Harness Racing Program
Tennessee Lincoln County Fair
Harness Racing Program
Tuesday: 2:00 P.M. & 7:00 P.M. • Wednesday: 2:00 P.M. • Thursday: 2:00 P.M. • Friday: 2:00 P.M. • Saturday: 1:00 P.M.
Johnny Farmer, Track, Race & Barn Superintendent
Anna Catherine Osteen, Clerk of Course & Secretary
Adam Bradford, Paddock Judge
Anna Catherine Osteen, Clerk of Course & Secretary
Adam Bradford, Paddock Judge
Jim Dance, Jr., Announcer
Mike Moss, Official Starter with Mobile Starting Gate
Marc Guilfoil, Official Judge
Mike Moss, Official Starter with Mobile Starting Gate
Marc Guilfoil, Official Judge
Tuesday • 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Pace Condition - Purse: $1,000.00
Pace Condition - Purse: $1,000.00
Trot Condition - Purse: $1,000.00
* 3 year old TN Sire Steak Est. Purse $3,000
Pace Condition - Purse: $1,000.00
Trot Condition - Purse: $1,000.00
* 3 year old TN Sire Steak Est. Purse $3,000
Wednesday • 2:00 PM
Pace Condition - Purse: $1,000.00
Trot Condition - Purse: $1,000.00
Pace Condition - Purse: $1,000.00
* 2 year old TN Sire Steak Est. Purse $3,000
Trot Condition - Purse: $1,000.00
Pace Condition - Purse: $1,000.00
* 2 year old TN Sire Steak Est. Purse $3,000
Thursday • 2:00 PM
Pace Condition - Purse: $1,000.00
Pace Condition - Purse: $1,000.00
Trot Condition - Purse: $1,000.00
Pace Condition - Purse: $1,000.00
Trot Condition - Purse: $1,000.00
Friday • 2:00 PM
Pace Condition - Purse: $1,000.00
* Mid-South Trotting Derby, Late Closure,
2 & 3 year olds • TBA
**Mid-South Pacing Derby - 3 years old • TBA
* Mid-South Trotting Derby, Late Closure,
2 & 3 year olds • TBA
**Mid-South Pacing Derby - 3 years old • TBA
Saturday • 1:00 P.M
Pace Free For All...Condition - Purse: $1,000.00
Trot Free For All...Condition - Purse: $1,000.00
LCFA - Late Closing Open Pace - Est. Purse: $ 2,000
($25 Nominating fee to be paid by 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, September 20 and $75 Entry fee to be paid by 11:00 A.M. Thursday, September 22) Maximum of 8 to start. Purse will be split 50/50 if race splits.
**MID-SOUTH PACING DERBY:
2 years old - Est. Purse $ 2,000
Trot Free For All...Condition - Purse: $1,000.00
LCFA - Late Closing Open Pace - Est. Purse: $ 2,000
($25 Nominating fee to be paid by 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, September 20 and $75 Entry fee to be paid by 11:00 A.M. Thursday, September 22) Maximum of 8 to start. Purse will be split 50/50 if race splits.
**MID-SOUTH PACING DERBY:
2 years old - Est. Purse $ 2,000
BLANKETS TO BE GIVEN AWAY TO EACH RACE WINNER
ONE-HALF MILE TRACK • All Races Subject to Change
Conditions: : U.S.T.A. rules to govern, with exceptions, 6 to enter, 5 to start. All races on two-heat plan except otherwise noted. Entrance fee $20.00 per heat, no refund, money divided 45-25-15-10-5%. Tennessee Sire Stakes divided 50-25-12-9-5%. Eligibility is based on lifetime winnings unless stated otherwise. The Lincoln County Fair reserves the right to postpone, change order of program, or declare off any race on account of insufficient entries, bad weather or other unavoidable causes. If any class should be declared off on account of insufficient entries a class will be substituted for available horses. Horses to be declared in and entrance fee paid by 11:00 A.M. day before. The Lincoln County Fair will not be responsible for any injury to horses or driver, but will take every precaution to prevent same. One or more horses may start from the same stable but the judges reserve the right to nominate the second driver. Races will be called at 2:00 o’clock and start at 2:15 P.M. except on Saturday, when the race will be called at 1:00 P.M. and start at 1:15 P.M. & Tuesday and Thursday when race will be called at 7:00 P.M. and will start at 7:15 P.M.
