MONTICELLO, NY — Wander around the paddock area at Monticello Raceway—the “Mighty M” of harness racing in the Catskills—and a sports scribbler is surrounded by rows of tails.

If the writer takes a few minutes, they can listen to tales from the paddock, as the dedicated folks who make it happen—the owners, drivers, trainers and grooms—share vignettes from their lives in the sport.

The other day, while down in the paddock as the horses were getting ready to take to the track, this sports writer had a chance to talk to some of the harness racing folks, and these are a few of their stories.

Sharon Galligan, a groom working for Middletown trainer Mark Ford Stables, said that back in the ‘90s she owned a couple of horses. Reflecting on those earlier days, she said, “I was young; it was fun and something to do, just being around the horses at Monticello Raceway.”

They were cheap horses, she added, “and I had whoever I could get to drive them.” She cited John Desimone and Gary Messenger as examples of noted drivers of her equine competitors.

Galligan took a break from grooming Air Guitar, owned by Bob Hirsch and trained by Ford.  She got into the sport, she said, “because I love horses, and I’ve been doing it 20 years or better.”

She talked a bit of horse sense. “Every horse is different; they have their own personalities, which you learn when you take care of ‘em.”

As a groom, Galligan travels to various tracks, including Monticello, Pocono Downs, Yonkers Raceway, Chester Racetrack and the famed Meadowlands.

But her favorite is the Mighty M.

“I know all the people up here; they’re all good guys… the grooms and the drivers, they are all really helpful.”

Cory Stratton grew up in Ohio, but now lives in Spring Hill. Harness racing, he said, “[is] my whole life. My parents are in it, and I just grew up in it. It’s the only thing I know how to do. It’s not like a real job, it’s a lifestyle, and I wouldn’t trade it up.”

Stratton owns about 30 horses, and although he’s at home in a sulky seat, he mostly focuses on training. The horses reside at Mark Ford’s stables.

Stratton’s take on Monticello Raceway?

“This is pretty much home for me,” he replied. “It’s a track that’s always going to survive no matter what they throw at ‘em. It’s the most resilient track I’ve ever seen.

“People here are great, because they love racing,” he continued, “and if anything ever happens in the business, they will probably be the last track going.”

With a nod to bringing out more spectators to see the harness races, he said, “Come on out and watch the races one day.”

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What about young drivers?

Shawn Wiles, executive director of racing and facilities at Monticello Raceway—and a member of the United States Trotting Association (USTA) board of directors—mentioned Adam Moeykens.

Moeykens is a 20-year-old driver who graduated from Honesdale High in 2020. He’s “a young and upcoming driver here at Monticello… he grew up in the business, and he’s got harness racing pouring through his veins.”

He is a third-generation horseman— Moeykens’ father and grandfather preceded him in the sport. Of his dad, the son said, “He’s done it his whole life.”

Adam Moeykens started driving his father’s horses, stabled at the Wayne County Fairgrounds, along with driving for the David Jingle stables.

“I got hooked very early,” said Moeykens. “I love working with horses; it brings me peace almost.”

The young driver singled out several veteran drivers as horse pilots from whom he has learned: Bruce Aldridge Jr., Jimmy Taggart, Brendon Parker and the Merton clan of Thomas, Gregory and Shane. “You can learn a lot from them, because they’ve been doing it for a long time.”

Asked what it was like to race at Monticello, Moeykens replied with a glance in the rearview mirror at the veteran drivers, “It’s the sport. They don’t give nothin’ away here; it’s very competitive.

“Everybody’s trying to make money,” he continued. “You’ve got to be at the top of your game. It’s not easy.”