Education

Something for Everyone
Whether you love the majesty of the horses, or the thrill of gaming, or just like to relax and enjoy people watching in well-manicured surroundings, then going to the racetrack and watching harness racing is the ideal recreational activity.

Harness racing is a sport where a special breed of horses, called Standardbreds, race around a track while pulling a driver in a twowheeled cart called a "sulky". The horses reach speeds of more than 30 mph.

To really feel the power of the horses, watch the races from the rail, which is as close as you can get to the action without actually driving in the race. It is a thrill to see the horses strive to do what they do best - go fast and win.

What makes harness racing great is that anyone can get involved. With a small investment, you can own a harness horse, and with the proper license, anyone can train or drive a Standardbred themselves! Even if you can't afford to own or train a horse, you can get up close and personal with the horses and drivers right at the racetrack. Many tracks offer barn and paddock tours and chances to meet with the drivers - for free

Nothing "Standard" about them! The Standardbred is a beautiful, gentle breed of horse that is affectionate and easy to work with. The breed comes in many colors, with bay and brown being the most dominant. They weigh between 800 and 1,200 lbs. and are known for their willing temperaments.

Harness racing is based in tradition and history, but the Standardbred breed continues to improve each year. It is amazing to watch these magnificent athletes set speed records not even dreamed of when horses raced in high-wheeled sulkies and a mile in two minutes was the mark of a truly great racehorse. Now horses are routinely timed in 1:50 or faster, meaning that if a horse from today raced a champion from 1900, the horse from today would win by the length of a football field!

Although it appears most of the action happens on the track, harness racing's influence spreads far beyond that. It is a sport that employs thousands of people nationwide and contributes billions of dollars to local economies through taxes and the sale of feed, farm equipment, racing equipment, trucks, horse trailers and more.

History
Standardbred racing is a rich part of American history. In America's formative years, nearly every household had a horse. Inevitably, people began to race their horses against one another to see whose horse was faster.

These races initially took place on country roads and village streets, but as these casual contests grew more popular, racetracks were built to accommodate the horsemen and fans. The first harness racing tracks were opened in the mid 1800s, but harness racing events could be found as early as 1825 at county fairs all around the country. By the late 19th century, harness racing was the most popular sport in America.

In the United States, every Standardbred horse can trace its heritage to Hambletonian, born May 5, 1849, in the tiny hamlet of Sugar Loaf, N.Y. The name "Standardbred" originated because the early trotters (pacers would not come into the picture until later) were required to reach a certain standard of time for the mile distance in order to be registered as part of the new breed. The mile is still the standard distance covered in nearly every harness race.

Today, harness racing can still be found in the hundreds of county fairs that host the sport each year, and the numerous pari-mutuel tracks across North America. The sport is also popular worldwide in countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Norway, Italy, and France.