A busy Pennsylvania Fair Harness Racing season finished with a flourish on October 5th with Dayton Fairgrounds as the final stop. From Butler to Bloomsburg; Clearfield to Crawford; Erie to Gratz; Wayne County, Lycoming County, Indiana, Somerset, and Stoneboro, the champions of tomorrow lined up behind the Starting Gate with an eye toward the Winner’s Circle, as well as a coveted spot in the finals.
On Monday, October 13, the Pennsylvania Fair Finals will be held at Pocono Downs at Mohegan PA. Eight divisions will be contested on the card, with a stacked field in several of them. Trainer/Driver Aaron Johnston took a moment to reflect on the fair season, and his horses heading to the finals.
“It’s been a long summer fair season!” he laughed. “We’ve been all over the place! But I think I’ve got a shot to do okay in the finals, so I am definitely looking forward to it.”
Based at the Meadows Racetrack in Washington, Pennsylvania, Aaron has 15 horses at his farm just outside Pittsburgh with his wife Jennifer. The trainer/driver was honored in April after he achieved 200 driving wins, and to date has well surpassed that total. His career training earnings is over $3.1 million. The entire family is a harness racing family, from his father, horseman Gary Johnston, to his brother, trainer Shawn Johnston, and his aunts Debbie Schoeffel, Tracy Chropek, and cousin Kelly Rader.
“I have two in the same race on Monday,” he said. (Race 11-Its Written & Don’t Touch My T) “Don’t Touch My T, she’s the one that has a true shot, I would think, to win. Tony Schadel has two nice horses in that race, (Tina’s Wish and Milagro), they’ve won like ten races apiece all year. The one that drew the rail, Skepticism, I’ve raced with her at the Meadows earlier, and she beat me there. Of course, the fairs have kind of equaled her out a little, and she’s been off for about a month, so I don’t know what to expect. But I’d like to think Don’t Touch My T is as good as any of them.”
Aaron Johnston Photos
“It’s Written has just had an off-year. She was sharp early, but hasn’t won a race at the fairs, so a big track will definitely help her out. She was better over the big surfaces than the smaller ones.
Aaron usually drives his horses, but stepped back a little over the summer. “I used catch drivers on everything out there this year, so I’m hoping that gives me a little spark!”
Although he’s driving in one race in the finals, it’s not one of his own. “I’m driving for Bruce Schadel!” he laughed. “I’m driving Bruce’s horse, and not driving my own. I don’t know if I probably should have told him that in advance! He’s got a trotting filly that’s a little funny. I didn’t know I wasn’t going to drive mine until the last minute. I guess I did list people when I called in, but I called in late, and was just making sure who was going to be there. I was down on Its Written, and then I saw who was available. I would have driven my other horse, (Don’t Touch My T) and let someone else drive Its Written, but I haven’t won a race with her all year, so I thought I might as well try something to spark her, and see if I can’t get something more out of her.”
While Aaron is hopeful for a good racing effort from his horses, and a trip or two to the Winner’s Circle, he’s wishing that something doesn’t happen. The forecast is calling for some rain. “Oh no I hope not! That place is terrible in the rain!!!!! There’s nothing worse than all that red mud!” he laughed.
Post time for Monday’s card at Pocono Downs is 1:00pm.
Aaron Johnston
Driver Stats
Wins 526 2nd 592 3rd 667
$3,226,556 Lifetime
Trainer Stats
Wins 347 2nd 348 3rd 421
$3,176,358 Lifetime
Cover Photo Credit to Aaron Johnston