* 3 yr. Old and 2 yr. Old Stake Races, entries must be owned or bred in the state of TN
** Must be from AL, TN, or MS, and must be a member of the Tennessee Harness Horseman’s Association
Mail all communications to:
Anna Catherine Osteen, 1924 Wilson Pkwy., Fayetteville, TN 37334
* 3 yr. Old and 2 yr. Old Stake Races, entries must be owned or bred in the state of TN
** Must be from AL, TN, or MS, and must be a member of the Tennessee Harness Horseman’s Association
Mail all communications to:
Anna Catherine Osteen, 1924 Wilson Pkwy., Fayetteville, TN 37334
Coggins Papers Required!
Health Certificate Required For Out Of State Entries
Originals Or Copies Signed By Vet
Originals Or Copies Signed By Vet
Lincoln County Fairgrounds
Home Of Tennessee's Only Harness Racing Event
The Sport in History
Is the sport of harness racing of fairly recent years? Hardly. Evidence exists that men were racing horse to harness more than 3,000 years ago, even with Ben Hur and his chariot competition a fairly modern innovation in comparison.
American harness racing as we know it today, however, is generally conceded to have begun in 1806, when records of sorts began to be kept and a gelding by the name of Yankee trotted a mile in less than three minutes for the first time.
The breed itself (trotters and pacers are called Standardbreds) got its greatest shot in the arm in 1788, when a grey Thoroughbred called Messenger arrived in America from England to become the patriarch of a family of fine trotting horses that included a descendant named Hambletonian.
American harness racing as we know it today, however, is generally conceded to have begun in 1806, when records of sorts began to be kept and a gelding by the name of Yankee trotted a mile in less than three minutes for the first time.
The breed itself (trotters and pacers are called Standardbreds) got its greatest shot in the arm in 1788, when a grey Thoroughbred called Messenger arrived in America from England to become the patriarch of a family of fine trotting horses that included a descendant named Hambletonian.
Hambletonian, owned by William Rysdyk of Chester, New York, rarely raced, but quickly proved himself to be history’s greatest progenitor of gait and speed.
Today, with more than 470 racing meetings offered annually in the United States—from the small country fair to the giant tracks of New York City—pacers far outnumber trotters, with purists in the sport concerned about the preservation of the trotting gait.
While the entire sport of Standardbred racing has been threatened in recent years by factors such O -Track Betting, all-sports wagering, lotteries, and casino gambling, it has thus far remained a vibrant, colorful, exciting part of American life.
The Fairs
All the Standardbred racing offered in North America is not transpiring at the scores of brightly lighted pari-mutuel tracks spread across the land.
Harness racing is also very much alive and doing very well at the fairs, thank you.
The U.S. Trotting Association services some 400 fairs that o er harness racing, with the list including big and booming state exhibitions in Illinois, Indiana and New York. Some three million fans witness harness racing in the hot afternoons of summer.
Few of the fairs o er mutuel wagering, but almost all are rich in ferris wheels, multi-colored tents, hot dog stands, side
Harness racing is also very much alive and doing very well at the fairs, thank you.
The U.S. Trotting Association services some 400 fairs that o er harness racing, with the list including big and booming state exhibitions in Illinois, Indiana and New York. Some three million fans witness harness racing in the hot afternoons of summer.
Few of the fairs o er mutuel wagering, but almost all are rich in ferris wheels, multi-colored tents, hot dog stands, side
shows, exhibition halls, produce and livestock displays, and balloon vendors. Taken as a whole, fairs o er a cornucopia of sights and sounds, with harness racing—another distinct touch of Americana—adding spice to the entire production.
