Stacy Chiodo selected to USTA District 12 expired term

Columbus, OH — U.S. Trotting Association District 12 Chairperson Jeff Gregory has informed the Association that harness racing trainer/driver Stacy Chiodo has been selected to serve the remainder of Jacquie Ingrassia’s term on the Board of Directors, which will expire in 2025.

Ingrassia signed for Chiodo’s license when she first started and has served as a role model for her.

 

“Jacquie had mentioned it to me, told me she was thinking of retiring from the position and asked me if I’d be interested,” said Chiodo. “She felt I’d be a good candidate because I own, train, drive, and breed. I’m honored. It means a lot to me because I really looked up to her for what she accomplished as a woman.”

Chiodo, who became the first female driver to break the 1:50 barrier when she guided Mighty Young Joe to a 1:49.3 victory at The Meadowlands on May 3, 2014, assumed her post as director in late March.

Her interest in horses began at Crystal Brook Training Center in Colts Neck, N.J., where she is currently stabled with her husband Bruno. Chiodo enjoyed barrel racing and qualified for the National Barrel Horse Association national finals. Today she owns a Quarter Horse and still participates in barrel racing as well as trail riding with her horse “Ray.”

It was there that she got her first job in harness racing cleaning stalls for trainer Ross Croghan. And Croghan gave Chiodo her first horses to groom. She has also worked for trainers Chris Height and Mike Russo.

A unique opportunity arose when Chiodo was asked to work on the farm of music superstar Bruce Springsteen to take care of his horses. She was only 23 at the time and had a serious stroke before taking the job. The farm waited until she recovered and Chiodo went to work for them. She also worked part time for trainer Carl Cito during that time.

Chiodo won a women’s driving championship in Norway in 2011.

Chiodo, who has been training and driving since 2002, won her first pari-mutuel race as a trainer with Dirty Harry at Yonkers Raceway on Jan. 26, 2002, and as a driver with Mighty Young Joe in the Reynolds Stake on July 15, 2005, at Pocono Downs.

From the USTA