Harness

Information

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• Harness Glossary of Terms.

Overview

The world of harness racing is divided into two types of Standardbreds: trotters and pacers.  The difference between the two is the gait that they maintain when they run.  Trotters run with a diagonal gait, meaning that their right foreleg and left hind leg move forward at the same time.  Unlike trotters, pacers run with a lateral gait, meaning that their right foreleg and right hind leg move forward in unison.  Since the beginning of the sport in the 19th century, trotters were considered the “preferred” type of Standardbred for horsemen.  The biggest races with the best purses were only open to trotters, while the “undesirable” pacers were left to race against each other in what were considered bush-league races. 

These races are contest in an anti-clockwise direction, the horses start from behind a moving barrier that is typically a car. 

Tracks in these races are either a half mile or a mile in circumference.  As races are typically contested over the one mile distance this means that there are 4 turns associated with races over a half mile oval and 2 turns associated with races over a mile oval. 

Post position is very influencial for races that are contested over a half mile oval while it has less meaning on the bigger race tracks where the turns are less banked and allow for horses to have as good a shot going wide as they would negotiating a path near the pilons.  Tracks handicap their top performers by making them start from outside post positions to give the insider runners a better chance at winning the race.

If a trotter or a pacer gallops or otherwise breaks stride during a race, the driver must pull up the horse and coax it back into the approved gait. This is vitally important, because it is unfair to the other runners and is an offence.

Tracks

We offer wagering Available On The Following Harness Tracks, please click the links to get more information. To place wagers use one of the betting services.