The nation’s most prestigious Standardbred pacing race— The Little Brown Jug—is contested annually at the Delaware County Fair in Ohio. It lures crowds of nearly 50,000 each year.
Harness racing means fun and excitement wherever it is held, but there are few more pleasant experiences than sitting in the grandstand of a country fair on a warm, summer afternoon while trotters and pacers strut their stuff on the track below.
Harness Racing Lingo
Weanling/Yearling: All horses are considered weanlings from the time they are taken from their mothers until reaching their first birthday on January 1 (all horses celebrate their birthday on January 1, regardless of when they were born). A horse is called a yearling from the time he reaches age one until age two.
Colt/Horse: A male horse is considered a colt until he reaches his fourth birthday, when he becomes a horse.
Filly/Mare: A female horse is called a filly until she reaches her fourth birthday, when she becomes a mare.
Stallion: A male horse generally retired from racing that stands at stud at a breeding farm.
Dam: A mother of horses.
Green Horse: A horse that has not raced, or has raced only a few times.
Stretch: The last eighth-mile before the finish line of a given race track.
Covered Up: A horse in a race is covered up when he has other horses in front of him.
Break: Occurs when a trotter or pacer goes offhis gait and resorts to galloping.
Jogging: Slow, steady tours of a race track or training track, much as a human jogs.
Choked Down: Occurs when a trainer or driver attempts to restrain or rate a horse and the animal’s breathing is inadvertently cut off. The horse “blacks out” and often falls.
Boxed In: Surrounded by horses in front, behind and to the side of him, the horse is pinned to the hub rail.
Scoring: The brief warm-up sprints taken by horses between the post parade and the time they approach the starting gate.
Colt/Horse: A male horse is considered a colt until he reaches his fourth birthday, when he becomes a horse.
Filly/Mare: A female horse is called a filly until she reaches her fourth birthday, when she becomes a mare.
Stallion: A male horse generally retired from racing that stands at stud at a breeding farm.
Dam: A mother of horses.
Green Horse: A horse that has not raced, or has raced only a few times.
Stretch: The last eighth-mile before the finish line of a given race track.
Covered Up: A horse in a race is covered up when he has other horses in front of him.
Break: Occurs when a trotter or pacer goes offhis gait and resorts to galloping.
Jogging: Slow, steady tours of a race track or training track, much as a human jogs.
Choked Down: Occurs when a trainer or driver attempts to restrain or rate a horse and the animal’s breathing is inadvertently cut off. The horse “blacks out” and often falls.
Boxed In: Surrounded by horses in front, behind and to the side of him, the horse is pinned to the hub rail.
Scoring: The brief warm-up sprints taken by horses between the post parade and the time they approach the starting gate.
Brush: The brief peak or peaks of speed reached by a horse.in a race or training mile. Drivers like to preserve a horse’s brush for the stretch drive.
Heat: One competitive mile in a race which requires two or more mile dashes to decide.
Maiden: Any horse, female or male, that has never won a race which carries a purse.
Lapped On: A horse is said to be lapped on another at the wire when its nose is at least opposite the hindquarters of the horse ahead.
Parked Out: A trotter or pacer is parked out when the positions of his rivals prevent him from reaching the rail. A horse forced to race on the outside must travel a longer distance and rarely manages to win.
Garden Spot: A horse racing in second position on the rail is said to have the garden spot, since the horse ahead of him is cutting the wind, yet he is close enough to the front to make a strong bid in the stretch.
Claiming Race: A contest where any horse in the eld may be purchased by an authorized person or persons who must file a claiming slip and deposit a check before the race goes to post.
Blowing Out: A fairly fast training mile generally two days before a horse is scheduled to race.
Cooling Out: Walking a horse after a race or training mile until his body signs return to normal.
Morning Line: The probable odds on each horse in a race as calculated by an experienced track handicapper.
Handle: The total amount of money waged on a race, a nightly racing program or an entire season. Punter: Someone who bets on the horses.
Shut Out: Arriving at a betting window after the wagering has closed.
