After 30 years Jim Slendorn back to winning races

Jim Slendorn went 30 years between winning as a harness racing driver, but ever since then, the victories have been coming with increased frequency. The 58-year-old Slendorn, a regular in the GSY Series for amateurs, has added 20 triumphs since he captured a conditioned event at Freehold Raceway in January 2021, his first win since 1991 at the same track.

“It’s just crazy that I had that span,” Slendorn said. “Lo and behold, here I am again. It’s really amazing. I can’t believe this really happened.”

Slendorn was 8 years old when he began jogging horses with his father, Robert, at the family’s small farm in central New Jersey. By the time he was in his late teens, he was driving horses in qualifiers and eventually won a couple races at Freehold Raceway.

Soon though, family and his job as an ironworker became Slendorn’s focus, and for the most part, he stepped away from racing. But he always kept his license and after his kids graduated from high school, some friends suggested he consider driving as an amateur. In 2020, he qualified a horse he co-owned, Vergeofgreatness N, for trainer Kelvin Harrison and the rest is history.

“Once I got the taste again, and the adrenaline behind the (starting) car, that was it,” Slendorn said. “It just took off from there. Now, I’m all in. I’m really all in. I think I’ve got nine horses now. It’s crazy. I’m having a little success driving with some of these horses, so I’m going to keep doing it and see what happens.”

One of Slendorn’s top moments since his return came in June 2021 when he won for the first time at The Meadowlands, with his dad in attendance.

“For him to be there, watch me get a win at The Meadowlands, and be in the winner’s circle with me, you can’t even explain it,” Slendorn said. “The Meadowlands has always been the place to be. It was absolutely incredible.”

Slendorn has two drives at The Meadowlands on Friday. The first, in the GSY Series, is with Ferdinand A, a 10-year-old pacer he owns with Harrison. Slendorn has notched eight wins with the gelding over the past two years. The horse was second by a neck in his most recent start, Dec. 30, and is the 3-1 morning-line favorite.

“He’s a dream horse to drive,” Slendorn said. “He’s got a lot of speed and gives you everything he has. He’s been nothing but a pleasure.”

Slendorn’s remaining drive is with another horse he owns, Claytons Bettor N, in a conditioned pace. Claytons Bettor N was second in his most recent outing, a Dec. 16 start in the GSY. He is 10-1 on the morning line.

“I haven’t beaten the big guys yet,” Slendorn said, referring to The Big M’s regular drivers. “If anybody can do it, I think Clayton can.”

Slendorn, who won 15 of 116 races in 2022 and hit the board an additional 35 times, spent a lot of his time away from racing watching his sons Jimmy and Kyle compete in wrestling. Kyle was the winningest wrestler in Howell High School history and a two-time runner-up in the state tournament. Now a senior at Stevens Institute of Technology, he is a three-time All-American as well as three-time scholar All-American. He finished fourth in the NCAA Division III tournament last season.

“It’s funny,” Slendorn said. “I’ve watched my kids compete all this time, and I would be a nervous wreck in the stands watching them wrestle. Now they’re coming to the track and they’re nervous as heck in the stands watching me on the track. The whole thing got flipped.”

Slendorn enjoys the competition in the GSY, as well as the entire experience.

“It’s a great group,” Slendorn said. “We’re all pretty close. There is a lot of camaraderie with all the drivers. It’s just really fun. I look forward to Friday night. Friday night lights.

“My wife (Maureen) is getting into it too. She has friends at the track. We have dinner. It’s a whole night out for us.”

As for his future in racing, Slendorn hopes to maintain his level of success.

“I’m planning on trying to do about the same as I did last year,” Slendorn said. “I’m just going to try to keep on rolling.”

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA