August, 2002 - The Horse News

Ages, Heights Make Trottingbred Racing Unique
By Jane Meggitt

Fast family fun. That's how Sandy Schreiber of Newport, Pa. describes the sport of Trottingbred racing. Her son Andrew began driving at age 8 and got his professional license at 10. Her husband Jim officiates at races and builds racing bikes. Andrew competes CC Raider, a 4-year-old mare he broke and trained with the help of his dad. Now 14 and just graduating from eighth grade, Andrew is able to do what most boys his age enjoy in some capacity - the ability to go very, very fast.

Trottingbred roots

Dave Krepow of Cherry Hill, N.J. is trying to revive the sport in New Jersey, which was its birthplace in the early 1960s. Its roots are in the southern New Jersey towns of Salem, Bridgeton and Woodstown, where Welsh, Hackney and Shetland ponies were crossed with Standardbred horses. Jade Hanover was one of the foundation sires. Today, most Trottingbreds are three-fourths to seven-eighths Standardbred and are recognized as an official breed. The register is not closed, and Trottingbred mares may still be bred to Standardbred stallions, although crossing with ponies is no longer allowed. For racing purposes, a Trottingbred may not measure more than 51 inches shod at the height of the withers. They race one-half mile and use time classifications. Although officially pony size, aficionados refer to them as horses. Mr. Krepow, a software engineer who owns a Standardbred racehorse, saw them for the first time in Goshen, N.Y. in 1999. An aspiring amateur Standardbred driver, he recognized this as a very accessible alternative. According to Mr., Krepow, "This is the best-kept secret in harness racing. It's an affordable way for people to participate. The sport affords you so much opportunity to learn and get involved with every facet of harness racing, as it is truly harness racing in every sense, just with smaller horses, who are really Standardbred cousins."

Indiana is the heart of Trottingbred racing, but it is very popular in Ohio, Florida, and Pennsylvania. In the Northeast, drivers can race every weekend on a circuit from Virginia to Vermont. The Amish favor Trottingbreds for their children, and also race them, albeit with non-Amish drivers. Racing is found in Italy and Bermuda, as well. The breed is also popular with 4-H clubs in the Midwest.

Affordable hobby

Liz Glatfelter and Dave McNew of Spring Grove, Pa., began racing Trottingbreds 12 years ago, after a friend at Ms. Glatfelter's job told her about the breed. "I grew up 20 minutes from the track and didn't know it was there," she said. The couple currently has two trotters and two pacers, and are enthusiastic about their hobby. "The pony (blood) gives the breed sturdiness," explained Ms. Glatfelter. "They have few leg problems. They can race four heats on a weekend, after hauling hours in the trailer. They're tough, tough, little horses."

The affordability of the sport is also attractive, said Ms. Glatfelter, who works at a factory with Mr. McNew. "It's a working person's sport. The horses sell for between $500-$1000, and the harness and bike are about $500." Ms. Glatfelter breeds her own racers, and stud fees average $100-$200. Membership in the International Trotting and Pacing Association, the governing body for Trottingbred racing, is $55 annually. No wagering is permitted, and purses run from $80-$130. There is no age limit, for either people or horses. Andrew Schrieber, at 8, was one of the youngest drivers, and Ms. Glatfelter knows of a woman competing at the age of 83. Many horses race into their teens and even twenties. Others become pleasure driving or riding ponies when their racing careers are over.

For all ages

Harry Landy is only 10 years old but he knows what he wants to be when he grows up. "I want to be the best driver in the country!" he exclaimed. The boy is well on his way. His family owns Congress Hill Farm in Monroe, N.J., and exhibition Trottingbred races were recently held there. Last year Harry attended a Harness Horse Youth Camp at Saratoga Raceway, and developed a passion for racing. His father Sam said, "I couldn't believe they had a way for a 10 year old to race." They bought Ugo Pogo, a 5-year-old pacer last summer, and Harry trained and jogged the horse himself. Harry also rides Ugo, and claims he can jump 4 feet. Harry won his first heat in the exhibition race and came in a very close second to veteran Dick Graybill in the second heat. Mr. Graybill, of Spring Grove, Pa., has nine Trottingbreds, which he breeds himself. He started in the sport back in 1968. One of his racers, Add-a-Win, almost died after drinking pond water that was affected by red algae. "I almost lost him," said Mr. Graybill. "I brought him back, and he was faster than ever." Add-a-Win's neck is paralyzed from the incident, but he managed to do a half-mile in 1:04 at the Goshen, N.Y. track


 

See you at the races,