Table of Contents WHAT IS HARNESS RACING? p.2 What Is a Standardbred? Life After Racing THE RACETRACK EXPERIENCE p.4 Pacers vs. Trotters Position Is Everything EQUIPPED FOR RACING p.6 MAKE A BET p.8 The Tote Board Handicapping Factors MAIN EVENTS p.10 Racing at the Fair Stakes vs. Overnights A HISTORY OF HARNESS RACING p.12 Night at the Museum Welcome to the wonderful world of harness racing! This is an exciting sport to watch featuring magnificent animals, and a challenging game on which to bet. Let us at the U.S. Trotting Association, the official record-keeper for the sport of harness racing and breed registry of the Standardbred horse, be your guide in the next few pages. We will show you the beauty of the Standardbred breed, ex- plain a few things you might see at a racetrack, and even give you a few tips on how you can make some money and have fun wagering on the sport. For more information, visit FanGuide.ustrotting.com or scan the QR code below. 1 This Is Harness Racing What Is Harness Racing? For more than 150 years people have been falling in love with the sport of harness racing. Dating back to the early 19th century, harness racing has been an integral part of American sports history. Whether it’s the majesty of the horses, the thrill of cashing a win- ning ticket, or the simple pleasure of a summer evening spent watching athletes compete at the highest level, harness racing has something for everyone. What Is a Standardbred? The Standardbred is a beautiful, Virtually every North American gentle breed of horse that is affec- Standardbred can be traced back tionate and easy to work with. The to Messenger’s great-grandson, breed comes in many colors, with Hambletonian 10. bay (a light brown) and The name “Standardbred” brown being the most originated because the early dominant. They trotters were required to weigh between reach a certain standard of 800 and 1,200 time for the mile distance lbs. and are known in order to be registered for their willing as part of the new breed. temperaments. Harness racing is based The beginnings in tradition and history, of the Standardbred but the Standardbred breed breed can be traced back continues to evolve each year. It’s to the horse Messenger, a gray amazing to watch these incredible Thoroughbred who was brought animals reach new levels of speed to the U.S. in the 18th century. and excellence. 2 In harness racing, a But even if you can’t af- specific breed of horses ford to own or train a horse, called Standardbreds pull a you can get up close and two-wheeled cart known as personal with the animals a racebike, which is steered and drivers at the racetrack. by a driver. These horses Many tracks offer barn and can reach speeds in excess paddock tours and a chance of 30 mph. to meet the horsemen who One thing that makes compete there. harness racing great is that Although you can watch anyone can get involved. harness racing from your With a small investment home, on your computer almost anyone can own a and even on your phone, horse, and there are trainers the best way to experience and drivers of all different the sport is live and in experience levels. There are person, so visit FanGuide. even entire circuits just for ustrotting.com to find a amateur drivers. racetrack near you! Many Standardbreds, like Life After the ones pictured here, make great pleasure horses Racing after they’re done racing. As a breed, Standard- breds are athletic, and speed racking. intelligent and well- But even if there isn’t a suited for many different new “job” wait- tasks. After they’re done ing for a horse racing (or perhaps if after he’s done they never raced at all), racing, the many Standardbreds go goal is always on to find new homes to find a good, and new vocations. Many loving home Vocations such ex-race- for them, and as police or military horses also have there are numerous mounts, trail-riding success competing adoption, retirement companions and outrid- in special disciplines and pleasure horse or- ers are all a good fit for such as dressage, ganizations committed retired Standardbreds. endurance riding, to doing just that. 3 This Is Harness Racing The Racetrack Experience wagering options from which to choose. Many racetracks also offer slot machines or video lottery terminals for their patrons to enjoy. These hybrid tracks are called “racinos.” Revenues from alternative gaming boosts harness racing by raising the purses, or the amount of money for which the horses race. There are usually between 10 and There is no better place to find out what 15 races on any given night and there harness racing is all about than at the is about 20 minutes between each race. racetrack. Live racing offers pageantry, This break allows horses to warm up on beauty, drama, and, of course, blazing the track for later races and gives bettors speed. It takes less than two minutes to a chance to study the racing program and convert a first-time visitor into a life-long make their wagers. fan. Before the race starts, the horses are There are two main areas for harness introduced on the track by the announcer fans to watch the races: the grandstand in the post parade. and the clubhouse. The grandstand offers After the post parade, the starting general admission, stadium-style seating, gate (the car or truck with “wings” on with “ballpark” food available nearby, it) leads the horses to the starting line. while the clubhouse offers a more elegant Harness races are almost always one experience with restaurant-quality food. mile in length and most are finished in When you walk into the clubhouse or less than two minutes. After the race, the grandstand, you will see televisions all winning horse and driver return to the around. These TVs are simulcasting, or winner’s circle to get their picture taken broadcasting, races from racetracks all with the winning owner, trainer and other over the world to give the bettors more connections. Pacers vs. Trotters Harness races are divid- the loops connecting maintain its gait goes ed into two gaits: pacers parallel legs that help “off-stride,” which and trotters. Horses in them maintain their means it starts to gallop each race are all racing gait. A horse that can’t and must move out of on the same gait. the way and lose ground When pacers race, PACER until it can recover its the legs on the same gait. There will usu- side of their body move ally be more pacing in unison. They can races than trotting races also be identified by during a race card, and their hobbles, which are pacers tend to go faster. 4 Position Is Everything Since the horses are pulling racebikes with drivers, positioning on the race- track is of the utmost importance in order to get to the finish line first. Here are some terms that you might hear the announcer say during the race. The horse in the lead (1) is in a good spot, but has to cut the mile and has no cover. The horse on the outside (2) is parked and first-over, and has to cover more ground than the horse in the lead. The horse behind the leader on the rail (3) is in the pocket and enjoys both the shortest distance to the finish and a horse in front to take the wind, but is boxed in and may not find room to advance. The horse behind the first-over horse (4) issecond-over and is arguably in the best position to win. He has cover and can tip out three-wide to sweep to the lead and the win. 2 1 4 3 With trotters, the hobbles. their particular gait. diagonal legs move in The horses you see While some may be unison. The trotting on the track have been able to switch gaits, gait is more natural for bred to perform at most race at the same the horse, so most do gait as the generations not need equipment TROTTER before them. Also, to help them trot, the special shoes and although some wear equipment they wear loops on their front helps them maintain legs to maintain their that particular gait. rhythm, called trotting 5 This Is Harness Racing Equipped for Racing 4 The SADDLE PAD (along with the head number) Every piece of equipment used on a Standardbred identifies the horse’s racehorse has been selected specifically for that number in the race program. Sometimes horse’s individual needs. This guide will explain the saddle pad will show a smaller number, some of the equipment most frequently asked too, which is the race about by newcomers to the racetrack. number. 5 1 2 3 BOOTS guard the legs A WHIP is used to DRIVING COLORS are The RACEBIKE, or sulky, against injury. Some- encourage the horse worn by the driver in a is the lightweight cart times a horse’s hoof will to move forward. The race. The designs are used by the driver. The touch another leg, espe- driver strikes the saddle specific to each driver, lower and closer the cially if it is off-stride. pad or racebike shaft so no matter what horse driver is to the horse, to signal to the horse to they may be driving, at the more aerodynamic keep trying its best.