Larger Than Life... Big Jim p. 6

Youth Bits presents... Art of the Sulky p. 10

A Family Affair with... Joe Bongiorno p. 12

http://www.hhyf.org

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p. 4

p. 6 Poster Pull-out; MAnofMAnyMiSSionS

p. 10 youth Bits

p. 5

p. 13 Gaming Gallery

p. 8

Cover Story Baby Steps: Getting 2-year-olds ready to race is no easy task by Emily J. Brown

Track Talk According to Jim: Ontario-based trainer James Dean talks about harness racing and life with Big Jim by Emily J. Brown

Roundup Clean Machine: Follow these easy cleaning tips to help keep your race bike in tip-top shape by Misty Geyer

Helping Hands Lyon’s Share: Former Standardbred trainer lends a helping hand to students in need

Features

In Every Issue

p. 12 Harness Heroes Boy Wonder: Teenage driver carries on the family tradition by Misty Geyer

p. 2

in this Issue...PostParade

Jason TurnerYouth Beats editor

A Publication of the United States Trotting Association614.224.2291 • Outside 614 area code: 1.877.800.USTA (8782)

Hoof Beats Executive Editor: T.J. Burkett • tj.burkett@ustrotting.com, ext. 3204

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Photographers: Mark Hall and Ed Keys • photo@ustrotting.com, ext. 3288 or 3223

Being a baby Standardbred can’t be easy. They’ve got a lot to learn, and not a lot of time to do it. They have to learn to walk, get accustomed to the farm and all the people that work there, and they have to stay close to mom, too, just in case they need a help-ing hoof. And just when they think they’ve got it all figured out, it’s time to start training for the races.

In this issue of Youth Beats, with the help of superstar trainers George and Brenda Teague, our reporter Emily Brown found out what it takes to go from yearling to racehorse – and it’s no walk in the park. The days are long and the work is tough, but the payoff is huge! Is there a better reward than a hard-fought trip to the winner’s circle?

We also had a chance to visit with James Dean, trainer of Big Jim, who is expected to be one of the top 3-year-old pacers on the Grand Circuit this year, as well as 17-year-old Joe Bongiorno, who was named the 2010 Amateur Driver of the Year.

Hopefully you’re as excited to read this issue as we were to write it. And remember, we want you to be a part of what we’re doing, too. So keep sending in those pic-tures, stories and photos!

ike most top athletes, racehorses start training young – racing careers usually begin when horses are 2 years old. But

not every colt and filly is headed for harness rac-ing success.

A horse in training has a pleasant, but repeti-tive, life. Maintaining a simple daily routine of jogging, within a relaxed atmosphere, cultivates winning horses. Attentive trainers are essential – they monitor the changing health, attitudes and ages of their “babies,” and constantly check to see how each horse is progressing.

Babies start train-ing around age 1 and practice regularly. On an average day, trainer George Teague Jr. arrives at his stables around 5 a.m., after the horses have eaten an early meal of sweet feed and hay. Teague and his staff clean the stalls, and then take the horses’ temperatures to make sure none are sick. The rest of a horse’s day is spent get-ting bathed, eating its two other meals, or get-ting hooked to the jog cart and working with the trainer to improve its speed and gait.

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side line: Below: When they first start out, yearlings need helpers to walk alongside them to keep them going forward. Right: Trainers George and Brenda Teague will break and train some 40 2-year-olds every winter!

”No matter how they improve, trainers must stay patient and

always consider how the horses are feeling.“

Cover Story

Getting 2-year-olds ready to race is no easy task

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TEAGuES BY mArk HAll • lInE DrIvInG BY ED kEYS

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Trainers watch the babies develop physi-cally as they get bet-ter and faster.

“The more you train them, the more the growth spurt,” said George’s sis-ter, trainer Brenda Teague. “They get bulkier and thicker.”

Special veterinary care isn’t required at this point in their growth, but trainers pay close attention to the horses’ teeth. Having a bit in their mouths so frequently is a physical and mental adjustment. Timely den-

tal care prevents discomfort that could translate into stress for the horse and cause bad behavior.

Out on the track, horses are usually hobbled when they train with the jog cart. It helps them get accustomed to their gait.

“[Hobbles] help in eliminating a lot of mistakes they make,” said George. “You don’t worry about them hitting them-selves.”

Each horse takes to the hobbles a little differently. In Brenda’s experience, some babies take to the gait right away while

others need an extra two or three weeks to learn. No matter how they improve, trainers must stay patient and always consider how the horses are feeling. If one starts pulling and gets too excited, or “hot,” that horse’s session is done; each horse is only on the track for 12 to 15 minutes at a time.

