Ashley Tetrick works behind the scenes to support and promote the sport
Harness racing has long been defined by the figures seen between the sulky shafts, but the sport’s momentum increasingly depends on those working beyond the track. For Ashley Tetrick, that work has become both a responsibility and a calling.
Known to many as the wife of Hall of Fame driver Tim Tetrick, Ashley has built a presence that extends far beyond that introduction. Through leadership roles on multiple initiatives, strategic promotional efforts, and a sharp understanding of digital engagement, she has positioned herself as a driving force in how harness racing presents itself to a modern audience.
Whether coordinating initiatives behind the scenes or shaping the public-facing voice of the sport through social media, her influence reflects a broader shift — one where storytelling, accessibility and visibility are no longer optional, but essential.
Tetrick grew up in Crete, Ill., just a few miles from Balmoral Park; however, her roots weren’t embedded in racing at all as she was born into a riding horse family and developed into a champion barrel racer. Eventually, she found her connection to harness racing through Penny Morgan, the wife of driver Tony Morgan, who mentored her with barrel racing horses.
One day, Tony Morgan mentioned to Tetrick that a part-time outrider was needed at Balmoral Park and Maywood Park.
“At the time, Sis Arnold, a truly incredible outrider, was working all qualifiers and race nights,” Tetrick said. “I began to outride during college just to help pay the bills, and I immediately fell in love with Standardbreds.”
And that’s where Tetrick’s story began. In the couple decades since her introduction to Standardbreds under the lights of Chicagoland’s storied racing venues, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in business marketing from Purdue University and spent 10 years working in the equine pharmaceutical industry. She says her current role is to be “the most underqualified manager and madman of Tetrick Racing.” She keeps the train on the tracks of her husband’s logistics and travel, as well as maintaining their small broodmare band and horses currently racing.
Tetrick Racing has been branded into a harness racing trademark on social media with over 67,000 followers on Facebook alone, not to mention a great presence on other social media platforms, pushing its overall audience over 100,000 followers.
“I wish I had a professional answer for the process it took to begin Tetrick Racing’s marketing effort, but it was a ‘just go-for-it’ effort,” Tetrick said. “Many years ago, I met a really great guy at the Meadowlands, who is a huge harness racing fan, named John Adamsky. He and I chatted often about assisting me in this process, and the rest is history. He’s been my right-hand man ever since, and I think it’s incredible that he has aided a lot of other entities to grow as well. The fans and followers are the reason it has such a strong presence, and I’m so thankful for them.”
Ashley Tetrick, together with her husband, Tim, at his induction into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2021, and their daughter, Trysta. Mark Hall photo.
In addition to managing all the ties to the Tetrick Racing name, brand and lifestyle, Tetrick serves as a director of the USTA’s District 12 (New Jersey) and co-chairs the USTA’s Marketing and Communications committee.
At first, she was hesitant to join the USTA Board of Directors, but she did so at the encouragement of John Brennan. After Brennan passed early in 2020, board chairperson Joe Faraldo contacted Tetrick and asked if she would assume Brennan’s seat on the Board on an interim basis, and she accepted.
“If you knew John, you’re probably laughing because he always got what he wanted,” said Tetrick. “I’m thankful for the opportunity because, like many members, I was very critical of the USTA, and I now have a deeper understanding of what the USTA staff executes and accomplishes on a very modest budget. I’ve worked with other equine associations — the Appaloosa Horse Club, American Quarter Horse Association, Women’s Professional Rodeo Association, Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, and National Barrel Horse Association — and our Pathway and online services are by far the most superior.”
As part of her role with the USTA, more specifically with the association’s Marketing and Communications committee, Tetrick helped with the development of HarnessRacing.com.
“I think the toughest identity crisis we have in marketing harness racing is our inability to separate consumer media and trade media,” said Tetrick. “USTrotting.com was developed to be a tool for those in the trade of harness racing. HarnessRacing.com is solely developed — and growing — to be built for the consumer. My recommendation to staff is to build HarnessRacing.com to be the site you send your neighbor that has never heard of our sport to. It’s evolving and growing every day.”
The website has been developed to educate the public about harness racing on every front. From betting to ownership to aftercare, just about every tier of racing is covered, in addition to the incorporation of current events and race dates to look out for.
Recently, Tetrick was named to the Board of Trustees of the American Horse Council (AHC).
“The AHC is the central lobbying and leadership organization working to protect, promote and grow the entire U.S. equine industry at the national level,” she explained. “My position is a Board of Trustees member that was appointed by USTA president Russell Williams to represent the Standardbred breed.
“I’m most interested in making sure Standardbreds and harness racing are properly represented among all the breeds to legislation and lobbyists. I am also a huge advocate for racehorse aftercare and retraining programs and feel my background with Quarter Horses can assist in bridging that gap.”
Tetrick emphasizes the fact of bridging the gap between other equine specialties and harness racing, especially in the advocation of aftercare.
While not involved directly in any aftercare organizations, Tetrick shares her personal story of bringing together riding horse families and racehorses coming off the track to inspire the aftercare process of harness horses:
“Racehorses love their routines, and their grooms, so they need time and under saddle education for a little while after their careers to be ready to move on and be successful. I recognized that New Vocations built their entire business plan around this theory, and they always put the horse first. That’s why I’m such a huge supporter of them. There are quite a few other organizations that do this as well, which is why I appreciate the work of the Standardbred Transition Alliance.”
Tetrick, in her role as a USTA director, taking part in a roundtable panel discussion at the 2023 USTA Board of Directors meeting. Mark Hall photo.
Outside of the Tetrick Racing brand and in addition to working with other entities, Tetrick produces and hosts a podcast, Under The Lights with Ash and Roy, with former trainer Roy Dinges that is available in video format on YouTube and in an audio-only format through Apple Podcasts, Spotify and iHeartRadio.
“We both share a huge passion for harness racing and rodeo and wanted to merge those communities,” Tetrick said. “We interview legends of both sports to let them share their personal stories to the public.
“Under the Lights with Ash and Roy is officially in the midst of season one, and I’m blown away by the support we have received. It’s a labor of love and a completely uncompensated effort, so if anyone wants to partner with us or become a sponsor, we would be so appreciative to have the opportunity to keep growing.”
In serving on harness racing and equine boards, producing content and engaging fans with Tetrick Racing, and participating in a podcast that intertwines harness racing and rodeo, Tetrick succeeds in her mission to promote racing, provide insight into the life of a Hall of Fame driver, and bridge the gap between various equine specialties with harness racing.
Whether bridging the gap between various equine disciplines, providing insight into the life of a Hall of Fame driver with real-time recaps of her husband’s daily races and routines, sharing personal anecdotes and stories of the track, or educating her audiences on aftercare, Tetrick covers all the bases online while fostering good communication with fans and bettors.
“My best advice is to be consistent and authentic,” Tetrick said. “Don’t overthink it. Showing the public how much harness horsemen work and how loved their horses are is key. Most importantly, do not engage in negative rhetoric unless you are sharing education.”
For Ashley Tetrick, the work is rarely confined to a single role or moment. It exists in the steady, often unseen effort to move the sport forward — whether through leadership, advocacy, or the stories shared with a broader audience. In an era where visibility and connection are critical to harness racing’s future, her influence serves as a reminder that the sport’s success depends not only on those in the sulky, but on those willing to shape everything around it.
This story appears in the June 2026 issue of Hoof Beats, the official magazine of the USTA. To learn more, or to become a subscriber to harness racing’s premier monthly publication, click here.