Standardbreds, an American breed developed over 200 years ago, are the only horses eligible for harness racing. They differ from Thoroughbreds with a more muscular build and larger heads. Harness racing features two gaits: trotting and pacing, with pacers accounting for 80% of races. Pacers use plastic loops called hobbles to maintain their gait. Races start with all competitors behind a car and typically cover a mile. Key terms include "free-legged" (pacers without hobbles), "harness" (gear for attaching the sulky), and "sulky" (the cart pulled by the horse).
What breed of horses compete in harness racing?
Only registered Standardbreds can compete in harness races. Standardbreds are a relatively new breed, dating back just over 200 years and is an American breed. While the Standardbred does resemble the Thoroughbred, it often has a loner and more muscular body, and are not as tall. They also tend to have larger heads and a “Roman” nose.
The name “Standardbred” originates because early trotters were required to reach a certain standard for the mile distance in order to be registered as part of the new breed.
Gait
There are two types of gaits seen in harness racing, trotting and pacing. Any trotter or pacer that breaks into a canter or gallop during a race must be pulled back to its correct gait, and therefore lose ground to its competitors or be disqualified from the race.
Trotters move with a diagonal gait – the front left, and right rear legs move in unison (and vice versa).
Pacers move the legs on one side of their body in tandem – the front and rear left, and the front and rear right. They are often called “side-wheelers”.
Pacers account for 80% of the runners in harness racing.
The fastest of the two gaits
This is aided by plastic loops (called hobbles), which keeps their legs moving in synchronization.
Racing
Unlike Thoroughbred races, Harness races start when all competitors line up behind the starting car. The mile is the standard distance covered in nearly every harness race.
Harness Terms
There are some terms in Harness racing that you will not find in the Thoroughbred or Quarter horse races.
Free-Legged – a pacer which races without wearing Hobbles
Harness – the gear which is used to attach the sulky to the horse, to carry the hobbles and enables the driver to steer the horse.
Hobbles – the straps which connect the front and rear legs on the same side of a horse. Most pacers where hobbles to help balance their stride and maintain a pacing gait.
Sulky – also known as the “race bike”, the sulky is attached to the harness, pulled by the horse, and carries the driver.