Heat: One competitive mile in a race which requires two or more mile dashes to decide.
Maiden: Any horse, female or male, that has never won a race which carries a purse.
Lapped On: A horse is said to be lapped on another at the wire when its nose is at least opposite the hindquarters of the horse ahead.
Parked Out: A trotter or pacer is parked out when the positions of his rivals prevent him from reaching the rail. A horse forced to race on the outside must travel a longer distance and rarely manages to win.
Garden Spot: A horse racing in second position on the rail is said to have the garden spot, since the horse ahead of him is cutting the wind, yet he is close enough to the front to make a strong bid in the stretch.
Claiming Race: A contest where any horse in the eld may be purchased by an authorized person or persons who must file a claiming slip and deposit a check before the race goes to post.
Blowing Out: A fairly fast training mile generally two days before a horse is scheduled to race.
Cooling Out: Walking a horse after a race or training mile until his body signs return to normal.
Morning Line: The probable odds on each horse in a race as calculated by an experienced track handicapper.
Handle: The total amount of money waged on a race, a nightly racing program or an entire season. Punter: Someone who bets on the horses.
Shut Out: Arriving at a betting window after the wagering has closed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast is a harness horse?
Races usually are contested at speeds averaging 25–30 miles per hour for the mile distance. When leaving the starting gate, speeds close to 35 miles an hour are reached by top horses.
What causes horses to break stride?
Several factors can cause breaks. A horse may be going too fast to maintain his gait. He may be tired. He may be interfered with. He may also be lame.
Why do drivers sometimes hold their horses back?
If a horse can go a mile in 2:05 and no more, a driver may pull back on him to “rate” him if the pace is too fast. Coming down the stretch, a driver may hold firmly to the lines to prevent a tired horse from breaking.
Does a driver’s weight make a difference in driving?
For years the experts have been saying no, except under muddy conditions. Some observers have noticed, however, that a majority of the sport’s leading drivers have tended to be on the small and light side.
Races usually are contested at speeds averaging 25–30 miles per hour for the mile distance. When leaving the starting gate, speeds close to 35 miles an hour are reached by top horses.
What causes horses to break stride?
Several factors can cause breaks. A horse may be going too fast to maintain his gait. He may be tired. He may be interfered with. He may also be lame.
Why do drivers sometimes hold their horses back?
If a horse can go a mile in 2:05 and no more, a driver may pull back on him to “rate” him if the pace is too fast. Coming down the stretch, a driver may hold firmly to the lines to prevent a tired horse from breaking.
Does a driver’s weight make a difference in driving?
For years the experts have been saying no, except under muddy conditions. Some observers have noticed, however, that a majority of the sport’s leading drivers have tended to be on the small and light side.
Is it better for a horse to race along the rail?
Definitely. Mathematicians have figured that a horse racing five feet from the rail will travel 62 feet farther than the horse at the rail at the mile distance over a half-mile track.
Is driving dangerous?
A certain amount of danger is inherent in any activity that combines great speed and split second timing in decision. Harness racing contains both speed and the need for quick decisions.
Why do some horses have their legs bandaged?
For the same reason that human athletes frequently wear tape and other bandages to help support their legs and provide protection.
What is the colored roll worn on the face of some horses?
That’s a shadow roll, a large sheepskin type roll worn across the face, just below the eyes. It cuts out the horse’s view of the track so he won’t get distracted.
Definitely. Mathematicians have figured that a horse racing five feet from the rail will travel 62 feet farther than the horse at the rail at the mile distance over a half-mile track.
Is driving dangerous?
A certain amount of danger is inherent in any activity that combines great speed and split second timing in decision. Harness racing contains both speed and the need for quick decisions.
Why do some horses have their legs bandaged?
For the same reason that human athletes frequently wear tape and other bandages to help support their legs and provide protection.
What is the colored roll worn on the face of some horses?
That’s a shadow roll, a large sheepskin type roll worn across the face, just below the eyes. It cuts out the horse’s view of the track so he won’t get distracted.