What is your harness racing background?
Quote from Bgtolex25 on August 4, 2024, 4:46 PMI am curious about everyone’s background in the industry. Mine is relatively straightforward.
An uncle trained and drove, mainly his own from the late 60’s to the late 80’s. This coincides with my impressionable childhood and early adulthood years. In college I worked at Charlie Hill’s Hill Farm as a yearling sales prep groom in the summers and foaling attendant during foaling season. A lot of tired mornings followed! While awaiting my career job to began, I was a supervisor at the above mentioned farm for a few years. Then I left for the “real” world. Fortunately, the passion never totally escaped me, so I have jumped into TheStable’s client list in April of 2024. Hoping to relocate back to the Midwest from the Pacific NW in 2025 and to increase my involvement as a retirement hobby.
I am curious about everyone’s background in the industry. Mine is relatively straightforward.
An uncle trained and drove, mainly his own from the late 60’s to the late 80’s. This coincides with my impressionable childhood and early adulthood years. In college I worked at Charlie Hill’s Hill Farm as a yearling sales prep groom in the summers and foaling attendant during foaling season. A lot of tired mornings followed! While awaiting my career job to began, I was a supervisor at the above mentioned farm for a few years. Then I left for the “real” world. Fortunately, the passion never totally escaped me, so I have jumped into TheStable’s client list in April of 2024. Hoping to relocate back to the Midwest from the Pacific NW in 2025 and to increase my involvement as a retirement hobby.
Quote from Lonnie on August 4, 2024, 5:09 PMVery impressive introduction into Harness Racing!
There were two factors that piqued my interest.
- Growing up, every Sunday there was a friendly poker game at my house (apartment). One of the players lived in Yonkers, and used to go to Yonkers Raceway very often. We would hear tails, err, tales of the races. To an impressionable child, that planted the seeds.
- One of the other players, Mack Ladd's wife, used to bet Su Mac Ladd at OTB every time he raced. Needless to say, she won often. VERY often.
- When I went to sleepaway camp (Camp Boiberik) a lot of the counselors and counselor's in training were fans and talked about it often. When I became a CIT, during orientation a few days before camp, we went to Monticello Raceway. I was HOOKED! It was the most exciting spectacle I had ever been to. Every race seemed to be a photo-finish. The stands were packed. The excitement hit me to the core. I saved that race program, and every day at camp I looked for the clues as to what made the winner the winner in the program.
I was really hooked. By the time I was 31 I had been to 107 different Harness Racetracks. Those included County and State Fairs too. From as far east as St. Johns in Newfoundland, east to Hollywood Park in California, the north to Pre Vert Raceway (sp?) in Jonquière, Quebec, and as far south as Pompano Park in Florica.
When Niatross came along, I was hooked on this rockstar. I went to almost every one of his races as a three-year old, and started a scrapbook of all the news clippings, and articles in the trade magazine, Hoof Beats, and oh my gosh I'm forgetting the name of the other standardbred magazing I used to subscribe to (anyone know the magazing that I am referring to?). I'm not ashamed to admit that in my bedroom I have four framed pictures, and a print, of Niatross. My uncle also laminated the article in the New York Post after Niatross won the Cane Pace.
My Uncle was a supporter. After work one day, he and I drove to Batavia, NY to watch Niatross where they turned away thousands of fans after the track became packed. We got there early and got great seats. When he won in a mind blowing 1:55 on the half mile oval, totally obliterating the track and world record, the grandstand was shaking. Fans were going nuts!
In 1988 and 1989 my friend and I became partners with David Rovine. I have a very large winners circe photo when Tigerbird won a New York Sire Stakes race at Buffalo Raceway. Side note, Tigerbird went on (after we sold him per the partnership agreement) to win the Gold Cup & Saucer.
Fast forward 36 years when we learned about TheStable.ca and we got hooked. Three of us each bought a share in a different horse. Then we got hooked. Again! At the peak we owned nine horses. We're down to eight after one of them got sold. Are we looking to fill the open "stall"? Yeah!
Very impressive introduction into Harness Racing!
There were two factors that piqued my interest.
- Growing up, every Sunday there was a friendly poker game at my house (apartment). One of the players lived in Yonkers, and used to go to Yonkers Raceway very often. We would hear tails, err, tales of the races. To an impressionable child, that planted the seeds.
- One of the other players, Mack Ladd's wife, used to bet Su Mac Ladd at OTB every time he raced. Needless to say, she won often. VERY often.
- When I went to sleepaway camp (Camp Boiberik) a lot of the counselors and counselor's in training were fans and talked about it often. When I became a CIT, during orientation a few days before camp, we went to Monticello Raceway. I was HOOKED! It was the most exciting spectacle I had ever been to. Every race seemed to be a photo-finish. The stands were packed. The excitement hit me to the core. I saved that race program, and every day at camp I looked for the clues as to what made the winner the winner in the program.
I was really hooked. By the time I was 31 I had been to 107 different Harness Racetracks. Those included County and State Fairs too. From as far east as St. Johns in Newfoundland, east to Hollywood Park in California, the north to Pre Vert Raceway (sp?) in Jonquière, Quebec, and as far south as Pompano Park in Florica.
When Niatross came along, I was hooked on this rockstar. I went to almost every one of his races as a three-year old, and started a scrapbook of all the news clippings, and articles in the trade magazine, Hoof Beats, and oh my gosh I'm forgetting the name of the other standardbred magazing I used to subscribe to (anyone know the magazing that I am referring to?). I'm not ashamed to admit that in my bedroom I have four framed pictures, and a print, of Niatross. My uncle also laminated the article in the New York Post after Niatross won the Cane Pace.
My Uncle was a supporter. After work one day, he and I drove to Batavia, NY to watch Niatross where they turned away thousands of fans after the track became packed. We got there early and got great seats. When he won in a mind blowing 1:55 on the half mile oval, totally obliterating the track and world record, the grandstand was shaking. Fans were going nuts!
In 1988 and 1989 my friend and I became partners with David Rovine. I have a very large winners circe photo when Tigerbird won a New York Sire Stakes race at Buffalo Raceway. Side note, Tigerbird went on (after we sold him per the partnership agreement) to win the Gold Cup & Saucer.
Fast forward 36 years when we learned about TheStable.ca and we got hooked. Three of us each bought a share in a different horse. Then we got hooked. Again! At the peak we owned nine horses. We're down to eight after one of them got sold. Are we looking to fill the open "stall"? Yeah!
Quote from Bgtolex25 on August 4, 2024, 10:45 PMLonnie, my all time moment was grooming for my uncle on Jug Day 1980. I was only 15 years old, but they allowed me in the race paddock (you had to be 16 to get in the paddocks at the parimutual tracks, and that was contingent on your employer taking a blood oath that you wouldn’t screw anything up!). Anyway, as you remember that was Niatross’ year. To see him, Storm Damage, Tyler B and all of the all time greats on the human side, Haughton, O’Brien, Billy Herman, etc. made quite the impression on me. We finished 2nd and 4th on the undercard, which was pretty cool too. This was way before they built the beautiful Jug paddock, and it was pretty tight quarters in the old paddock.
It is flooding back so many memories now that I read your post. Thank you for sharing.
Lonnie, my all time moment was grooming for my uncle on Jug Day 1980. I was only 15 years old, but they allowed me in the race paddock (you had to be 16 to get in the paddocks at the parimutual tracks, and that was contingent on your employer taking a blood oath that you wouldn’t screw anything up!). Anyway, as you remember that was Niatross’ year. To see him, Storm Damage, Tyler B and all of the all time greats on the human side, Haughton, O’Brien, Billy Herman, etc. made quite the impression on me. We finished 2nd and 4th on the undercard, which was pretty cool too. This was way before they built the beautiful Jug paddock, and it was pretty tight quarters in the old paddock.
It is flooding back so many memories now that I read your post. Thank you for sharing.
Quote from Lonnie on August 5, 2024, 6:51 PMQuote from Bgtolex25 on August 4, 2024, 10:45 PMLonnie, my all time moment was grooming for my uncle on Jug Day 1980... remember that was Niatross’ year. To see him, Storm Damage, Tyler B and all of the all time greats on the human side, Haughton, O’Brien, Billy Herman, etc. made quite the impression on me...
OMG, missing the Jug that year is a deep regret of mine.
It's not a surprise that that experience left life-long memories.
Quote from Bgtolex25 on August 4, 2024, 10:45 PMLonnie, my all time moment was grooming for my uncle on Jug Day 1980... remember that was Niatross’ year. To see him, Storm Damage, Tyler B and all of the all time greats on the human side, Haughton, O’Brien, Billy Herman, etc. made quite the impression on me...
OMG, missing the Jug that year is a deep regret of mine.
It's not a surprise that that experience left life-long memories.
Quote from MaywoodAl on August 23, 2024, 12:01 AMIn my first job after college a few co-workers liked going to Arlington Park, they invited me to go with them to the 1984 Arlington Million. It was a great time. Went a few more times with them. Next season started going there at least once on weekends when the Cubs were not in town. (went to all Cub home weekend games) Following season started stopping in solo on way home from work, free admission after 7th, so get there for last two, would bet for co-workers. Arlington started Friday later start promotion, so started going with co-workers for that and non-cub Saturdays. Company had a men's club and a women's club that would do one outing a month. Women could be in men's club and vice versa. There was an outing to Maywood Park. First time ever seeing a harness race either live or on TV. There was raffle for a pre-race party for I think ten people. Some one won, so we went next Friday, free tap beer and appetizers for two hours before races started. Well at least one person would win every week so it became our Friday night hangout.
Sportman's park started the same pre race parties on Saturdays. Not as convenient so we went just a few times during the summer which was its season. I started trying to actually handicap the races. But it was still pretty much a night out drinking with friends. I only went to Chicago area tracks did not follow the national scene.
Switched to a job downtown, moved to an apartment near the L and not that far from Maywood. So started going pretty often and got better at handicapping, but never a big bettor. Just fun being at the track and still decent crowds.
Marriage, kids, divorce, kids living with me kept me from the tracks for a long time. Occasional afternoon with my friend at Hawthorne. When the kids started college, I started going a bit more. But by this time the Chicago area tracks were disappearing. Started watching TVG.
Son started school out East so I figured I could visit one weekend and may it a week long trip hit tracks and national parks along the way. That became an annual trip. My brother moved to southern Indiana, so made a Kentucky Downs trip also. Got rained out a couple years ago so I drove to the Red Mile.
So the myracehorse ads, so started looking into fractional ownership. Found a place that really did not work out too well. Not sure how I missed thestable first time, perhaps the Canadian thing caused me to not look into it. But came upon thestable again and all good so far. With no more tuition I splurged a bit. But now with the student loans kicking in and back to the office, and stopping my night job, I need to cut back. But it is fandualtv every night and hopefully a few trips to the tracks. Just a long distance.
In my first job after college a few co-workers liked going to Arlington Park, they invited me to go with them to the 1984 Arlington Million. It was a great time. Went a few more times with them. Next season started going there at least once on weekends when the Cubs were not in town. (went to all Cub home weekend games) Following season started stopping in solo on way home from work, free admission after 7th, so get there for last two, would bet for co-workers. Arlington started Friday later start promotion, so started going with co-workers for that and non-cub Saturdays. Company had a men's club and a women's club that would do one outing a month. Women could be in men's club and vice versa. There was an outing to Maywood Park. First time ever seeing a harness race either live or on TV. There was raffle for a pre-race party for I think ten people. Some one won, so we went next Friday, free tap beer and appetizers for two hours before races started. Well at least one person would win every week so it became our Friday night hangout.
Sportman's park started the same pre race parties on Saturdays. Not as convenient so we went just a few times during the summer which was its season. I started trying to actually handicap the races. But it was still pretty much a night out drinking with friends. I only went to Chicago area tracks did not follow the national scene.
Switched to a job downtown, moved to an apartment near the L and not that far from Maywood. So started going pretty often and got better at handicapping, but never a big bettor. Just fun being at the track and still decent crowds.
Marriage, kids, divorce, kids living with me kept me from the tracks for a long time. Occasional afternoon with my friend at Hawthorne. When the kids started college, I started going a bit more. But by this time the Chicago area tracks were disappearing. Started watching TVG.
Son started school out East so I figured I could visit one weekend and may it a week long trip hit tracks and national parks along the way. That became an annual trip. My brother moved to southern Indiana, so made a Kentucky Downs trip also. Got rained out a couple years ago so I drove to the Red Mile.
So the myracehorse ads, so started looking into fractional ownership. Found a place that really did not work out too well. Not sure how I missed thestable first time, perhaps the Canadian thing caused me to not look into it. But came upon thestable again and all good so far. With no more tuition I splurged a bit. But now with the student loans kicking in and back to the office, and stopping my night job, I need to cut back. But it is fandualtv every night and hopefully a few trips to the tracks. Just a long distance.
Quote from Bgtolex25 on August 23, 2024, 10:24 AMQuote from MaywoodAl on August 23, 2024, 12:01 AMI need to cut back. But it is fandualtv every night and hopefully a few trips to the tracks. Just a long distance.
