by Rich Fisher, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Rich Fisher

Trenton, NJ — When 18-year-old Wade Tomaszewski drove to his first career win on June 10 at Buffalo Raceway, it was only fitting he was behind V’la Faire.

The two definitely have a history together.

The first horse the Lancaster, N.Y. resident ever jogged alone, at age 8, was a Western Hanover mare named Trade Fair, who is V’la Faire’s dam. When Wade was 10 he and his dad, Richard Tomaszewski, began jogging V’la Faire and discovered the horse had some speed.

Several years later, Tomaszewski drove in a race with V’la Faire “and it was really touching because her dam was the first horse I jogged alone and she was the first baby I broke and was also the first I trained in a mile.”

Wade Tomaszewski is congratulated in the winner’s circle after his first career win on June 10 at Buffalo Raceway.

Tomaszewski finished third with V’la Faire in his first race as a driver this year and a little less than a month later the two made their trip to the winner’s circle.

“When I realized she drew the rail, I knew as long as I protected her for the first half and didn’t cowboy her, the only way she could lose was if I made a mistake or screwed up,” Tomaszewski said. “Behind the gate she felt really good.”

When it opened, Wade saw Ken Koch leaving with You’re Too Funny, a horse he knew had plenty of gate speed from watching her over the years. He allowed Koch to go but on the backstretch he re-took the lead.

“From there I was a passenger just letting my classy mare do her job,” he said. “At the three-quarter pole, I remember saying to myself ‘Not the whip, she doesn’t like the whip…hit the wheel.’ Then from the top of the stretch I held my breath and hoped that we rated a good enough front half. When starter Todd Reese said to go on back to the winner’s circle, it really hit me.”

While a first win is always special, it had added meaning for Tomaszewski if only because he and V’la Faire pretty much grew up together.

“Everything I learned, I learned sitting behind her,” he said. “It’s really awesome when you have an 8-year-old mare that you saw being born and taking her first steps and how far she came. But probably in her mind she was thinking the same thing — that she remembers how she taught me everything and that she’s proud.”

Wade is the fourth generation of Tomaszewski horsemen. His great grandfather, Earl Schultz, was an owner, trainer and driver in the 1940s. His fraternal grandfather, Richard “Stosh” Tomaszewski, was an owner/trainer/driver and met his wife Allison at Buffalo Raceway. His maternal grandfather, Jim Graney, owned both Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds, and his parents Richard and Tracy now own the racehorse farm where they originally met.

“I was always hanging around my parents’ farm,” Wade said. “When I was 8 I was cleaning stalls and doing all those other ‘great’ barn chores everyone loves doing.”

He began jogging Trade Fair and when his grandfather passed away “it meant that I had to step up to the plate.” He did just that with V’la Faire.

During that time, he was also a good baseball player for his school team, town team and a travel team. Wade practiced and worked out at an indoor facility but never neglected the horses. In 10th grade, at age 16, he hurt his arm and needed an ulnar nerve transposition. That killed the baseball career but since he had a groom’s license and always wanted to drive, Tomaszewski figured that was the time.

He had one obstacle, however — Richard.

Steve Roth photos

Wade Tomaszewski made his second trip to the winner’s circle on July 26 with Cam Faire.

“My dad at first was hard to break when I told him I wanted to start driving,” Wade said. “We would fight about it for days because he was a driver and he knew how hard it was and that it has to be your entire life. You have to breathe, eat, sleep horses.

“Also with owning our own farm I was at a disadvantage because we weren’t at the track a lot because my father never believed in racing during the winter months. But once he felt that I understood that I have to go to college and get an education, he finally gave in.”

Wade has just begun his first semester at Genesee (N.Y.) Community College and is studying health studies with hopes of getting into the physical therapy program. He plans on furthering his education while also driving, and seems to be wise beyond his years.

“I know that it is very hard to race all in,” Tomaszewski said. “To make a career at it you have to be good and consistent for 30-plus years. Having a job you can think clearer while driving because you’re not worried about paying rent. If you don’t make money you’re wondering if you can afford to have dinner.

“That’s the hardest thing about the sport of harness racing, is realizing that it’s hard and you have to do it for 30-plus years. You have to get an education because I could get in an accident tomorrow and it could all be over. You need that safety blanket — even if you never need it.”

In the races that led up to his first win, one that really stuck out was when he won a qualifier with the family’s 2-year-old pacer Nostrovia. Wade felt fortunate that his father trusted him with his investment.

“How many 18 year olds can say they won a race with a baby let alone just drive a baby?” he said. “I really pride myself in working with babies. I really love guiding them to become racehorses. I really got along with Nostrovia while training so when it came down to school him, my dad wanted me to take him.

“This was awesome for me because I took (trainer) Mihajlo Zdjelar Jr.’s baby behind the gate as well. That’s more important to me that the other trainers trust me with their babies and I really can see myself working with more babies in the future, even if they’re mine or my father’s or someone else’s.”

Since his first win, Wade has picked up another by driving Cam Faire — V’la Faire’s half brother — to first place.

He is grateful to all the trainers and owners he has driven for up to this point, saying, “It’s nice when you’re a 17- and 18-year-old kid and the owners and trainers give you an opportunity and entrust you with their horses. It’s a big responsibility and I hope that the trust pays off and that I can drive for them and return the favor.”