Harness Racing

And, They’re Off!

by B.D. Adams

© 2014

            It was early June in Columbus, Ohio. Nice and warm, and no hint of rain! Ryan Elliot got to the track early enough to get a good parking spot for his 1973 Dodge Charger, a real cool car. His lead was to Scioto Downs for horse harness racing; real cool horse power, also! The parking fee was only $1.50. This was way south of Columbus on High Street. There were many people already in the immense lot because the Casino was open 24/7 (he wasn’t that kind of gambler). By the time he would leave tonight, the lot would be packed!  

As the sun was setting, where the cars were parked, it was still very warm. No clouds this late afternoon. But where the stands faced the track, it would be very comfortable.

Ryan was a graduate student in philosophy at Ohio State University. He was just a young man, of twenty-five, who really loved philosophy and Sulky Racing. This day was a play-day for him – no classes, nor was he needed at his part-time job at the bookstore.

Since he wasn’t a business man, he tried to keep his wavy, dark blonde hair trimmed, but with his schedule, especially at the university, he would let that grooming slide. And, he didn’t shave today. His slender body, with average height, was attired in blue-jeans, a thin, dark blue sweater with rolled up sleeves (it could get cool) and his well-worn sneakers. He had his canvas shoulder bag that he’d carry almost everywhere he went. Women had shoulder purses ... he had a funky, khaki colored shoulder bag!

Besides the parking, he always tried to get to the Downs early to get a bottle of beer (others to follow later, depending on his luck) and a basket of fried chicken strips for his supper. This was always a treat for him --- go to the harness races, eat his supper at the track and bet the races! Sulky harness racing, such fun to watch!!

            Other early trackers were arriving, he saw as they entered ahead of him. The gates for the track opened at 4:00pm, first race posted at 7:10pm. The gamblers, who practically lived at the track, were not fans like him, but die-hard gamblers! Ryan wondered, a few times, how these men and women lived. They bet a lot, large amounts he would notice, which meant they probably lost a lot of money, as well! They always dressed nicely -- nice slacks or trousers with appropriate shirts or blouses that always appeared neat and clean. One man he saw often looked like he was a “dandy.” He imagined the man was English, perhaps. Some of the older women would wear decorative hats like at the Kentucky Derby. Very social these occasions could be. Ryan had a small spiral notebook in the canvas bag to make notes for his classes (one class was Forensic Psychology) about things he would see or hear or think. He had his opinions, but never trained on them. He was there only for the races, not to analyze.

            After he paid the $1.00 entrance fee, Ryan immediately saw a vendor inside who sold the betting/odds magazine, racing forms, which he purchased immediately. The track would make its money off the loosing gamblers! Of course, the magazine went into the bag. He sauntered to the food kiosk that made the fried chicken. He nonchalantly purchased the food and his Molson beer.

Once all was secured, he went to get a seat in the Attended Seats of the Grand Stand. He’d pay $5.00 to have a seat to always come back to, after he’d place his bets. This way, he didn’t clash with rude or nasty people over a seating dispute, which had happened before he learned about this kind of seating. He always slipped the Attendant, a track employee, an extra ten-spot to better insure his seat. A little pricey, but it was worth it.

           He had sat in the Club House a few times, that was very posh and a lot pricier. The food was very good and the ambiance was very nice. However, he wasn’t well-off and the women who would go there were looking for a Sugar-Daddy or a well-off husband. 

           He just went about his business. What a very nice late afternoon on Thursday, he mused!! This would be deemed as the quiet time for the track. Even though the races hadn’t begun, there were loud noises of all sorts!

          The loud-speakers detailed races at other tracks, while more people arrived and laughed and yelled to others. Ryan really liked this form of “quiet” because when the races would begin, it would be anything but quiet! He went into the Attended Seats and chose his. He really enjoyed those Seats!

            Now, Ryan was ready to take care of his business. Before going to the track, his way, his routine was to fold a twenty-dollar bill in his wallet, which would be his betting money, his “mad money.” Mostly, he’d make $2 bets for place and show! The twenty would supply his first bets. If he won, he’d then use the winnings for everything. Many times he’d merely breakeven, but usually he’d win around $100, above and beyond all of his food/drink debits! Always a thrill! When he lost, however, and got down to that $20, he had the smarts to stop! However, with his ability, he usually would be able to eat, drink and bet all evening.