Thx for sharing your story. I hope more share, because it is amazing how many paths get people to this point. I encourage you to stay in with at least one horse. As I have shared before, I enjoy rooting for all of them even though I only have the anxiety riddled Casanova Hall at this point. Hopefully this time next year my wife and I will be living in the Lexington, KY area and can visit tracks again. I have the truck, travel trailer and kayaks all ready to make the trips and have adventures along the way.
Quote from MaywoodAl on August 23, 2024, 12:01 AMI need to cut back. But it is fandualtv every night and hopefully a few trips to the tracks. Just a long distance.
Thx for sharing your story. I hope more share, because it is amazing how many paths get people to this point. I encourage you to stay in with at least one horse. As I have shared before, I enjoy rooting for all of them even though I only have the anxiety riddled Casanova Hall at this point. Hopefully this time next year my wife and I will be living in the Lexington, KY area and can visit tracks again. I have the truck, travel trailer and kayaks all ready to make the trips and have adventures along the way.
Quote from Lonnie on August 23, 2024, 11:41 AMQuote from Bgtolex25 on August 23, 2024, 10:24 AMQuote from MaywoodAl on August 23, 2024, 12:01 AMI need to cut back. But it is fandualtv every night and hopefully a few trips to the tracks. Just a long distance.
Hopefully this time next year my wife and I will be living in the Lexington, KY area and can visit tracks again. I have the truck, travel trailer and kayaks all ready to make the trips and have adventures along the way.
That sounds like a most excellent adventure!
Quote from Bgtolex25 on August 23, 2024, 10:24 AMQuote from MaywoodAl on August 23, 2024, 12:01 AMI need to cut back. But it is fandualtv every night and hopefully a few trips to the tracks. Just a long distance.
Thx for sharing your story. I hope more share, because it is amazing how many paths get people to this point.
I second this emotion.
Quote from Bgtolex25 on August 23, 2024, 10:24 AMQuote from MaywoodAl on August 23, 2024, 12:01 AMI need to cut back. But it is fandualtv every night and hopefully a few trips to the tracks. Just a long distance.
Hopefully this time next year my wife and I will be living in the Lexington, KY area and can visit tracks again. I have the truck, travel trailer and kayaks all ready to make the trips and have adventures along the way.
That sounds like a most excellent adventure!
Quote from Bgtolex25 on August 23, 2024, 10:24 AMQuote from MaywoodAl on August 23, 2024, 12:01 AMI need to cut back. But it is fandualtv every night and hopefully a few trips to the tracks. Just a long distance.
Thx for sharing your story. I hope more share, because it is amazing how many paths get people to this point.
I second this emotion.
Quote from MaywoodAl on August 23, 2024, 12:37 PMGood luck on the future big move to Lexington.
Hopefully, I'll be at the Red Mile in a couple weeks and then again beginning of Oct.
Been there a few times last couple years, it was just random days I was not there for specific races. Crazy how many top horses now race there due to KYSS. I saw Karl, Confederate's world record. As of last year place sure needed a paint job. Crowded on Sunday, pretty empty week days.
Good luck on the future big move to Lexington.
Hopefully, I'll be at the Red Mile in a couple weeks and then again beginning of Oct.
Been there a few times last couple years, it was just random days I was not there for specific races. Crazy how many top horses now race there due to KYSS. I saw Karl, Confederate's world record. As of last year place sure needed a paint job. Crowded on Sunday, pretty empty week days.
Quote from Bgtolex25 on August 23, 2024, 9:41 PMQuote from MaywoodAl on August 23, 2024, 12:37 PMGood luck on the future big move to Lexington
Thanks. Part of our trip next month to the Jug includes going to Lexington, interviewing realtors and scouting the area. Hopefully, we will be relocated by next spring and make it to TheStable’s June 2025 Open House.
Quote from MaywoodAl on August 23, 2024, 12:37 PMGood luck on the future big move to Lexington
Thanks. Part of our trip next month to the Jug includes going to Lexington, interviewing realtors and scouting the area. Hopefully, we will be relocated by next spring and make it to TheStable’s June 2025 Open House.
Quote from MaywoodAl on August 23, 2024, 10:21 PMPreviously the open house was in May.(well the year before, also December I think, two per year) But perhaps having the Open House coinciding with qualifiers in June will be a new tradition.
Previously the open house was in May.(well the year before, also December I think, two per year) But perhaps having the Open House coinciding with qualifiers in June will be a new tradition.