HARNESS RACING - AN INTRODUCTION
The Sport
Harness Racing or Trotting is almost certainly the world’s most popular form of horse racing. Conducted on oval tracks of ½ mile to one mile circumference horses either trot or pace pulling a lightweight two wheeled cart called a sulky. The “jockey” (called a driver) sits on this vehicle and guides the horse at speeds usually just in excess of 30 mph. The best horse rival top Thoroughbreds in their earnings with the top trotter being the Italian varenne who earned E3.5m winning 60 races, 6 seconds two thirds from 70 lifetime starts and Gallo Blue chip being the richest pacer with earnings of $4.26m.
The Horses
Trotters move as any horse does trotting (front leg goes forward at the same time as the back right leg) but in a very much extended and rapid gait. A good trotter can cover about 25ft in one complete stride. The record for a mile is one minute 50 seconds (1.50) held by Donato Hanover (USA).
Pacers have a lateral gait, with the left front leg and back leg moving in unison. Generally a bit faster then a trotter the fastest horse is Camsbest (USA) 1.46.
In North America, Canada, Austria & New Zealand pacers are the most numerous horse (roughly 70% pacers 30%trotters) in Europe and the Russian states there are no pacers. In Britain pacers dominate at about 90%.
Trotters are considered a bit more difficult to train & race than pacers, taking longer to develop but can have much longer careers than their pacing counterparts.
The most popular breed is known as the Standardbred and originates from the USA (sc called in mid 19th century America because to enter the stud Book it had to have reached a certain time standard). In France the native trotter is called the French trotter, in Russia it is the Orloff. The Scandinavian countries of Finland, Norway & Sweden each have their own “coldblood” horse resembling a Dales or Welsh cob who often works in the woods during the week & race at weekend. Their best horse goes a mile in about 2.10. Neither the orloff or the coldbloods carry standardbred blood but the modern French trotter is about 30% standardbred.
The Standardbred originates from crossing fast driving horses and especially early Hackney types such as Norfolk trotter with English thoroughbred.
The French trotter has similar origins with even more emphasis on the Norfolk blood and TB lineage. Crossing with thoroughbreds largely ceased after 1890 but surprisingly continued (in limited circumstances) in France up to the 1950s. All Standardbreds and the majority of French trotters today, trace on their male lines to the American horse. Hambletonian foaled in New York in 1849 who was inbred to the English Thoroughbred Messenger. The pacer was produced by crossing pacers (or amblers) of European origin (France & Spain) with trotters, the pacing gait often dominating. The Standardbred was developed in America as a dual purpose fast driving/race horse expected to work and race and as such is generally calmer and tougher than the TB. Very similar to a TB in form they range from 15HH to 16HH (but of course some can be a bit smaller or larger).
British bloodlines are almost totally American Standardbred and our best horses include: stonergiss JR who holds the 5/8 mile track record of 1.55 and scoot around who holds the half mile track record of 1.57 as well as being the highest earner (£43,000&rasing!) Conner’s Dragon (bred in the us but born in Britain) has lifetime earnings of £42,000 with nearly £31,000 being won in 2007.
After racing trotters & pacers of all breeds make great riding horses, often excelling at endurance riding. Some make good jumpers and a lot of top showjumps internationally carry trotting bloodlines.
The Equipment
The racing vehicle, the Sulky was originally conceived in England but developed and refined in America. No one is sure of the origin of the name but the best solution is that it is of Dutch derivation. It is made from high tensile steel (often with wooden shafts) or Carbon Fibre.
The harness is lightweight and often has an “overcheck” a strap from the bridle down the top of the neck to the saddle pad which helps balance the horses head.
Pacers nearly always wear “hopples” very lightweight loose straps around the legs which act a bit like a differential on a car to assist the horse keep his gait at high speeds around bends.
The Races
In America nearly all races are over a mile, in Europe they range from 1 to 2 miles with emphasis on 2000 & 2500 m. In Australasia the longer distance race is favoured. In Britain most races are either one mile or 1 ¼ miles.
Tracks are either “hard” (stonedust) or grass. In Britain grass racing is very popular whilst in America they only race on hard tracks. France & New Zealand have some grass racing. There is a lot of skill in the preparation of hard track, needing a springy surface but not too soft.
Races can be “stakes” races usually for 2&3 y olds, Graded or handicap races where horses are classified on earnings with richer horses giving “start” (distance) to poorer horses. Free for alls where usually the best horses race on equal terms (no handicap) , condition Races where horses classified on what they have done recently (i.e. non winners of £500 in last five races) or selling races. Handicaps with horses racing in qualifying heats to get into a final are very popular in Britain and Sweden.
In Britain Harness Racing is popular in Scotland, northern England, the midlands, Wales and there is an outpost of exciting racing at Brands Hatch in Kent (horses not cars if you were ever in doubt!). Ireland has a popular harness racing tradition and even claim to have the best horses after a few pints of Guinness!
MAJOR RACES
Americas most prestigious races are:
- The Hambletonian for 3 y old trotters
- The little brown jug for 3 y old pacers
- The North American cup
Europe top races are:
- The prix d’amerique always raced on the last Saturday in January at the Paris Vincennes Hippodrome
- The Elitelopp raced in Sweden on BH Monday in May
Britain has:
- The Appleby pace (spring BH Monday)
- Ceredingion pace at Aberystwith usually about 6th June
- York three year old classic usually on the last weekend in June
- Famous Musselburgh Pace at Edinbrough Racecourse always on the first Wednesday in August
- Welsh Classic at Tregaron always on the august bank holiday Saturday
- The crook of gold (a series for top horses with qualifying heats culminating in a final at the tir prince at towyn in N Wales in early September)
Organisation
Harness racing in Britain is governed by the British harness racing club based at Burlington Crescent, Goole Yorkshire. Email: harnessgb@aol.com. The BHRC is recognised internationally, has a seat at the world trotting conference and is responsible for the governance and organisation of the sport. Integrity (Dope) tests are carried out on a regular & routine basis to ensure no illegal performance enhancing agents are used. There is a strict code of conduct applied by Stewards with a quasi judicial system of enforcement in place. In common with all our colleagues internationally the welfare of the horse is put first.
Media
Britain has dedicated TV programme (which has received international awards) on welsh S4 C television, on Monday evenings at 9:00 pm from the end of juke through to early September.
Harness racing has vast internet coverage & the British harness racing club website has much information with links globally, www.bhrc.org.uk
A bi monthly magazine is published: the harness racing calendar available from the BHRC office.
Why is Harness Racing so Popular?
Whilst Britain has about 100 race meetings a year with approximately 1000 individual races it is still a minority sport. Not so in the rest of the world! In France Trotting is the country’s number one equestrian discipline &is just twice as big as Thoroughbred racing.
Trotting and pacing horses are much cheaper to buy than TBs, easier to train & they are a family horse. Indeed Scoot Around is owned & trained by the Fell family at their farm at Settle in Yorkshire and driven by local lad Alan Haythornwaite. A good bred yearling can often be brought in Britain for £2-3000. The sport is easy to get into & almost anyone with some horsey knowledge can train a horse. The racing is good to watch and with the majority of tracks being half mile the action is always up close and personal!
Give harness racing a try, you might just get hooked!
Written by:
Gordon Garnett BHRC Chairman