Trainers focus on improving control and speed. When a pacer can complete a mile in less than two minutes without strain, it’s probably ready to race, said George. Otherwise, the driver might push the horse too much during a race in an effort to shave off a few seconds.

Because babies develop individually, it’s hard

to guess which will be ready first, and harder to guess which ones will be most successful. George emphasizes slight differences in speed. A horse that races a mile a few seconds faster might have more potential. Also, certain personalities are better suited for the competitiveness of a racing career.

“Ones that have their ears up, ready to go, more aggressive…” are usually signs of a good racehorse, said Brenda. But this doesn’t always hold true:

“He was the toughest horse to get gaited. He kept trying to get out of his hobbles, was very skit-tish,” she said of a nervous youngster that eventually became a winning race-horse.

This experience proves how hard it is to predict a horse’s success, and how important it is for every horse to have the same train-ing routine. Inexperienced babies can become confident performers with daily practice sessions, a calm environment, and individual attention. After lots of hard work, you might have a winner. But as George said, “keep your fingers crossed and pray on that one.”

Ontario-based trainer James Dean had a standout year in 2010. He won 14 races and more than $1 million, due in no small part to his star pacer Big Jim, a 2-year-old who burst onto the scene with wins in the Nassagaweya, a Metro Pace elimination and the Breeders Crown. It’s been an exciting ride for Dean and Big Jim and Youth Beats correspondent Emily J. Brown recently had a chance to talk with him about his harness racing roots.

How did you get into harness racing? Just going to the races with my parents all the time. When I was younger we used to go to racetracks like Mohawk and Greenwood and Garden City.

When did you first know you wanted to be a trainer? It would be the early ‘70s, around then, when I was at places like Mohawk and Greenwood.

Did you have a mentor that you looked up to? Not really. I mean, you pick things from different trainers. You don’t have to work for them, really; just watch what other people do and take little bits and try to put it all together.

What is your favorite part about being a trainer? I guess just working with the horses every day, going to the barn every morning. I work with a lot of young-er horses, but I don’t think that really matters. I enjoy teaching them new things and trying to break them of bad habits.

What does it take to be a good trainer? Patience. You’ve got to have some patience, especially with the colts.

What’s it been like working with Big Jim?

It’s been exciting. He’s a special horse. You train your horses all as winners. You never say, “Oh, this is going to be the fastest 2-year-old.” You do your best with all your horses, but he’s special.

Do you have any race-day rituals or superstitions? No. You know, you just do your work all week and do your best and know in the back of your mind that you’re ready and hope for the best.

Are there any other jobs in the industry that you think you might like to try? I already tried being a driver. That didn’t work out. I was starving to death as a driver; I wouldn’t have made a good living. I’m happy with what I’m doing.

What advice would you give to kids who want to get involved in harness racing? You’ve got to start at the bottom. I don’t think you really appreciate the horse if you start at the top. Taking it out, cleaning it, feeding it – if you start at higher levels you don’t appreciate the animal as much. I was a groom for almost 20 years before I started training.

pHOTO BY mArk HAll

According to Jim

Track Talk

by Emily J. Brown

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Always stand the cart up when cleaning and do not leaveit on its shafts.i

Follow these easy cleaning tips to help keep your jog cart in tip-top shape

by Misty Geyer

CleanMachine

pHOTO BY ED kEYS

Roundup

Do you ever wonder what the steps are to washing a jog cart? Knowing how to wash your jog cart correctly will prevent accidents from occurring and help keep your cart in good con-dition. Follow these easy steps and you will have the cleaning down for next time.

To begin, you want to start at the top with your hose, soap and sponge. Begin cleaning the top area.

1

Now go to the stirrups of the jog cart, which is where the driver puts his feet. You want to wash the stirrups before

cleaning the bottom. If you do not, the bottom will get dirty again when you wash the stir-rups.

2

Next you need to clean the underneath and the top arch thoroughly.3You now move down to the wheels. Take the bucket and put it underneath the axle of the wheel. This forces the

wheel to spin and as it spins you can wash. Be sure to wash up to the shafts, where it hooks to the horse.

4

Do not rinse with hot water. Make sure the temperature is lukewarm, because this helps the soap come

off of the bike easier.

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Lastly, get your spray wax out to wax the body. Make sure you don’t wax the seat. Waxing the

seat could cause the driver to slide off.

