Harness racing, also called trotting, is a popular form of horse racing. In a harness race, each horse pulls a driver in a light, two-wheeled vehicle called a sulky. Many races are held at major race tracks, where people can bet on the horses. Others are held at county fairs, where betting is often allowed. Harness racing is popular in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United States, and most European countries.
There are two kinds of harness horses—trotters and pacers. The kind of harness horse is determined by its gait (manner of racing). A trotter moves the front leg on one side of its body and the hind leg on the other side at the same time. A pacer moves the legs on the same side of its body together. About 80 percent of the harness horses in the United States are pacers. In most European countries, only trotters race. The two types rarely race together because pacers generally go faster than trotters.
Harness horses
are Standardbreds, a breed that developed from Thoroughbreds. The first Thoroughbred to produce great trotters was Messenger. This horse was brought to the United States from England in 1788. One of Messenger’s descendants, Hambletonian, is known as the “great father” of harness horses. Hambletonian was born in 1849 and sired 1,331 horses before his death in 1876. Almost all Standardbreds in the United States can be traced to him. The annual Hambletonian Stake, the most famous harness-racing event, is named after him.
Drivers.
In the United States, both amateur drivers and professional drivers may compete in harness races. All drivers must be licensed by their state racing commission.
The race.
Harness races are held on an oval track. The track ranges from 1/2 mile (0.8 kilometer) to 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) in circumference. The standard distance is 1 mile. In some races, a horse must finish first in two out of three heats (parts of a race) to win the race.
Before a harness race begins, the horses and drivers line up behind a specially designed automobile called a mobile starting gate. This vehicle has two collapsible arms that keep the horses in line. The horses follow the starting gate as it moves around the track. The gate—and the horses—gradually gain speed. The race starts one or two seconds after the gate pulls away, when the horses pass the starting line and break an electronic beam. The arms of the gate fold inward. The starting gate then speeds ahead of the horses and moves to one side of the track. The horses race around the track to the finish line. Any horse that changes from the pace or trot to another gait must be moved to the outside of the track. It must regain the correct gait before rejoining the field.
Betting.
People bet on horses to finish first, second, or third in a harness race. United States tracks use the pari-mutuel betting system (see Horse racing (Betting)).
Regulation.
The United States Trotting Association (USTA) regulates harness racing. In states where betting is legal, a state racing commission controls the races. Most commissions follow USTA rules. All drivers, harness-horse owners, and most race officials must belong to the USTA.
History.
Various forms of harness races have been held since ancient times. Modern harness racing developed in the United States. It probably began in the 1700’s. In 1806, people in New York started to record harness-racing speeds. That year, a trotter named Yankey became the first harness horse to race 1 mile in less than 3 minutes. During the 1800’s, harness racing became extremely popular in the United States. Only trotters competed in races until the 1860’s, when pacers were introduced. Perhaps the most popular American harness horse was Dan Patch, a pacer. In 1905, he broke a record by pacing a mile in 1 minute 55 1/4 seconds.
Interest in harness racing declined in the United States in the early 1900’s. But the sport again grew popular in the 1940’s, after pari-mutuel betting and night races were introduced. The mobile starting gate was adopted for racing in 1946.
The top harness drivers of the 1900’s and 2000’s have included John D. Campbell, Stanley F. Dancer, Herve Filion, William R. Haughton, Delvin Miller, Anthony N. Morgan, David M. Palone, and Tim Tetrick. Palone has won more races than any other harness driver. Since 1981, Palone has won over 20,000 races. Campbell ranks as the all-time leader in purses won. He won nearly $300 million during his career.
In 2022, a pacer named Bulldog Hanover became the fastest horse in harness-racing history by pacing a mile in 1 minute 45 4/5 seconds during a race.
