Trainer-driver Ray Small retiring at Pocono Downs

Raymond (Ray) Small of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., will retire from the sport of harness racing Wednesday (June 30).

On Wednesday night, he’ll also be celebrating his 79th birthday ry and retirement in the clubhouse at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. The veteran horseman has been a fixture at the Northeastern

Pennsylvania racetrack for many years. He was born in McSherrystown, near Hanover, Pa., June 30, 1931.He first began driving standardbreds in 1977 on the Pennsylvania Fair Circuit.

“I went out to the fair at Carlisle and caught the bug,” said Small, who was quite the all-around athlete in high school in his home town.

“John Cope, an elderly gentleman, is the guy I met at the fair. He asked me if I wanted to help him out and from that day on I got involved in the sport of harness racing.

“I certainly didn’t get rich from the sport but I loved it and also started training horses in 1991. I raced all over the eastern seaboard, including Rockingham, Ocean City, Rosecroft, Pompano, Laurel and Foxboro.”

Small said the first horse he ever claimed cost him $1,000 and that was off J.D. Dennis at Georgetown in Delaware.

“I’m just going to take it easy now and watch the races,” noted Small. “It’s just too tough these days. I have no regrets and I’d do it all over if I could. I’ve met a lot of nice people over the years and have fond memories. I lived my dream.” (Pocono Downs)