by Charlene Polk, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Georgetown, DE — While it’s nothing for stakes colts and fillies to accumulate earnings in the hundreds of thousands of dollars these days, it’s still quite a feat for a horse to do that the hard way, racing week in, week out in the claiming ranks.

That is why just about any trainer in the state of Delaware can tell you they admire veteran pacer On The Tee, a just-turned 11-year-old who is closing in on $500,000 in lifetime earnings.

“He’s got a lot of heart and a lot of class,” owner William “Eddie” Webb said.

Fotowon photo

On The Tee has posted 57 lifetime wins and earnings of $487,345.

On the Tee, who could pass for a quarter horse until you see the misshapen front ankle that could only come from years on the track, has been in Delaware trainer Shane Long’s stable since he was claimed by Webb (Long’s father-in-law) in the fall of 2008.

The son of Life Sign and Like Butter (Jate Lobell) has seen quite a few barns over the years, especially since dropping into the $10,000 and now $7,500 claiming class. Long, in fact, first came to know On The Tee when he was warming up horses for Bobby Glassmeyer, who had the gelding in 2003.

“I figured if he could be sound at all he’d make some money,” Long said. “He’s got so much heart.”

Webb felt the same.

“I always did like him,” he said. “I’d been looking for him.”

And so on Sept. 15, 2008, Webb claimed On The Tee from trainer Josh Green, who had finally obtained the gelding after trying to claim him several times. On The Tee has actually been through 22 trainers so far in his career, several of whom had him more than once.

“He’s a classy horse who always tries really hard,” Green said. “People like that.”

Drivers too, are fond of the pacer.

“He always tries the best he can,” said driver Brandon Givens, who first came to know On The Tee when his uncle Wayne Givens had him. “He’s got a lot of heart and will to win.”

Since joining Long’s stable of seven, On The Tee hasn’t missed a check. Long attributes that to the care Webb has given the old horse.

“Eddie worked hard on that leg with lots of cold water bandages, that sort of thing,” Long said. “So far he’s been pretty sound.”

The fact that that the gelding typically only races every two weeks or so also helps, said Long, who turns On The Tee out daily with one of his retired horses.

“He loves the field,” he said. “He’s not on any heavy training regiment — we don’t pound on him.”

Their strategy appears to be working, as since moving to Long’s Georgetown stable On The Tee has had three wins, two seconds, a third and two fourths.

Of course, that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, as the horse has proved he knows how to race. Except for his 2-year-old year, every year On The Tee has raced he’s had no fewer than four wins, with seasonal marks ranging from 1:53.1 to 1:55.1.

Although he was a $40,000 claimer in 2004, the pacer has since dropped to the $7,500 claiming class, but he has not stopped making money. While On The Tee had his best season money-wise in 2006 with $80,781 in earnings, even in 2008 he made $38,543 in 25 starts. More impressive than last year’s earnings though are his statistics, which show that from those 25 starts he had 11 wins, five seconds and one third.

“He’s a super horse,” Long said. “He’s won a lot of races and I think he’s still got a lot more to go.”

On The Tee’s Annual Racing Summary
Year-Starts-1st-2nd-3rd-Earnings-Record
2009-1-0-0-1-$660-N/A
2008-25-11-5-1-$38,543-10,1:55f
2007-36-4-5-5-$47,085-9,1:54.1f
2006-35-10-7-2-$80,781-8,1:53.1f
2005-24-4-5-3-$51,278-7,1:55.1f
2004-33-4-9-3-$73,070-6,1:54.3h
2003-36-6-6-5-$58,470-5,1:54.1f
2002-30-5-7-3-$76,956-4,1:54.3f
2001-24-10-0-2-$43,202-3,1:53.4f
2000-8-3-1-1-$17,300-2,1:53.4
Total-252-57-45-26-$487,345-8,1:53.1f