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.

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 September 1, 2010
Year    Starts   1st    2nd    3rd    Money Won   UTRS
2010      50        11       7        6      $1,101,232      0.338
2009      150      34      25      15      $1,702,305      0.353
2008      110      33      18      12      $865,749         0.427
2007      61        20       6       12      $239,691        0.448
2006      79        10      11      16      $442,363         0.271
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                579                      $23,933,227