Many of the drivers with their horses were on the track jogging/exercising before the races.

                                                               Wikipedia Photo

As usual, Ryan would unthread the canvas bag and place it on the seat squeezed between his left thigh and the arm-rest. He gulped a good swig or two of his Molson beer, and then placed the bottle in one cup-holders on the armrest, and then balanced the chicken on his right thigh and just munched away. On the other knee, he opened the racing form to begin his perusal of the races. He dug out a ballpoint pen from the bag to make his needed markings onto the racing form.

            His tradition was not to bet the first race.

The odds board, by the track railing in the in-field, that faced the stands, was lighted and already had all the numbers for those first horses and drivers. The board indicated a “Fast Track,” which meant that the track wasn’t wet or soggy. The track would be raked before the race, to make the track more combed and even! The track’s crew was efficient!

            Each year, Ryan always noticed the gardens around the two boards. They were planted mostly with bulb plants and many other plants; Irises and Daylilies and perennials and a bunch of seasonal flowers! Lots of color! He knew his mother spent a lot of money and time on her gardens, rest her soul. This was a very nice reminder of his mom – colorful and alive.

            He finished the chicken, placed the thin cardboard box under the seat, to throw away later. Now, he could better study the odds.

            Other people entered the stands and sat more below his seat, closer to the track, and a few were more up from his seat. After a few moments, an older fellow sat in the row in front of him, three seats to his right. They both just politely nodded to each other. Ryan had never seen him before. The man had an iPad with him and he talked on a cell phone. Ryan thought that was unnecessary for these races at this track. There was a sign that discouraged the use of those phones, but that restriction was not enforced.

            Ryan’s attention went back to the horses just in time to see one of his favorite driver’s come out onto the track to work a horse that would not race for a couple of races. However, with what he saw of this horse, he went to that page to make note about this pair. A good “handi-capper” would not just bet the horse; the driver’s statistics were just as important! This driver was very good, won many races. Ryan knew he would make a bet on this horse and driver!

            The Grand Stand, to the left of where he sat, was filling up! More trackers sat in the Attended Seats, as well. Three men sat two rows almost exactly behind him, but there was no comradeship towards him as they past Ryan. Ryan decided they were fortyish – a bit paunchy with character facial lines. They talked about statistics; what horse had the best conformation, what horse was already sweating too badly, what driver was in better shape for the Sulky. Those men could use their suggestions for the drivers for themselves, Ryan smiled to himself.

            Ryan was actually amused with what these men said. Nothing but scrap-talk, but definitely things that should be considered! He decided that they were novices, new to harness racing. Perhaps, they were more with the running tracks – Thoroughbreds. Harness horses were of the Standardbred breed! As tall as Thoroughbreds, but definitely more sturdy, longer!

            As luck would have it, a group of four middle-aged women slid into his row and apologized for bumping him. Ryan merely smiled and said, “No problem.” He just hoped they weren’t the kinds that are up and down worst than a merry-go-round. They had their drinks and snacks and were chatting to each other about the racing form.

            Presently, though, one of the women moved to sit beside him, with a wide grin, and asked, “Could I ask you a question?”

            Ryan didn’t want to appear rude, but he didn’t want to be bothered with silly questions all race, either. So, he asked, “A question?” He smiled nicely without rudeness and said, “Sure.”

            She held the racing form and pointed to the front cover and asked, “Do the jockeys get thrown out of those little wagons?”

            This question rather tickled Ryan. When he had first started to come to these races, he wondered the same thing. He smiled slightly and informed, “Well, that can happen, but not very often. And, just so you know, those are not wagons, they’re Sulkies, very light weight racing carts.”

            “Oh ...,” was all she said. She continued to study the photo.

            “Another thing to know, the men are not jockeys, they’re drivers. Occasionally, there are women drivers. I believe there are only men driving tonight.” He wanted to inform/teach this woman without being spiteful.

            “Oh ...,” she said again.

