Phil Pines Award to Jessica Otten

Goshen, NY – Jessica Otten is a nationally recognized, award-winning journalist and television personality who burst onto the harness racing broadcast scene a decade ago and has grown exponentially ever since.

Once again, Otten will be in front of the cameras as the recipient of the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA) Monticello-Goshen Chapter’s Phil Pines Award at their annual awards banquet, presented by the New York Sire Stakes, on December 8 in Campbell Hall, NY.

A third-generation horse person, Otten has continued to build upon a strong family work ethic instilled in her by her father, Peter Otten, at their Michigan-based Standardbred stable.

While she credits being a caretaker as her first paying job, Jessica Otten jogged her first horse at the family farm in Lennon, Michigan, which is just outside of Flint, long before she had reached ‘working age.’

“I have been in the barn since the day I was born,” Otten recalled.  But few in racing have come as far, as fast, and as successfully as Jessica has.

An early adopter of social media while working at her home track of Northville Downs in 2015, Otten was scooped up by the Post Time with Mike and Mike podcast team to assist with their stake’s coverage.

In 2018, while assisting with the television broadcast at Lexington’s Red Mile, her work caught the eye of The Meadowlands general manager Jason Settlemoir.  Otten was put to work interviewing drivers and trainers from the paddock for the in-house show and ultimately providing analysis as a host on the broadcast desk at the Big M.

Her inside knowledge of harness racing, along with her pleasant and genuine demeanor, was evident immediately and she was brought on to the flagship track as the full-time marketing coordinator, in addition to her role in the TV department.

But the opportunities didn’t stop there.  Otten worked with famed PA Harness Week host Heather Vitale on the Philadelphia-NBC affiliate and was a co-host of that long-running harness news feature show.  Not only is she a fixture on the harness racing side of the nationally televised America’s Day at the Races on FOX Television, but Otten routinely juggles on-track and live broadcast duties on Hambletonian Day and the Breeders Crown.

But much of that is the ‘in front of the camera’ Jessica that the public sees.  What happened behind the scenes that helped Jessica Otten ascend to such lofty heights in such a relatively short period of time?

“I didn’t realize how much Dave Brower was teaching me without me even knowing it,” Otten recalls.  “He always pushed me to do the hard interview and be better.  He was always the first person to tell me ‘good job.’ He always had my back and always had my best interest in mind.  I miss him every day and he is a huge part of why I am who I am.”

Aside from the late Dave Brower, Otten also credits Moira Fanning, Gabe Prewitt and Emily Gaskin as inspirational.

“I think Moira Fanning is the wonder woman of harness racing.”

Jessica is also quick to recognize her mom and dad as helping pave the way.

“Without them I wouldn’t be where I am today, and I wouldn’t love the horses the way I do.  They have supported everything I do and I couldn’t be more thankful for them.”

While family is important to Jessica, she often doesn’t have to look too hard to find her sister Jenna, who has been working alongside her on many broadcasts in a variety of locations this season.

“Having her around has been a lot of fun. It’s not something any of us thought she would pursue, but she is killing it. Her role at Scioto has opened up a lot of doors for her on the management side and she is learning so much. I truly am proud of her. Believe it or not we don’t always agree on a lot of things and I think that brings a new outlook when people are watching.”

Jessica has resided in the state of New Jersey for the last five years.  Although it seems like she is always working, she does find time to go back home to Michigan and to Northfield Park where she owns a few horses with her dad, and her harness driver boyfriend, Justin Irvine.

“It just so happens to work where my off days they are racing,” Otten explains.  “So, I travel there and help them in the barn.  That way I can spend time with my dad, my boyfriend and my horses!  It’s a win-win-win situation for me.”

When asked what advice she would give her successors, Otten states indisputably, “Work hard.  Don’t ever think you already know everything.  Be like a sponge and absorb everything.  There is always room to improve and learn something new.”

From the Monticello-Goshen Chapter of USHWA