The U.S. Trotting Association On-Line!
About
Us - Directors
- Member Services
- Member Benefits Program - Newcomers - Owners - Contacts
- Home
Trackside
ENTRIES
/ RESULTS
RACE
PROGRAMS
FEATURE
RACES
YESTERDAY'S
TOP-TEN
TOP
PERFORMERS
STAKES CONDITIONS
SIRE
STATISTICS
HANDICAPPING
VIRTUAL
STABLE
TRACK
INFORMATION
RACE
DATES
WORLD RECORDS
RULINGS/REGULATORY
MEDICATIONS & TESTING
FAIRS (2008)
Newsroom
TODAY'S
NEWS
HRC
NEWSLETTER
GRAND CIRCUIT
USTA HORSE OF THE MONTH
JUG 2008
HAMBLETONIAN 2008
Columns
OUTSIDE THE BOX
GRAND ADVENTURE
PANDYCAPPING
RACING AND THE LAW
Racing
on the 'Net
CYBER
CIRCUIT
RACETRACKS
Features
HOOF
BEATS MAGAZINE
OUTREACH CENTER
STD.
DRIVING CLUBS
PHOTO
GALLERY
HARNESS
THE EXCITEMENT(PDF) 
BREED
INFORMATION
INTERNATIONAL
COUNCILS
Services/Tools
OWNING A RACEHORSE
ADOPT A STANDARDBRED
HOW TO GET A RACING LICENSE
USTA DRIVING SCHOOL
TATTOO
ROSTER
USTA
RULE BOOK
HISTORY OF MAJOR RACES
HARNESS
HANDBOOK
INDUSTRY
LINKS
WALLPAPER
ADVERTISE
WITH US
JOBS
AT THE USTA
What is a Standardbred?
Breed Characteristics
Gaits
Racing
Equipment
Standardbreds
off the track
Owners Seminars
Colors
Terminology
The U.S. Trotting Association would like to thank you for visiting us
and welcome you to the world of the Standardbred. Here is some basic information
about the evolution of the Standardbred breed, as well as its versatility
in both racing and pleasure-horse activities. We hope you are as impressed
with this amazing breed as we are--the Standardbred is truly the equine
world's best-kept secret.
What
is a Standardbred
 The origins of the Standardbred trace back to Messenger, an English
Thoroughbred foaled in 1780, and later exported to the United States.
Messenger was the great-grandsire of Hambletonian 10, to whom every
Standardbred can trace its heritage. Standardbreds are a relatively
new breed, dating back just over 200 years, but it is a true American
breed.
The name "Standardbred" originated because the early trotters
(pacers would not come into the picture until much later) were required
to reach a certain standard 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.
While Thoroughbred racing has long been known as the sport of kings,
the dependable, athletic Standardbred brought racing to the common
man, first between neighbors on community roads, and later at state-of-the-art
racetracks.
Standardbred racing has long been known as the sport of the people,
and both the sport and the breed are as much a part of our American
landscape as cowboys and apple pie. As it evolved it gave the United
States some of its first "sports heroes," including the
great Dan Patch, the legendary Adios and the great gray ghost, Greyhound.
Breed
Characteristics
In many respects, the Standardbred resembles the Thoroughbred.
However, it is often more muscled and longer in body, and does not
stand as tall, averaging between 15 and 16 hands. The head is bigger
and may even sport a Roman nose.
This breed appears in varying colors,
although bay, brown and black are predominant. It weighs between
800 and 1,000 pounds. Standardbreds are known for their docile personalities
and willing temperaments.
The striking Laag, left, is an example
of a horse of a different color--a gray Standardbred. At right
is 1996 Horse of the Year Continentalvictory, registered with
the USTA as black.
Gaits
Standardbred racing is contested on two gaits, the
trot and the pace. Trotters move with a diagonal gait; the left front
and right rear legs move in unison, as do the right front and left
rear. It requires much skill by the trainer to get a trotter to move
perfectly at high speeds, even though the trotting gait is a natural
one in the animal world.
Pacers, on the other hand, move the legs on one side of their body
in tandem: left front and rear, and right front and rear. This action
shows why pacers are often called "side-wheelers." Pacers,
which account for about 80 percent of the performers in harness racing
and are the faster of the two gaits, are aided in maintaining their
gait by plastic loops called hobbles, which keep their legs moving
in synchronization.
