Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Odds On Racing's

Trainer of the Month
for April 2006

Chuck Sylvester

Since the 1980s, Chuck Sylvester has been one fo the most successful trainers in harness racing. Born in Toledo, Ohio on June 18, 1940, and after modest success at the Ohio raceways and fairs, Chuck earned enormous success and notority with one of the sport greatest trotters ever--Mack Lobell.

Mack Lobell was the 1987 and 1988 Horse of the Year--only the third trotter in harness racing history to repeat two years in a row. This great trotter set world records on every sized oval, winning every major trotting stake possible. "Mack" went on to score a 41-5-6 record from 58 starts during his three years of racing, taking a sophomore record of 1:52.1 at Springfield and earning $3.9 million.

Chuck Sylvester

Chuck Sylvester with his famed trotter, Mack Lobell

In the early 1990s Chuck found himself with another trotting star--Pine Chip. Pine Chip was twice named Trotter of the Year (in 1993 & 1994), and won, among others, the Breeders Crown at two and three, the Beacon Course, an American National, etc.

Chuck began his career by campaigning at Raceway Park and at the Detroit area tracks. In the late 1960s he developed the Invitational trotters Slomen and Sirloin, but garnered additional success with Diamond Exchange--a son of Arnie Almahurst that Chuck bought for $6,000 as a yearling who went on to earn over $624,000 with a mark of 1:55.

Many trainers haven't got the time or won't take the time
to deal with trotting fillies,

...Chuck Sylvester

Since those early modest days at Raceway Park, Chuck has gone on to train the likes of Hambletonian winners Muscles Yankee and Chip Chip Hooray. He also conditioned Armbro Devona, Laughs, Britelite Lobell, Park Avenue Joe, Armbro Iliad, Carry The Message, Whiteland Janice, Armbro Keepsake, Winky's Goal, Thisoldheartofmine, Incredible Abe, Divine Victory, King Pine, Paige Nicole Q, Meadowbranch Lou, Running Tail, My starchip, Southwind Maywood, Southwind Flanders, Incredible Hulk and Mutineer.

Sylvester says he prefers to train trotting fillies even though they can be difficult to handle at times.

"There's no question they take longer and are more trouble to get there," Chuck notes. "Many trainers haven't got the time or won't take the time to deal with them. It requires a lot of patience and hard work, but if you can show consistency in producing good trotting fillies you have an edge on the competition."

Even though he's pretty much given up driving, Chuck still climbs into the sulky on occasion. Through his career (from 1977 to the present), Chuck has 214 wins as a driver with $589,122.

"I like to drive the two-year-olds during their first starts because a catch-driver might be too eager for a win," he says. "You can assess any problems they are having. Other than that, I like to get the best driver possible."

Chuck Slyvester's Lifetime Training Statistics as of April 1, 2006
Year    Starts 1st     2nd   3rd     Money Won    UTRS
2005        97      18      12      13      $222,011         0.299
2004      116      25      18      15      $777,436      0.345
2003      124      25      19      13      $978,901         0.322
2002      152      37      20      20      $1,976,153      0.360
2001      112      40      17      16      $1,946,674      0.489
2000      141      35      26      16      $1,577,828      0.388
1999      181      22      30      16      $718,038         0.243
1998      216      48      35      20      $2,932,108      0.343
1997      137      30      25      15      $1,431,710      0.357
1996      192      49      36      19      $1,884,552      0.392
1995      124      22      20      19      $1,075,425      0.318
1994      205      57      32      27      $1,609,464      0.409
1993      84      26      13       7      $1,156,829      0.423
1992       87      24      11      6      $804,381         0.369
1991        64      13       6        6      $490,377         0.286
Total     471                                 $19,581,887

2006 Archives
March: Billy Haughton
February: Bill Robinson