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Now you can get your towel out and dry the cart completely. 6

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march 2011

Former Standardbred trainer lends a helping hand to students in need

Lyon’s Share

pHOTOS BY kEn lYOn

Helping Hands

any Standardbreds do their best work after their days on the racetrack are long behind them.

This idea is not a new one for organiza-tions such as the Standardbred Retirement Foundation, which has been helping retired racehorses since 1990, but nowhere is their usefulness more apparent than at the New Jersey Training School in Monroe Township, N.J.

The training school is a secure rehabili-tation facility for juvenile offenders ages 12-23, and since 2005 they have been work-ing with the SRF to offer an equine educa-tion program to their residents. Under the direction of former Standardbred trainer Ken Lyon, the boys and their equine coun-terparts spend part of each day together,

learning horsemanship and responsibility.Here, in their own words, is more about

the program and the horses who make it all possible.

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listen up: Below: Ken Lyon explains horse care to students at the New Jersey Training School. Bottom: A student brushes one of the horses in his care.

I worked with Mr. Lyon for over five months. I really enjoyed working with the horses. I really learned a lot about one horse in particular and that’s Trans (Traindenfer Semalu).

Tre:

We have our equine program because it reduces stress and shows you how to have respect for living things. The kids say it helps them with their emotions and keeps them focused. They also say it’s fun and relaxing.

Mr. Lyon is a tremendous person, he keeps us focused and always says things to keep us inspired. Mr. Lyon says nothing is impossible and that keeps us inspired. I think all kids should have the chance to work with horses because it’s good for the mind. It’s like horse therapy.

Thomas:

Dr Jo is 18 years old. Her color is light brown to a reddish orange and she has white spots on the bottom of each leg. Dr Jo did try to race in her younger years but she wasn’t very successful at it. Dr Jo has a variety of personalities. One is that she runs the show at the horse farm, kind of like a boss does at a job.

When we are moving her from barn to barn, she notices everything out of place, like if there’s a new kid working there, a hose on the ground and many other things. Dr Jo is the only one that will let you on her back and ride her.

Dr Jo loves apples and pretty much anything besides hay. Dr Jo had two babies during her life. Before Dr Jo came to the New Jersey Training School, nobody wanted her. She had a bad reputation for acting out. Everybody said she was no good and done. My favorite thing about Dr Jo is that she shows her intelligence and awareness of her surroundings. She doesn’t let anybody try and smooth her over.

Steven:

The purpose of the program is to make people find positive things in life. We partici-pate because we like to work with the horses. At first, when I came to the equine farm, I was scared of the horses. Now that I worked here, I got used to them.

I like the horses because they make me feel comfortable. I could be very mad and work with them and feel better. I learned that no matter how scared you are, try to overcome it.

My boss, Mr. L, taught me a lot about the horses. He is a very good leader and a good friend that you can talk to. People should know that Mr. L is a caring teacher, friend, and he is a respectful and responsible man.

Dandre:

The purpose of the program is to overcome your fear because when students come to the equine science program they’re scared of the horses because the horses are big. When you really get to know the horses, you learn that they have feelings.

Jose:

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10

n harness racing the horse is king, but the horse wouldn’t be in the race without the sulky. Traditionally, the word sulky refers to a single seat,

two-wheeled carriage that does not have a box or body behind it. And although it’s taken on many different shapes and sizes since its introduction in the mid 19th century, today’s sulky has evolved into an extremely sleek and efficient piece of racing equipment.

Most innovations in sulky design over the years have been aimed toward optimizing the driver’s ability to negotiate the horse around the track as fast and efficiently as possible. A good sulky design should address three major factors: reducing air friction, keeping the sulky close to the horse’s body and reducing side-to-side movement.

One of the leading experts on sulky design is

Fernand Brodeur. Brodeur is the owner of Brodeur Sulky and Harness Manufacturing and has been in the business since the 1950s, when his father, Francois, first founded the company.

Fernand started working in his father’s shop at the age of 12, which allowed him to learn first-hand the strength of the different materials used in sulky construction. Competing in trotting pony races, he also learned a lot about driving a horse.

As an adult Fernand went into the family business full time, and in the early 1970s they produced the Miracle Mile Sulky. For this model the Brodeur team bent the arch forward and added a coil spring shock absorption system where the fork of the sulky joined the shaft. This improved suspension system reduced friction and gave more lift to the bike.

