That makes him one of the most prolific amateur drivers of
all time ranking him second in races won by an amateur driver behind Walter
“Boots” Dunn’s almost insurmountable 1152 wins. However, Harrison Hoyt,
who won the Hambletonian in 1948 with Demon Hanover, arguably may have
more wins than the 123 posted on the USTA driver/trainer performance report
since he drove horses long before records were accurately kept.
Although he maintains amateur status, around the Mighty
M local fans don’t consider him an amateur., And rightly so. His 57
driving victories-- mostly against professional drivers-- in 321 starts
ranks Schwartz 12th on the local leaderboard.
In recent years Schwartz has raced his own stock and
has operated a small public stable at the Mighty M where he doubles as the
president of the Monticello Harness Horsemen’s Association.
Bolstered by his seasonal—and lifetime stats- Schwarz once
again was chosen as this season’s Amateur Driver of the Year by the
Monticello-Goshen Chapter USHWA .
For the record, Alan has now garnered the local Amateur Driver
of the Year Award three times over the past decade. He was also the National
Amateur Driver of the Year during the 2000 campaign, an award which was
selected and presented by the National organization of USHWA.
A former
businessman who owned and operated Coast To Coast
Moving and Storage for many years Schwartz
got bitten by the
harness racing bug back in the 1980’s. He was strictly an owner back
then, even had one of the most outstanding pacers racing on the old New York-
metropolitan circuit; a pacer named
Curragh.
“He
(Curragh) was the catalyst for me getting involved as a driver,” Schwartz
explained. “I got my amateur license in 1988 and though I’ve had an “A” (full)
license for years I continue to remain with amateur status.”
Schwartz
joined the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Driving Series in the late 1980’s and has
been a force to be reckoned with ever since. He was the overall
Billings Champion in 2000 when he won the Gold Cup Final. But he has also won
the Silver Cup Final in 1997 and 1998 and each and every year he either
wins the points championships in his region or is among the leaders.
As an officer in the North American Amateur Drivers
Association Alan occasionally gets to travel abroad to compete in amateur
driving competitions. He has driven in many European
countries--Russia included-- as well as in Canada, New Zealand, and Australia
and usually with good success. Moreover, he has represented the United States
three times in the prestigious World Cup of Amateur Racing. And few years ago he
represented the United States against professional drivers in Russia.
