The August issue of Hoof Beats features Allegiant, the American-bred and Swedish-based trotter who took the world by storm with her world-record 1:48 victory in the Elitlopp this May.
Horsepeople, like many others in our society, may still think of a government-issued license as nothing more than a privilege — a permission slip controlled entirely by the rules and regulations under which it is granted. However, once that license is issued, and the licensee has spent years building a livelihood, reputation and body of experience around it, the license becomes something far more substantial. It develops real value — both economic and personal — and that value should not be impaired, reduced or taken away.
On May 31, Allegiant scorched Stockholm’s Solvalla Racecourse with a 1:48 mile, becoming the world’s fastest trotter ever with her victory in the Elitlopp.
The July issue of Hoof Beats shares the stories of this year’s Harness Racing Hall of Fame inductees, who received the sport’s highest honor on July 5, in Campbell Hall, N.Y.
ver the last several years, conversations surrounding equine welfare and racing safety have increasingly moved from a general discussion to actual measurable expectations. Regulators, industry organizations, racetracks, horsepeople, veterinarians and the public are all asking similar questions: What information is being collected? What trends are being identified? And how is the racing industry using that information to improve the safety and long-term welfare of our horses?
Every year, on the first Sunday of July, harness racing’s greatest human and equine performers are enshrined into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame, in Goshen, N.Y., amid a large celebration on the lawn of the Harness Racing Museum. Every fan of the sport should attend the event at least once to appreciate the celebration and absorb the history that goes along with it.
In the world of harness racing, we are accustomed to a certain level of transparency. When a Standardbred steps onto the track, there is a clear social and economic contract in place. The fans in the stands and on ADW platforms contribute to the lifeblood of our sport through the pari-mutuel pools — a system where we play against one another, and a portion of every dollar wagered returns to the industry to fund purses, health insurance for horsepeople, and the very measures that regulate the integrity of the sport.
Harness racing has long been defined by the figures seen between the sulky shafts, but the sport’s momentum increasingly depends on those working beyond the track. For Ashley Tetrick, that work has become both a responsibility and a calling.
