by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — Steve Desomer has seen and done it all in harness racing over the last five decades-plus, proving to be the complete horseman in the process and earning the respect of his peers and the fans.

Cal Expo photo

Steve Desomer

The native of Belgium, who will turn 75 next month, came into this week just four wins shy of the 2,600 victory mark, with earnings of nearly $10.8 million. While he doesn’t ply his evening trade as much as he used to, he still scores his share of Sire Stakes victories with those Desomer Stable homebred trotters and pacers that he campaigns with wife Vicki.

“I have to admit that I don’t get the same kick out of winning races as a driver as I did in the earlier years,” Desomer related. “I think, with age, comes a certain degree of complacency. The fierce competitive drive is lacking, but my interest is still high as far as the horses we raise at the farm.”

Desomer was asked how tactics have changed over the years, and gave a response that we didn’t quite expect.

“The drivers’ tactics are easier to sort out, and that’s because of the closeness of the colony. Things are different when you have racing where drivers and trainers come from all over to congregate for a new meet. The unknowns are always exciting.”

As far as changes to the sulky, Desomer feels that wheels are the most important move forward in recent years. Having said that, he said he still prefers the old Jerald on some of his horses.

When it comes to interests away from the racetrack and farm, he gets great pleasure out of gold mining.

“Good timing with gold pieces well above $1,500 an ounce,” he related with a smile. Not to mention a liberal sprinkling of those Sire Stakes victories that have become a staple of the Team Desomer breeding and racing operation.

Live racing resumes at Cal Expo on Thursday (June 16) and continues through closing night Saturday (June 18). Post time on Thursday is 5:30 p.m. (PDT). Post time on Friday and Saturday is 6 p.m. Saturday night will find the final leg of the TVG Get Away Amateur Driver Series. Free TrackMaster past performances will be available at www.trackmaster.com/calx.