Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — For a period of six or seven years, Richard Young offered Craig Henderson opportunities to become a partner on a harness horse. Henderson, despite his interest in racing, declined each time for a variety of reasons. Until last October. That’s when Henderson decided to take the plunge with Young on a horse named Put On A Show.

Henderson laughs now as he recognizes his good fortune. Put On A Show is five-for-five this year and her wins include the $745,476 She’s A Great Lady and a $110,802 division of the Eternal Camnation Stakes. On Wednesday, she faces seven rivals in a $126,300 division of the Bluegrass Stakes for 2-year-old filly pacers at Lexington’s Red Mile.

“That this is my first (harness) horse just shows you how crazy this all is,” said Henderson, who lives in Chicago and previously dabbled in owning Thoroughbred racehorses. “But it can happen. I have to say, though, that I could not have done it by myself alone. Richard deserves the credit.”

Young, who lives in Florida and has been involved in harness racing for two decades, and Henderson met through a mutual friend. The two discovered they shared interests in playing bridge, golfing — and horse racing.

New Image Media photo

Put On A Show heads into Lexington with a perfect five-for-five record.

Put On A Show (Rocknroll Hanover-Stienam’s Place) was purchased by Young for $75,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale. She is a half sister to Showherthemoney, who had only one victory when Young bought Put On A Show, but this year has won the Miss New Jersey, the Nadia Lobell and the Jugette.

Stienam’s Place’s previous best foals were Donkeys Can Talk, who won the 2002 Kentucky Sire Stakes championship for 2-year-old filly pacers, and Dolphins Can Talk — both owned by Young.

“Dolphins Can Talk was loaded with talent,” Young said about the filly, who won three races and earned $42,186 in her 14-race career. “She had problems, but I’m well aware Dolphins Can Talk could have been something special. That’s why I went back to that family.”

Henderson, the president of C.W. Henderson & Associates, a firm specializing in municipal securities, decided to join Young this time for two reasons. First, he had a little discretionary income. Second, Put On A Show was the only yearling Young bought in Lexington, which meant Henderson would not have to pick from a group of horses the one on which he wanted to invest.

Chris Ryder was given the horse to train, and with the exception of a brief period during which she frequently, and inexplicably, went off stride while preparing for her season, has been relatively trouble free.

“Once she got better, we started to think she was special special,” Young said. “Things have worked out well and Craig is having a blast.”

Henderson is looking forward to seeing Put On A Show race in Lexington and plans to attend his first horse auction. He also has his eyes on the Breeders Crown in October at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto.

“It’s been an amazing nine or 10 months,” Henderson said. “It’s just been a fascinating learning experience for me. I’m having fun.”