gets them to the races. He has a talent for figuring out horses that are misfits and he has a lot of patience, and his care for them is what I find inspiring.”

Jesse’s training statistics aren’t far behind his driving ones, as reflected by eight wins, nine seconds, and six thirds in 52 starts this season, which saw his two horses, Dine With Kings and Dig Deep, earn $41,573. Likewise, his colors reflect his family influences.

“My colors are red, black, and yellow,” he explained. “I combined those of my great uncle Mel Turcotte and my dad’s and adapted them for myself.”

Jesse said he also looks up to driver Ronnie Wrenn, Jr., as a model horseman.

“His style of driving and his story is inspirational to me,” Jesse said of Wrenn, Jr. “He always presents himself in a professional manner, and he’s ‘worked hard to get where he’s at, which is admirable.”

Jesse has also attracted the attention and goodwill of his fellow horse people.

“He’s a wonderful young man,” stressed Heather Wilder. “He’s kind with a horse and has tons of talent. His dad and sister actually work in our barn before going to their barn and the whole family are amazing horse people. They are all so knowledgeable and helpful. Jesse just comes from great roots—old school people that really care about the animal, and his dad is pure class.”

“In ten years, I’d like to be a good enough trainer where if people see my name on a program—they’d be like, ‘that’s guys sharp.’” Jesse acknowledged. “And if I’m not driving one of my own in a race, I’d like to think that other horsemen are at least thinking about putting me down to drive their horses.

“My goal is growing my stable and continue on this journey,” he concluded. “It’s nice to work with my family every day too. Knowing that you have a lot of support from your family really just makes every day that much better.”

by Kimberly Rinker, for Harnesslink