            “Any other questions?” Ryan asked.

            “My friends and me have been wanting to come here for years, but with this, we have no idea what to do! What do all these numbers mean?” The woman opened to the first race.

            Well, this was what he didn’t want to have happen. Next time he should sit in a higher row. However, because his mother didn’t raise an Aardvark, he would do what he could.

            “I don’t mean for you to give me a crash course in betting, but a pointer or two would be helpful,” she said with a small grin. Ryan was very glad that she said this.

            With his calm way, Ryan opened his form and pointed to the marks he had made, as he instructed, “I make these marks to figure which horse to bet on. The more marks a horse gets, that’s the one I bet on. For instance, this horse (he points to the horse’s name with his pen) has won more first places, this one more third places. Then, look at the driver’s statics – first place wins, and so on. And, over here, it shows the races for the last month where the same horses had raced against each other, how they placed – win, place or show ... first, second, third.” Ryan gave his brief lesson and waited for her to respond, however, he wanted to be pragmatic and added, “Of course, many bets are made on the horse’s name or just how the horse looks ... there is really no firm way to pick the horses.” He smiled to her and hoped she wasn’t offended.

            “Which horse are you betting on?” she asked. Her eyes gave him a pleading look.

            Ryan honestly gave her his reason of not betting the first race. She thanked him for his input, but seemed somewhat perturbed with him. She went back to her friends. They all spoke quietly to the woman who was his student.

            As for almost any racing night, nothing is the same, other than the fact that there is horse racing. Ryan had seen several match-ups of men and women, had seen angry couples of all different configurations, old friends who met and new friendships that made him think of the movie “Casablanca!”

            It didn’t take long, but one man, of the three men, slid down and over to the seats behind Ryan’s row, and began to talk quietly to the group of woman. Well, that was more of what the two groups wanted. Ryan heard the man say, “Yeah. Look down there ... lots of people stand down there.” He pointed out, “These seats are yours, you’ve paid for them ... if you don’t like what we tell you, you can come back here (which was slightly correct).” The man grinned like a Cheshire Cat!

The women decided to take a chance on these men. They stood and scooted out of the row. The three men followed right behind them from their seats.

All Ryan could think was, “I hope they have mace!” He really didn’t want to see this in the news tomorrow morning. But then, he shouldn’t be so skeptical!! He went back to his form.

Within a short while, the Sulkies were driven off the track. Two tractors, towing the wide rakes, came onto the track to make it so smooth. Soon, the fun would begin!

The race announcer welcomed all the fans and had everyone stand to hand salute, as the recorded National Anthem was played while the Flag was raised in the in-field.

The flag was where the winning horses and drivers would go after the race where owners and trainers could receive their recognitions and awards. The stake races, such as the “Heart of Ohio Trot” and the “Capital City Pace” and others, the horses would acquire a flower blanket over their harness ... very prestigious!! There were only a couple races like this tonight. Those races were scheduled more for Friday or Saturday. More excitement for novice race fans!

After the tractors vacated the track, the horses and drivers for the first race came out onto the track to pass to and fro in front of the Stands so the Fans could scrutinize the horses. The announcer introduced the names of the eight horses and drivers for this race. 
These horses were trotters; left hooves touched while right hooves were pointed front and back,  and so on. Pacers would move right legs forward and left legs backwards, etc.

Now, the moving gate went to the second turn of the track to await the horses with their Sulky drivers. The gate was constructed from a GMC Yukon that had metal flaps at the back of the car that, when opened, almost spanned the track. The horses would put their noses almost touching the gate before the gate would fold the flaps to start the race at the fourth turn.

There were so many people scampering about, as they went to the betting windows to place their bets. Each bet was handled with reverence! Until the race was over, that was gold!

Ryan was fairly sure which horse would win ... the one he didn’t bet!

Then, without any further announcements, the long, pealing bell-ring was heard to tell the drivers to get their horses to the gate! The drivers immediately tapped their small chariots. The gate accelerated to keep up with the horses! Then the flaps closed, the gate left the track, horses were more than ready!!

“And they’re off!!” the announcer stated.  

 Wikipedia Photo