Pacers
Move in a lateral gait, which means they move both legs on the
same side forward in unison (for example, its left front and
left rear legs), and then follows suit with both legs on the
other side (right front and rear legs).
Trotters
Move in a diagonal gait. For example, their left front and right
rear legs move forward simultaneously, and then the right front
and left rear legs follow together.
Any trotter or pacer who "breaks" into
a canter or gallop during a race must pulled back to it's correct
gait and lose ground to its competitors or be disqualified from the
race.
The
Racing
Most Standardbreds start racing as 2- or 3-year-olds.
Trotters race only trotters and pacers race only pacers. Racing takes
place at numerous tracks and fairs across North America, although
harness racing is most popular in the Midwest and the East.
Some of North America’s top trotting races are Peter Haughton
Memorial for 2-year-olds, and the World Trotting Derby, Yonkers
Trot, Hambletonian, and Kentucky Futurity for 3-year-olds. The latter
three races make up trotting Triple Crown.
For pacers, top races include the Woodrow Wilson and Metro Stake
for 2-year-olds, and the Little Brown Jug, Meadowlands Pace, North
American Cup and the Adios for 3-year-olds. The Pacing Triple Crown
is made up on the Little Brown Jug, the Messenger Stake and the
Cane Pace.
 While the majority of Standardbred racing takes
place with a driver holding the reins from his seat in the sulky,
racing under saddle, a type of Standardbred racing popular early
in the breed’s development, has become popular once again in
the U.S.
Check the USTA's Equine
Program for more information.
Equipment
Another difference between Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds
is the amount of equipment pacers and trotters wear on the racetrack.
All Standardbreds wear the basic equipment of a harness and a bridle,
along with a Buxton martingale, which keeps the harness from slipping.
Below is a Standardbred outfitted in the most basic equipment.
Standardbreds race in sulkies, also known
as racebikes. These are light-weight, two-wheeled carts that are
attached an either side of the harness, and the driver sits close
behind the horse.
Standardbreds train in jog carts, a heavier,
longer version of the sulky. The jog carts also attaches to either
side of the harness, but its tires and wooden shafts are thicker.
The driver sits further away from the horse
Standardbreds also utilize a variety of other equipment,
some samples of which can be seen below.
These images were taken from the USTA's publication, The New Care
& Training of the Trotter and Pacer, now available through our
publications department.
Standardbreds
off the track
For all their stamina and speed in harness, Standardbreds make
willing and intelligent companions off the track. Because of their
training on the track, it is usually an easy task to retrain them
for pleasure or show. Standardbreds excel in a variety of disciplines,
from barrel racing to dressage, saddle seat to combined driving.
They have a heart that knows no limits, and versatility to go with
it.
Cynthia Marshall takes her Standardbred around
the jump course. Photo: Michelle Younghans
Darla Aldred competes with "Mikey,"
an adopted pacer, in a combined driving event. Photo courtesy
of Darla Aldred.
In 1996, the USTA instituted the Standardbred Equine Program.
This program is designed to work with adoption groups and connect
people looking for Standardbreds for pleasure or showing with people
finding new homes for retired horses. The program also offers much
to the Standardbred pleasure horse enthusiast, including the annual
High Point awards program for competitors, the Medallion program
for non-competitors, C.H.A.M.P. for kids. SEP also offers retraining
tips, help with identification of horses (via lip tattoo or neck
freeze brand), as well as other services. For more information about
the Standardbred Equine Program, or about adopting or buying
a non-racing Standardbred, please contact the USTA at 750 Michigan
Ave., Columbus, Ohio, 43215; call (614) 224-2291 ext. 3260; or email
sep@ustrotting.com. Please visit the Standardbred Equine Program
on the Internet at www.
ustrotting.com/sep/sep.cfm.
For more information about harness racing and the Standardbred
breed, contact the United States Trotting Association at 750 Michigan
Avenue, Columbus, Ohio, 43215-1191, or call (614) 224-2291, fax
(614) 224-4575, or email: customerservice@ustrotting.com.
Terminology
General
Wagering
BOXED IN:A horse that is racing on the
rails (or fence) and is surrounded by other horses in front, outside
and behind it. A horse that is boxed in is held up and unable to gain
a clear passage.
