Harness racing - Past, present, and future

Harness racing is a type of horse racing that involves a lightweight chariot on two wheels, like the ancient Greek war chariots that appear in the movies. Indeed, it’s a sport with an ancient past: it was used for war by Assyrians in 1500 BC and also appears in Homer’s Iliad. Over time, it was used for hunting, and even mentions of four-horse chariot races in the ancient Olympic Games.

The popularity of the sport has had its ups and downs throughout the centuries. These races were hugely popular in the early 20th century. However, they declined sharply in the following decades, surviving mostly in country fairs. Harness racing regained its popularity once again in the 1980s when fans and investors would pay top dollar for a racing horse and also in attendance fees.

Here’s what the sport looks like today:

Basic concepts

Thanks to the rise of live streaming platforms and sports betting sites, everyone can follow harness racing and bet on their favorite horses using e-wallets and other payment methods. The rules are quite straightforward, but some concepts are crucial to understanding what’s going on at the racetrack. Some of them are unique to this sport.

Rules

Each racing association has its own rules, which can vary. However, the preference for standardbred horses is unanimous. Horses can’t break from their gaits either, so the driver must pull the horse out of the track to restore its gait.

Gait

Gaits are different patterns of independent leg moves a horse can do. Harness racing focuses on two types: pacing and trotting. In the first type, the horse moves both legs on the same side together. Hopples are common for pacing horses, as they strap both legs for coordinated movement.

Horses doing the trotting gait move the right rear and front right legs simultaneously. Most horses have this kind of gait naturally. Many European countries allow only this type of gait for harness racing.

Sulky

The two-wheeled chariot in which the jockey or driver sits is called “sulky.” It’s the only type of horse racing that uses such equipment. The sulky has shafts for the driver’s legs, providing balance. Indeed, the way a driver sits on the sulky may affect the horse’s performance on the track.

Breed

The most common breed for this sport is standardbred. This breed has outstanding strength, stamina, speed, and discipline. Standardbred horses are calm and have a very stable gait, even at high speed. Unsurprisingly, it’s the only breed allowed in American competitions.

Riding around the world

Horse racing associations worldwide have been implementing new rules to ensure the health and safety of horses and drivers. In the United States, the Racehorse Health and Safety Act was approved last year, creating specific Scientific Medication Control Committees not only for standardbred animals but also for quarters and thoroughbreds. The new law also created the Racetrack Safety Committee, which oversees particular rules for each breed.

In New Zealand, harness racing is receiving massive investments: NZD 30 million plus two new NZD 1 million tracks. The investments are the result of the partnership between Tab/Entail and the sport's national association. The main event, known as “Show Day,” will also have new racers for trotters and pacers, with prizes up to NZD 500,000.

Not far from New Zealand, Harness Racing Australia is investing in cutting-edge technology to improve its performance in the country. More precise health-tracking devices connected to advanced software can monitor a horse’s health conditions in real-time. There are also programs designed to create a diet and workout routine for each horse based on those metrics.

Riding into the future

Despite its ancient origins, the sport is tuned to the latest technologies. In 2019, Harness Racing Australia and TAB New Zealand worked together to promote the first 360-degree live transmission of a race from cameras mounted on the drivers’ helmets. The ground-breaking event took place at Alexandra Park in Auckland.

Considering that the event occurred much before 5G times, fans can expect more live transmissions like that in the future. Indeed, organizers plan to include AI-based assists and components to provide a more interactive and immersive experience.

Moreover, fans no longer need to wait for a real-life harness racing event. The sport has also gained a high-level simulator, Sulky Manager, with graphics including hippodromes, ranches, and stables. The game, powered by Steam, allows players to breed and train their own horses and provides thrilling multiplayer events. The Sulky Manager is available on Steam’s platform.

Nowadays, it’s possible to find racing events on most sports betting sites. Some platforms allow for live betting in these events and even provide live streaming services. Sports betting is widely considered a driving factor for the rise of popularity of any sport. After all, bettors are much likelier to watch the events they’re betting on, driving up viewership numbers in return.