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Fielding, a graduate of
Rider College and longtime Monticello (NY) native, has been involved in harness
racing for many decades and obtained his initial New York license in 1960.
“I got started in the
business jogging horses and breaking yearlings helping the John Manzi Stables
at Monticello Raceway,” Fielding acknowledged. “I’ve also been involved in
harness racing through the Ron Ingrassia and Gary Messenger Stables.”
By 1981, Fielding began
delving into harness racing more avidly. He obtained an amateur license that
season and over the years, usually with less than 20 drives annually, he thus
far has driven 64 winners.
Fielding’s involvement in
the sport has increased over the years not only as an amateur driver but as
founder and president of the Catskill Amateur Drivers Club (CADC).
“For 20 years I was the vice
president of the Billings Series and have long been a member Board of Directors
at Goshen Historic Track,” he said.
“As a member of the Board of
Directors of Goshen Historic Track I chair the racing committee serving as a
licensed Presiding Judge and matinee race secretary.”
An amateur driver with 64
wins to his credit Fielding is proud of having driven the winners of two
Billings consolations as well as four CADC Pacing finals. He also won the
Goshen International Trot and a North American Amateur Drivers Associations
Final at Yonkers.
“At Monticello (Raceway) a
few years ago I won the Bob Grant Trot and I hold a track record there,” he
added. “I am a former "Amateur Driver of the Year" at Monticello
Raceway --named by the Monticello-Goshen Chapter USHWA-- and I have had the
privilege of racing in Canada, Finland, Estonia, Germany, The Netherlands,
Belgium, Italy, and Spain as well as 11 different states in the US.
Over the years Fielding has
owned several harness horses. “My partner on many horses, Dr. Scott Leaf, keeps
me active as an owner of many Standardbreds,” he said.
Fielding is involved in
multiple sports, much to the envy of his septuagenarian friends. He is a world
class skier and has also been in the ski business most of his life, too.
And he is still active today.
“I have been on the New York
Tramway Council for over 30 years; appointed by multiple New York
governors. We (the Tramway Council) are an arm of the NY Dept. of Labor
Division of Safety & Health promulgating all legislation In NY.
The Monticello, NY
resident has been married for 48 years to Kathy and together they’ve raised
three children and are the proud grandparents of seven.