BREAK: To start galloping and lose natural trotting
or pacing rhythm. It occurs more with trotters than pacers.
BROODMARE: A female horse, generally retired from
racing, used for breeding purposes.
CARD: Another term for program of racing. For example,
a person may refer to there being eight races on the card, which
simple means eight races will be staged at that particular day.
CATCH DRIVER: A driver which doesn't train his or
her own horses, and is engaged by other trainers and owners to drive
their horses.
CLAIMING RACE: A race where any of the entrants may
be claimed (purchased) for a specified amount.
CLASS: A horse which has raced adequately against better
foes may find his way into the winner's circle, while a horse who
has beaten inferior foes may find tougher horses not to its liking.
A fairly reliable way of checking class is comparing the purses
of the previous races and the present race.
COLORS: The special colorful jacket worn by drivers when
in a race. Unlike Thoroughbred racing, drivers register their own
colors and wear them every time they race.
COLT: A male 3 years of age or less.
CONDITIONED RACE: A race where eligibility is based
on age, sex, money won, or races won. For example, "3-year-old
fillies, non-winners of $10,000 or 4 races."
COVER: A horse that races with another horse in front of
him is said to race with cover, as the leading horse cuts the wind
resistance.
CROSS FIRE: When a horse's hind foot strikes the
opposite front foot or leg.
DAM: The female parent, or mother, of a horse.
DEAD HEAT: A situation in which the judges cannot
separate two or more horses when judging the outcome of a race.
DISTANCED: A horse that is out of touch with the
rest of the field at the end of the race. This is often referred
to as finished distanced.
DRIVER: The person holding a license or permit to
drive harness horses. There are different types of licenses, which
correspond to differing levels of experience.
EARLY/LATE CLOSER: A race requiring payments which
start much closer to the actual race date than a stake "Early"
and "Late" involve specified periods of time.
FILLY: A female 3 years of age or less.
FIRST-OVER: The first horse to make a move on the leader
in a race, moving up on the outside.
FOAL: A newly born horse. Also describes the act
of a mare giving birth.
FREE LEGGED: A pacer which races without wearing
hobbles.
GELDING: A castrated male of any age.
HANDICAPPING: The first step in successfully picking a winner
(or "handicapping") is becoming familiar with reading
the racing program. Each program has a section explaining the information
format used at that particular track. Probably the best place to
start when handicapping Standardbreds is time. Since over 99 percent
of all harness races are conducted at the one-mile distance, valid
comparisons can be made among horses.
HARNESS: The gear which is used to attach the sulky
to a horse, to carry the hobbles and to enable the driver to steer
the horse.
HOME STRETCH: The straight length of the track, nearest
the spectators, where the finish line is situated. It is called
this because it is the final part of the track a horse travels down
during a race -- on its run 'home' (or run to the finish line).
HOBBLES: The straps which connect the front and rear
legs on the same side of a horse. Most pacers wear hobbles to help
balance their stride and maintain a pacing gait. The length of hobbles
is adjustable and a trainer registers the length that best suits
his or her horse. There are also trotting hobbles that work through
a pulley system to help trotters maintain their gait.
HORSE: A male 4 years of age or older.
INQUIRY: Stewards may conduct an inquiry as a result of any
incident which may have occurred during a race, to determine whether
or not certain drivers and/or horses were responsible for the incident
and whether they should receive due punishment.
INVITATIONAL: A race for the top horses in the area.
Also known a Open or Free-For-All.
LAME: The term used to describe a horse which is
limping or has difficulty walking properly.
LEASING: As opposed to buying a harness horse, people
have the option of leasing one. Just like some people lease a car
instead of paying the money up-front, leasing a horse gives people
use of a horse without large capital outlay. An agreement or contract
must be drawn up between the two parties, and the lease must be
registered with the relevant controlling body.
MAIDEN: A horse which has not yet won a race.
MARE: A female 4 years of age or more.
PARI-MUTUEL RACE: A race in which wagering is allowed,
held at a track licensed by a state’s racing commission. Pari-mutuel
races are held at licensed pari-mutuel racetracks or fairs.
PARKED: A horse racing on the outside, with at least
one horse between it and the inside rail.
