Brother, can you spare a hundred?

I don’t often write in the first person, especially when it comes to harness racing, but today I’m making an exception.

A few weeks ago, I spoke with a young, Delaware-based, trainer-driver named Wyatt Long, who has just planted his foot firmly in the pool of the racing industry, for a Harnesslink feature. Wyatt should be the blueprint on which every youngster dreaming of a career as a trainer or driver should base themselves. He was articulate, polite, and glib when it came to speaking with a member of the press. I was impressed not only with his knowledge of horsemanship and the industry, but of how polite and congenial he was.

The one thing we constantly hear in this business is that “we need to get more young people involved in the sport,” or that “our demographics are lopsided on those over the age of 60.”  Obviously, this is an issue that we, in the sport, are deeply concerned about. So, everyone, let’s do something about it.

In early April, I had the good fortune to attend a Cincinnati Reds baseball game (which they won, by the way) with good friends Ellen Taylor and Bob “Hollywood” Heyden. After the obligatory hot dogs smothered in mustard and relish, Ellen and I discussed the status of the Harness Horse Youth Foundation (HHYF).

I was astounded to find out how she runs this vital program on seriously limited funds, and even more astounded to find out that there were literally no private donations from any horsemen in Ohio, outside of the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association. (I apologize if anyone in the Buckeye State has donated to HHYF recently). As well, the lack of support for HHYF from Ohio trainers, drivers, owners, and breeders is not unique to the Buckeye State.

I was also flabbergasted at the lack of support throughout the industry for HHYF—the organization that I feel is one of the most important in the industry.  After all, what could be more important or vital to the growth and strength of our industry than that of cultivating interest among youngsters? While I realize that in the current economic situation within the United States that money is more sacred than ever, what could be more sacred than helping to maintain an industry we all love?

After speaking with the ever-humble Ellen, who like me, despises asking people for money, I thought for a long time about what I could do to help. By now, most of us in harness racing know what the HHYF does—carting harness ponies, equipment, and resources all over the country to educate newbies and generational harness kids on the excitement and wonder of harness racing.

But talk is cheap. After thinking about it and being angry for the lack of support, I thought, well, girl, put your money where your mouth is—so I got out my checkbook and wrote a check for $200 to HHYF.  It’s not a lot, and not a pat on the back for myself—it’s a wake-up call for all of you out there to do the same—the right thing for HHYF.  I mean, really, can you not spare $100, $200, or even $500 to ensure the sport we love will continue for future generations? So that we will have people like Wyatt Long being a vital member of the harness racing community for decades to come. To those who have already donated and continue to do so, I say, KUDOS.

If you have not donated, and you care about the future of harness racing, do it today.

It’s important.

Here’s the address:  HHYF, 2711 Friar Tuck Road, Anderson, IN 46013.

by Kimberly Rinker, for Harnesslink