Saratoga Springs, NY
Birthplace: Buffalo, NY
Birthdate: 01/25/1959
Colors: Red-Blue-White
John Stark, Jr. came to Saratoga in 1990 after having been the leading driver at Vernon Downs from 1985 – 1988. He was the USTA District 8 Driver of the Year in 1997.
A trainer as well as a driver, John was the United States Harness Writers’ Association Trainer of the Year in 1995, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2006. He was voted Horseman of the Year in 2000, 2004 and 2006.
John trained and drove the USHWA Horse of the Year, Bunny Lake, who won over $2.8 million during her illustrious career.
John scored his 4,000th driving victory on June 21, 2009. His lifetime driving purses are over $25 million.
John was inducted into the Saratoga Harness Hall of Fame in 2013.