PHOTO FINISH: When two horses cross the finish too
closely to identify a winner, officials call for a photograph of
the race, taken exactly at the finish line, to help them determine
who was ahead.
POCKET: A horse in a pocket is unable to obtain a
clear run because it has other runners situated in front, behind
and to the side of it.
POST POSITION: Generally, the closer a horse starts
to the inside rail or barrier of the track (especially on smaller
tracks), the better is its chance of winning. At the start, horses
must either "leave" (start quickly) to get a good position
or else find a place on the rail to avoid racing on the outside
of other horses. When racing on the outside the horse is said to
be "parked out", and loses ground on every turn. A horse
on the inside has a better chance to get to the rail or quickly
get a good position.
QUALIFIER: A race in which a horse must go a mile
below an established time standard to prove itself capable
of competing in pari-mutuel races.
SCRATCHING: A horse that is withdrawn (or scratched)
from a race before the start.
SIRE: The male parent, or father, of a horse.
SIRE STAKE: Stake races designed to promote Standardbred
breeding and racing within a state. Different states have different
rules regulating eligibility to that state’s sire stakes program.
Rules include: a horse must be the offspring of a stallion standing
in the state or a mare living in that state, owned by a resident
of that state, or the horse was born in that state.
STAKE RACE: A race where owners make a series of
payments, starting well in advance, to keep a horse eligible. If
an owner misses a payment to a stakes race, the horse becomes ineligible.
STARTER: The person responsible for starting a harness race.
The starter controls the start of the race from the back of the
mobile vehicle.
SULKY: Also known as the cart or racebike, the sulky
is attached to the harness and carries the driver and which the
horse pulls.
TIME TRIAL: An attempt to have a horse beat its own
best time in a non-competitive event. A time trial is not a race.
Galloping horses hitched to sulkies, called prompters, are used
to push a horse to its best effort.
TOTE BOARD: Tote Board: An electronic board, usually
in the infield of a track, which posts the odds, amount of money
bet, results of a race and the wagering pay-offs.
WEANLING: A baby horse, up to its first birthday.
YEARLING: Any horse between its first and second
birthday
WIN: The horse you select must come in
first.
PLACE: The horse you select must come in first or second.
SHOW: The horse you select must come in first, second, or third.
DAILY DOUBLE: A bet attempting to pick the winner of two consecutive
races.
PICK THREE: A bet attempting to select the winners of three
consecutive races.
QUINELLA: A bet attempting to select the first two finishers,
regardless of order.
PERFECTA/EXACTA: A bet attempting to select the first two finishers
in exact order.
TRIFECTA: A bet attempting to select the first three finishers
in exact order.
TRI-SUPER: A bet attempting to select the first three finishers
in exact order, and then the first four finishers in exact order in
a subsequent race.
TWIN TRIFECTA: A bet attempting to select the first three finishers
in exact order, and then the first three finishers in exact order
in a subsequent race.
Associations
USTA: United States Trotting
Association, based in Columbus, Ohio, the regulatory, record keeping
and registration association for all Standardbreds. It was created
in 1939 to unify a fragmented Standardbred industry. Support harness
racing and Standardbreds by joining the USTA. The USTA is just one of numerous
organizations here and abroad that serve Standardbreds and harnes
racing. For a complete list, see the USTA's Trotting
& Pacing Guide.
Deciphering a Standardbred’s Record
A horse establishes its record when it wins a race. The
USTA keeps records of the fastest race a horse wins each year it
races.
Example: p,3,T1:54.1f ($200,000)
p
The gait in which the horse raced, which
is the pace; if no letter is present after the age, the horse
raced on the trot.
3
The first number, 3, is the age the horse
was when it won its fastest race as a 3-year-old.
T
The "T" means the record was
taken in a time trial, not in a race. If a "Q" is
there, the record was taken in a qualifying race. If no letter
is present before the time, the record was taken during a race.
1:54.1
The time, 1:54.1, is the short hand version
of the fact that the horse raced a mile in one minute and fifty-four
and one-fifths seconds.
f
The "f" stands for the fact that
the race took place over a five-eighths-mile sized track. If
an "s" is present, it means a seven-eighths of a mile
track; an "h" means a half-mile track; and "q"
is for a three-quarter-mile track. If no letter is present,
the track is a mile long.
