Charlene Sharpe

Laurel, DE — While an interest in horses might have been what drew trainer Marna Shehan into the world of harness racing, it’s the family oriented atmosphere of the sport that has kept her involved.

Shehan, 33, trains a stable of 10 horses with her husband, driver Tyler Shehan. More often than not, you’ll find the pair in the truck, shipping horses with their son Logan, nearly 2, in tow.

“It’s a family thing,” Marna Shehan said. “Just seeing Logan watch his daddy race and the horses doing good.”

Marna Shehan with Peppermint Candy, who was named Horse of the Meet for winning all three starts at Shenandoah Downs. Dee Leftwich photo.

Shehan, a South Africa native, came to the United States after high school. She’d grown up with horses, endurance riding, and was thrilled to get a position as a vet tech at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital.

“I wanted to see the world,” she said.

Shehan went on to work for Peninsula Farm at yearling sales and then Walnut Hall. It was at Walnut Hall that provided her with her first glimpse of a Standardbred in training.

She married Shehan in 2008 and in the ensuing years has jumped full time into harness racing.

“He’s the driver and I’m the groom,” Shehan joked. “I boss him around some.”

Though based in Kentucky, the Shehans race at tracks throughout the eastern U.S.

“We’re mainly on the road,” she said.

In October alone, the Shehans raced at Vernon Downs, Harrington Raceway, Harrah’s Philadelphia, The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono and Shenandoah Downs. Though they’re now stabled in New Jersey, they spent the start of fall in Virginia, as they have the past several years. This year’s Shenandoah meet proved to be special, however, as it resulted in Shehan’s first training title.

“When the meet first started that was the last thing on our mind,” Shehan said.

Tyler and Marna Shehan with their son, Logan. Photo courtesy of Marna Shehan.

They’d settled in at the Woodstock track simply with the goal of making some money with their modest stable. Wins by Peppermint Candy, Swinging Jenny, Fort Defiant, Uncle Si, Held In Balance and Fort El Said started to add up however.

“The last weekend we were like ‘oh my gosh we actually have a shot,” Shehan said.

While they knew there was a chance Shehan could close out the meet as leading trainer she was neck and neck with trainer Arlene Cameron. The final weekend, however, everything went their way.

“Tyler put them in good positions on the racetrack,” Shehan said.

And so when the brief Virginia meet ended on Oct. 14 Shehan was named leading trainer with 11 wins, Cameron finishing second with 10. Shehan pupil Peppermint Candy was named Horse of the Meet for winning all three starts at Woodstock.

Shehan, who now boasts a UTR of .344 in 2018, says she’s just grateful for the horses’ success and the support of their owners. In the wake of their successful meet, she and Tyler have relocated to New Jersey for the time being. Though they spent many winters breaking yearlings in Hawkinsville, Ga., this year they’re hoping to keep racing in the Mid-Atlantic area. They’re excited about the possibilities a more central location will give them.

“The money’s good up here,” Shehan said. “We’re going to try it out as long as we can.”