Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Odds On Racing's

Personality of the Month
for November 2009

Jack Ginnetti

When Jack Ginnetti was born, he arrived with a notebook, the Trotting & Pacing Guide, and a pen.

For the last fifty years that is all this man thinks about, besides his family, who include his wife Maryanne and their son Jay and daughter-in-law Traci, who call California their home.

His award of USHWAn of the year in 1997 and his induction into the Communicators Corner in 2006 are a testament to the man`s integrity, desire and respect that he has from his peers for his love of the sport.

Jack Ginnetti

For Ginnetti, the Marlboro Mass. Boys Club gave him a chance to instruct the kids and write articles about their games, but without Ralph Grasso, there would be no story, as the former USHWA President took Ginnetti in like a younger brother and literally introduced him to harness racing in 1955.

Ginnetti then went to work for the Marlboro Enterprise in 1955 and covered all the New England harness tracks for ten years. From 1965-1975, he moved to the Worcester Telegram, where he went from staff reporter to Bureau Chief of the Clinton, Mass. office. He finally finished his career out at the Marlboro Enterprise, where it all began some thirty years earlier.

He now freelances articles to web sites, local and national newspapers. He has been President of the New England Chapter of the US Harness Writers for so many years, and his efforts continue to make people aware of both the history of harness racing and the awareness of what is going on today.

He continues towards the future by recognizing his peers from New England, present and past, at the annual awards banquet, be they horses, drivers, owners, trainers and even county fairs, so that we can continue to see the light shining all around the race track, day or night.

Finally, as Bob Temple, long time chapter member put it: " Without Ginnetti`s tireless efforts over the years, the New England Chapter would not exist."

A quote Jack tries to live by is: "A man never stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child. "