($200,000)
The amount of money a horse has earned
in its career follows its fastest time, in parentheses
The Way to the Winner's Circle
One of the best parts about Standardbreds is the opportunity
for hands-on involvement in their racing careers. The USTA can
help you find your way to Standardbred ownership, whether in
the racing game or with a retired competitor
The Racing Game
Here are a few steps to help you if you want to make your
way into racehorse ownership:
1: Finding a trainer: It is best to find a trainer
before you get a horse. To accomplish this, contact the race
secretary of your closest race track, or your state's horseman's
association. A list of all tracks and associations can be found
in the USTA's Trotting & Pacing Guide,
published annually.
2. Making a Purchase: There are several options once
you decide to buy a horse: go to an auction, go through a private
sale or claim a horse.
Auction: A horse goes to the highest bidder.
Sales can feature racehorses, broodmares and stallion prospects,
as well as yearlings.
Private sale: Brings one buyer together
with one seller. Can include one owner, partnerships or
limited partnerships where winnings--and losses-- are limited
to what your total investment, and a controlling partner
makes decisions.
Claiming race: A horse can be purchased
right out of a race for a stated price. A qualified buyer
files "a claim" and puts up the amount of the
claiming price before the race, and the title to the horse
changes immediately after the race.
3. What to look for: You can spend between several
hundred and several thousand dollars on a Standardbred, so it
is best to use the advise of a trainer or veterinarian. As a
general rule, look for the following:
Breeding: The best racehorses come from
the best breeding: A prominent and productive stallion mated
to a well-bred mare with a history of producing top horses.
Conformation: Conformation, or how a horse
is put together, is also important. Experienced buyers look
for such things as: wide-set eyes, a wide jaw, a massive
neck, powerful chest, and straight legs and feet.
Trotters v. pacers: Trotters make up one
in five Standardbreds. They take more time and patience
to develop. However, talented trotters have less competition,
while having the opportunity to win as much, or more, than
pacers. Pacers, on the other hand, get to the races faster
meaning a faster return on investment. However, it takes
a very fast pacer to be truly successful.
Spending Money:Training fees buy three things: a trainer's
services, basic feed and a groom. After the training fee, there
are a variety of other charges that will include the blacksmith,
veterinary and medication costs and licensing. Monthly costs
usually run between $1,220 and $2,180 for a horse starting 30
times over a nine-month period. Additional expenses may include:
Insurance: based upon the value of the horse,
rates are estimated between $3 and $7 per $100 of value.
Staking: Most of the richest pots for Standardbreds
are for 2- and 3-years-olds. To compete, you must invest
money in those races in the name of your horse to keep your
horse eligible. Most payments start when the horse is a
yearling and do not end until you enter them for the race.
Transportation: If your horse trains at
a farm, away from the racetrack, there will be costs involved
in shipping him to the races. Also, a stake horse will have
to travel to numerous different tracks for stake events.
Short trips average about $1 per mile, although the rate
likely goes down for longer trips.
Membership: Every breeder and owner must
become a member of the U.S. Trotting Association. It costs
$60 to join and $45 to renew annually. Many owners also
opt to join their local horsemen's organization that work
on their behalf.
Extras: To get more involved in the industry,
new owners will want to subscribe to trade publications
like Hoof Beats,
the world's largest magazine devoted to Standardbreds, and
purchase important reference materials like the USTA's Sires
And Dams, Stakes Guide, Year Book, Trotting & Pacing
Guide, and Care & Training of the Trotter and Pacer.
This ownership information has been taken from Owning
a Harness Racehorse: The Way to the Winner's Circle, a brochure
produced by the U.S. Trotting Association.
The U.S. Trotting Association is available to answer all of your questions
about Standardbred horses and harness racing. Please feel free to contact
us at
(614) 224-2291, or E-mail our Publicity
Department for more information.
Copyright ©2008 The United States Trotting Association. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed
in any form. Use of this site signifies your agreement to the terms
of use. Maintained online by webmaster@ustrotting.com
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src="http://www.ustrotting.com/services/breed/harness.cfm/" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-1196103-6");
pageTracker._initData();
pageTracker._trackPageview();
|
|
