Harness racing is a category of horse-racing in which the horses race each other at a precise pace. They habitually drag two-wheeled carts that are called sulkies.

Harness racing was the most popular sport in the years before the Civil War. Since control of Thoroughbred racing was taken by the South, the Northern States tried to gain control, but a miserable reproduction market, a need for sturdy jockey clubs to adjust the sport and a deficiency of supporters who could place high-quality matches kept the sport low. By the 1850s, there were more viewers who watched racing than any other sport. Also there were seventy tracks nationally, seven of which were in the area of New York.

In almost all jurisdictions the harness races were practiced with Standard bred horses. Cold-blooded horses, so named because of a stable, calm temperament, raced alongside European horses which commonly have either Russian or French descendents. Standardbreds are so called because in the early years of the Standardbred stud book, only horses who could run or pace a mile in standard time, or whose brood could do so, were entered into the book.

Standardbreds have shorter legs than the Thoroughbreds, but they compensate with their longer bodies. They also are of more docile dispositions, as suits horses whose races engage more strategy and more acceleration than Thoroughbred races.

The founding sire of today’s Standardbred horse was called Messenger, a gray pure-bred brought to America in 1788 and purchased by Henry Astor, who was John Jacob Astor’s brother. From this particular horse descended a great-grandson, Hambletonian 10. It received extraordinary appreciation for its racing ability. Nevertheless, it is his breed line for which he is most remembered. The ancestry of practically all American Standardbred race horses comes from Hambletonian 10’s descendents.

Races can be conducted in two differing steps: trotting and pacing. The distinction is made by the trotter who moves its legs forward in crossways, striking the ground at the same time, whereas a pacer moves its legs sideways.

In Europe the races are conducted thoroughly between trotters, while in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United States and the United Kingdom they hold races for pacers.

Pacing races represent 80% to 90% of the Harness racing conducted in North America. The pacing horses are quicker and, most importantly to the bettor, they are less likely to break stride (a horse that starts to run needs to be slowed down and taken out in anticipation of regaining the pace). An explanation for pacers being less likely to break stride is that they regularly wear hopples or hobbles, which are straps that fix the legs to the horse’s sides.

A suggestion that hopples are supposed to create this stride is a mistake, the hopples are just an ornament to steady the pace while gaining top velocity.

The originator of this piece is best known for his knowledge of on-line betting systems. You can view his work here: Harness Racing.

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