by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — When Jerry Zosel got started as a harness racing owner, he didn’t know much. Now, he Don’t Know Chip.

Zosel, who runs a construction parts-and-equipment company in Columbus, Ohio, and Kathy Ratcliff bred and own Don’t Know Chip with trainer Rob Harmon. The 6-year-old gelding trotter is the 8-5 morning line favorite in his Horse & Groom series division Thursday night (March 10) at Meadowlands Racetrack. The $96,000 Horse & Groom final is March 17.

Nigel Soult photo

Don’t Know Chip has banked $189,781 in his career.

Don’t Know Chip was second to Celebrity Hercules in his Horse & Groom division last week. For the year, Don’t Know Chip has won two of six races and earned $43,960. Last season, he won four of 28 starts, hit the board 13 other times, and banked $106,185. Lifetime, the son of Chip Chip Hooray-Ceremonial has earned $189,781.

Zosel was introduced to harness racing by a former mechanic at his business. Zosel leased a horse in 1996, then bought a horse, and eventually ended up at a yearling auction. The idea was to buy one horse.

“Well, I didn’t know anything,” Zosel said, laughing. “I ended up buying six yearlings. Everyone asked what I was doing. I thought I was buying construction equipment.”

At that point, he turned to Ratcliff for assistance. At the time, Ratcliff worked as a bookkeeper for Zosel’s company.

“I’ve always loved horses and I kind of just went along,” Ratcliff said. “It got in my blood, I guess.”

Ratcliff retired from bookkeeping several years ago and now oversees Big Barn Farm, not far from Columbus. There, she boards riding horses as well as keeps harness racing broodmares. She and Zosel have bred a couple dozen horses.

“I got too old to be interested in all that math; I find this much more peaceful,” Ratcliff said. “The farm is a little more than 22 acres and we’ve got a small jog track and break yearlings here. That’s always fun.”

Don’t Know Chip and his full brother Deep Chip are among the successful horses bred by Zosel and Ratcliff. Deep Chip was the Ohio Triple Crown winner (Ohio Breeders Championship, Ohio Sire Stakes final and Ohio State Fair Stakes) in 2008 as a 2-year-old. They also bred pacer Devilish Donnie, who is still active at the age of 10 in California and has earned $173,379 lifetime.

As for Don’t Know Chip, he won twice as a 2-year-old, but saw his 3-year-old campaign limited to seven winless starts because of back trouble.

“We gave him time off and got a chiropractor, which helped him immensely,” Ratcliff said. “He came back pretty strong as a 4-year-old. He’s doing real well.”

Last season, Don’t Know Chip set his career mark of 1:52.1 with a victory at the Meadowlands and finished third in the Vincennes Invitational, behind Likeabatoutahell and Misterizi, on Hambletonian Day. He last raced on September 21 and was given time to rest for this season.

“He raced pretty hard last year and we gave him some time off after the Meadowlands closed and he enjoyed that,” Ratcliff said. “He came back real fresh. We’re hoping he hangs in there and keeps racing well for us.”

Don’t Know Chip seems to enjoy the Big M, having never missed a check in 29 races. He has won five times at the North Jersey oval and hit the board 21 times.

“He’s such a fun horse to watch race,” Ratcliff said. “He’s usually done his best when he’s coming from behind, and that makes it even more exciting. You kind of get pins and needles when he starts to move. He tries. He really does try.”

Don’t Know Chip is eligible to the $220,000 Cutler Memorial in May and the $235,000 Titan Cup in July at the Meadowlands.

“He really needs the big track,” Ratcliff said. “We’re hoping he hangs in there and keeps racing well for us. It’s wonderful. It really is. We buy horses, too, but the ones we start from scratch are a little bit more special.”