From the time he was a teenager, Marcus Melander was focused on a career in harness racing. Growing up in Sweden, he raced ponies until he was 16 years old, at which point he left school to work for his uncle, Hambletonian winner and future Swedish Trotting Hall of Famer Stefan Melander, and began to make his own name in the sport.
Author: by Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager photos by Mark Hall
Hoof Beats: Perspective, Progress and Participation
aving turned the calendar to 2026, it feels like an appropriate moment to take a breath, look back at where we’ve been, and talk honestly about where we’re headed. To begin with, in racing, we know skepticism comes with the territory. We question initiatives. We question new ideas. Sometimes, we even question the intent.
Tulsa Bell wins third straight in Batavia series final
The $13,000 final of the Batavia Downs Winter Series trot was held Tuesday (Feb. 3), and Tulsa Bell kept her winning streak alive as she took the title in fine fashion.
Fruit Snacker rockets to Dover victory
Fruit Snacker benefited from a pocket trip and captured the $18,000 winners-over trot at Bally’s Dover on Tuesday night (Feb. 3).
Meadows handle tops $3M over last three cards
Despite cooler winter weather, the betting windows at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows have been heating up, with pari-mutuel handle topping $3 million in a three-card span.
Hoosier qualifiers to begin Sat.
As Harrah’s Hoosier Park readies for its 33rd season of live harness racing, qualifiers will get underway on Saturday (Jan. 31) in advance of the Opening Night card on Thursday, Feb. 12.
Crazy Fool no joke in Batavia trot
Old Man Winter continued his residency at Batavia Downs on Thursday (Jan. 29) and provided more wind, snow and bone-chilling temperatures for the proceedings. Crazy Fool braved the elements and won the featured $10,000 Class A-AA Trot with an impressive turn of foot.
Pick-5 carryover, $20k guarantee Wed. at Yonkers
Illusion Seelster tallied at 67-1 in race 6 and The Ideal Dancer A prevailed at 24-1 in race 7 on Tuesday (Jan. 27) at MGM Yonkers Raceway, and those upsets were the catalyst to the Pick-5 wager not being hit. As a result, Wednesday’s (Jan. 28) program will include a $7,112.22 carryover and a $20,000 guaranteed pool in the sequence.
Jet Wings soars to Miami Valley victory
After a two-day hiatus caused by winter weather, Miami Valley Raceway returned to action Tuesday (Jan. 27) with a full 14-race card. In the featured $22,000 conditioned trot, Jet Wings was able to hold off Massive Desire and score his first win of the year.
‘Wild Bill’ tames Batavia trotters
Snow flurries and wind chills nearing 15 degrees below zero set the stage for those racing at Batavia Downs on Tuesday (Jan. 27) as winter continued to make its presence known. But it was business as usual on the track with a large number of very close finishes during the program.