[About Harness Racing & 2009 Harness Racing Report] [Harness Racing Schedule and Rules] [Harness Racing Conditions Sheet] [Download Adobe Acrobat] [Harness Racing Special Activities for Children]
Chenango County
Afton Driving Park & Agricultural Association
The Afton Fair, Afton, New York, July 9, 2009, 1:00 PM
The Afton Fair 2009 Harness Racing Event was a huge success this year. There were seventy-five horses that competed in fourteen races with total purses paid out of $28,135. The track was in good condition, however we did not have any new track records despite our hopes. Winning owners were able to purchase professional photos of their horse in the winners circle and as they crossed the finish line.
Our ninth annual "Pick-The-Winner" game was fun for all and $140 in total prizes was awarded to several spectators who chose the winner and won a drawing of all those picking a winner.
We hope to see more spectators for our annual event next year. It was an awesome show put on for the public, and as always, there was no grandstand admission charge for this event. Please come out next year to support our Harness Racing Program.
The horses used in harness racing are Standardbreds and only a registered Standardbred may compete in a sanctioned harness race. They must be registered with the United States Trotting Association. Parentage today is determined by DNA testing. Each horse that is registered must have a lip tattoo or a freeze brand, usually on the neck.
Standardbreds are a relatively new breed dating back approximately 200 years. The name originated because the early trotters were required to reach a certain standard for the mile distance in order to be registered in the new breed. The pacer didn't come into the picture until much later.
Trotters move with a diagonal gait, the left front and right rear legs move in unison as do the right front and left rear. Pacers move the legs on one side of the body at the same time, left front and rear and right front and rear. Trotters only race with other trotters and pacers with other pacers. There is an occasional exception such as some qualifying races and some fair races.
Most Standardbreds start racing as two or three year olds who have been entered in the County Fair Stakes. Some fairs, such as here in Afton also have a few races for older horses and also may have specialty races like the CKG Billing Amateur Trot which features the drivers as the amateurs, not the horses.
Harness Racing at the Afton Fair will be on Thursday afternoon, July 10, 2008 at 1:00 PM. Come to the Afton Fair and enjoy the races!
[About Harness Racing & 2009 Harness Racing Report] [Harness Racing Schedule and Rules] [Harness Racing Conditions Sheet] [Download Adobe Acrobat] [Harness Racing Special Activities for Children]
© 2007 - 2010 Afton Driving Park and Agricultural Association Inc.,
Design by Regina Birdsall, Last Updated Tuesday, 05-Jan-2010 04:13:04 CST
2009 Harness Race Sponsors
Tioga Downs
Allerage Farms
Jeff Gural
Lon Frocione Harness Racing
Saratoga Harness Horsperson's Association
Southern Tier Harness Horsemen's Association
Monticello Harness Horsemen's Association
