Judge and amateur driver Tony Beltrami

 Hightstown, NJ — When he was a kid, Tony Beltrami and his brothers created their own harness racing scenes using items around the house. A bouncy horse toy with a shadow roll made from a washcloth was hooked by broomstick shafts to an outdoor table as a sulky. Life preserver rings served as wheels, and belts as lines.

Their father, Louis, drove occasionally at Pocono and the boys took turns wearing his colors and helmet and got in the driver’s seat. Win and winner’s circle photos were taken with a Polaroid camera.

Years later, Beltrami has sat behind a couple hundred real horses and won numerous races as an amateur driver. But those early memories remain, as do some of the pictures. Just don’t expect to see them.

“I couldn’t show them to anybody,” Beltrami said with a laugh. “My brothers and I have been into harness racing since we were that little to do something like that. I always wanted to drive.”

Beltrami, who as his day job is a judge for the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas in east-central Pennsylvania, started driving eight years ago. And he got in a good number of win pictures in 2021. Thanks to amateurs receiving more frequent opportunities, the 59-year-old Bethlehem resident established career highs of 22 victories and 106 races. His previous highs were five wins and 18 starts.

“It was really a good year,” Beltrami said. “I never thought I would get that many drives and wins. It was a lot of traveling, but it was worth it. I was very happy with the number of wins and starts that I got, and the number of people trusting me to drive their horses. It was very gratifying.”

Beltrami’s win total last season was one fewer than the 23 recorded by Tony Verruso, who was named the Amateur Driver of the Year by the U.S. Harness Writers Association.

“Tony Verruso is a great driver,” Beltrami said. “I had a great year, and he just happened to have a better one. I’m hoping to get (the award) at some point. That’s a goal of mine.”

He has a plan.

“I told Tony that I noticed he always follows me, then tips off and wins,” Beltrami said. “I said I was going to start following him. I’ve got to reverse this.”

Among Beltrami’s highlights last year were a three-win weekend in February and being named the Driver of the Week at The Meadowlands in early September.

“I was shocked, and I was very happy with it,” Beltrami said of the Meadowlands honor. “It was a great compliment. It was really cool.”

Beltrami will be in action five times this weekend. He will compete in all four GSY Series races on Friday’s card at The Meadowlands, then drive in an American Harness Drivers Club amateur event Saturday at Freehold Raceway.

“I love doing it,” Beltrami said. “I find it to be a great outlet for me. It’s one of the most fun things I do all week. I couldn’t imagine doing this for a living; it’s pretty physically demanding. I’m glad I chose the path I did, doing this the way I’m doing it.”

Beltrami’s hands-on involvement in racing began by jogging horses at Wingate Farm, located not far from his home, after the training facility was opened by Carmine Fusco in 2012. Fusco passed away on March 18, 2020; the first COVID-19 fatality in Pennsylvania.

“If he hadn’t built that farm, I doubt I would have done it,” Beltrami said. “I started going up there on my days off and weekends to jog as many horses as I could. I really got into it and started training horses and eventually got my license.

“(Carmine) was my biggest coach and my biggest critic. It was a blow when he passed away. I think of him often. I’m very grateful that he got me to where I am now.”

As Beltrami has driven more frequently, he has gained in confidence. Beltrami has picked up 32 of his 34 career victories since the start of 2019 and is winning at a 19-percent clip during that timeframe.

“It’s harder to learn when you’re not doing it regularly,” Beltrami said. “The first couple years, you’re just trying to stay alive out there, and you get tunnel vision sometimes. There is so much going on. It’s a lot different on the track than watching on TV.

“Once I realized I could actually do this, I started getting a little more confident. When you drive more confidently, it’s easier. That’s been big for me. And I’ve had better horses to drive, which makes it easier. Other than that, I just want to work on my patience, be a little more patient as a driver, less aggressive.”

As for his future in the sport, Beltrami hopes simply to continue driving as much as his schedule allows. His passion for racing is unchanged from his childhood days spent with his brothers and their home-created horse. There is only one notable difference.

“The winner’s circle photos are better now,” he said.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA