Harness Racing: An American Passtime

Harness racing (also known as Standardbred racing) dates back to a time when the horse was an indispensable mode of transportation. It's not hard to imagine friends and neighbors pitting their fastest steeds against one another in informal competition. County fairs became a favorite venue for these horse races, where the sport grew in popularity. Eventually dedicated racetracks were built and standards adopted to accommodate the horses, their owners, trainers and fans. According to the US Trotting Association, by the late 1800's, harness racing had become the most popular sport in America.

The Horses

Harness racing utilizes a special breed of horse called the Standardbred. The name is derived from the original standard of time a horse needed to be able to trot one mile in order to qualify for registration in the breed. A mile is still the customary distance covered in nearly all harness races.

Standardbreds are truly an American breed. These horses trace their heritage back to a Thoroughbred named Messenger. Messenger was the great-grandsire of an inbred stallion named Hambletonian 10 also known as Rysdyk's Hambletonian. Though he never raced, this stallion was known for his speed and eventually sired over 1,000 foals. Most, if not all, modern Standarbreds have roots in this bloodline.

Docile in nature, Standardbreds come in a variety of colors with bay and brown being predominant. Generally shorter than Thoroughbreds, they average between 15 and 16 hands. They also tend to be longer and more heavily muscled than their Thoroughbred cousins.

Standardbred vs Thoroughbred Racing

Perhaps the most obvious difference between Thoroughbred racing and Standardbred racing is the harness. Rather than being ridden, Standardbreds are steered from behind by a driver who sits in what is called a sulky. The sulky is a lightweight, two-wheeled cart attached to a harness worn by the horse.

Another difference is that harness racers do not gallop. Instead they use one of two gaits: trotting or pacing. Trotters move opposite front and hind legs back and forth in unison. This is the natural jogging gait for not only horses but for most quadrupeds. Pacing, on the other hand, involves moving front and hind legs on the same side of the body back and forth in unison. When pacing, the horse appears to sway somewhat from side to side. Though using a less natural motion, pacers are bred and trained to run this fashion. In fact, pacing is the faster of the two gaits and more commonly seen at the racetrack.

Pacers and trotters are raced separately, however the format is the same. Most often the horses will begin trotting or pacing relatively slowly behind a mobile starting gate (a car or truck with long, hinged arms attached to it). Once the gate reaches the starting line it will accelerate and fold the arms away, allowing the horses to pick up speed and jockey for position. If at any time during the race one of the horses begins to gallop he must be slowed and returned to the proper gait or face disqualification. As in any race, he who crosses the finish line first wins.

The Races

Harness races are held year round in the United States and are available to all levels of owners, trainer, drivers and horses. Horses of similar ability are said to be in the same class and will only race against one another (it's what keeps the races interesting). Rules, licensing and general administration of the races are governed by the US Trotting Association.

Since trotters and pacers race separately each has its own championship series or Triple Crown. Trotters run in the Yonkers Trot held at Yonkers Raceway in New York, the Hambletonian held at The Meadowlands in New Jersey, and the Kentucky Futurity held at The Red Mile in Kentucky. Pacers run in the Cane Pace at Freehold Raceway in New Jersey, the Little Brown Jug held at the Delaware County Fair, and the Messenger Stakes also at Yonkers Raceway. Purses for these races can soar into the hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars.

Many racetracks offer video gaming in addition to on track entertainment, hence the nickname "racinos." But you don't have to be a gambler to enjoy a day at the races. For more information check out the US Trotting Association at www.ustrotting.com or the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame at www.harnessmuseum.com.