The next major innovation in sulky development was moving the driver’s seat behind the arch. This pushed the center of gravity backward, thereby lightening the weight and load on the horse. This change, however, came at

youth Bits

Sulky ScienceInnovation has led to inspiration for the modern-day sulkyby Jean Brown

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then and now: Below: Back in the 1800s, trotters and pacers pulled a high-wheeled sulky. Bottom right: As new materials and methods are used, sulkies continue to get lighter and faster.

a structural price as the wooden shafts they were using at the time could not withstand the pressure of the weight distribution very well. As a result, the Brodeurs began manufacturing sulkies with steel shafts. The arches also changed from full steel to a tubular alloy steel product.

This type of sulky, or race bike, underwent further reconstruction at the start of the 21st century, with the increased acceptance of offset sulky construction. Most sulkies that use this system are offset to the right, which causes the right wheel to be pushed away from the horse by extending the arch to the right, leaving the left wheel closer to the horse, which allows the horse to get closer to the rail.

Fernand’s son, Jean Francois, and daughter, Nancy, are also a part of the family business. Together they work on manufacturing the Brodeur line of sulkies. After the designs are sketched on paper, prototypes are built. According to Fernand, sometimes they work on a prototype for years and it never even makes it to production. Other times, a prototype may lead to a different design that works even better.

Brodeur sulkies are not manufactured on an assembly line. They produce an average of 700 sulkies per year, which allows them to build the race bikes individually. This is also useful because most sulkies are custom built to suit the needs of the buyer, which include, size, color, length of the shaft, type of offset, and in some cases, even the gait of the horse.

Trotters, for example, often require a larger sulky because they have a bigger, wider and higher gait.

In the last 20 years sulkies have undergone a tremendous transformation. Attention to physical mechanics has led to designs which help the horse and driver work as a more energy-efficient team, and these innovations have led to faster and safer races.

11

The Quick Hitch

In 1984, a human physician, Dr. Gordon Gilbertson of Windsor, Ont., was awarded a patent for the first metal Quick Hitch system. The Quick Hitch system eliminated the need for strapping horses into the shafts of the race bike, and has now become standard in North American harness racing. Why is it so special?

1. It reduces the amount of time it takes to affix and remove a sulky.

2. In the event of a racing accident, the horse can be quickly released from the sulky.

3. Sulkies are now shorter and lighter than before.

HIGH-WHEElED SulkY uSTA ArCHIvES • COlOr (ABOvE) BY ED kEYS

pHOTO BY mIkE lIzzI

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or 17-year-old Joe Bongiorno, racing is a way of life. His father, Robert Bongiorno, was a former trainer and

his grandfather, Harold “Sonny” Dancer, was also a well-known horseman, so few were surprised when he earned his first driving win behind Mister Lucky Vec during a Billings amateur series event at Yonkers Raceway on Sept. 13, 2010. But that didn’t make it any less emotional for the 17-year-old and his family.

“It was pretty amazing,” said Joe’s mother, Barbara. “I had tears rolling down my face because I’ve been around the sport my whole life.”

It was a memorable first win and although Bongiorno has a half dozen victories to his credit, he still hopes there are many more to come.

Joe’s passion for racing began a few years ago, and according to his parents, he had more than enough self discipline to get him started.

“Joe would wake us up at 5:45 a.m. in the summertime and tell us to take him to [trainer Buzzy] Sholty’s,” Barbara said. “He has a thirst for knowledge of the business and wanted to dive in head first.”

Bongiorno worked hard and has shown significant improvement, Sholty said.

“The changes are immense,” he said. “He was a little timid in the beginning with what to do and what not to do.”

Being unsure of himself is not something Bongiorno has to deal with much these days. Under Sholty’s guidance, Bongiorno has won six races and finished in the money in 11 of 14 starts on his way to being named the 2010 National Amateur Driver of the Year by the U.S. Harness Writers Association.

Bongiorno said he was thrilled with the award, but he hasn’t had much time to dwell on it. In addition to driving harness horses and attending classes at Colt’s

Neck High School, the multifaceted youngster is also a batboy for the New York Yankees.

Joe’s mother said he does a great job balancing his many responsibilities.

“He takes it in strides and manages to get it all done,” she said.

Barbara added that she would like to see Joe go on with racing, but said she just wants him to be happy.

“It’s an amazing feeling for me to see him out there on the track. Every time it takes my breath away,” she said. “He is carrying on a legacy.”

“Being a horse driver, that’s all I really want to do,” Joe said. “My parents know a lot of people who hopefully will give me a shot and I’ll be successful.”

If his amateur career has been any indication, Sholty believes Bongiorno should be more than capable of accomplishing his goal.

“He wants it, and anybody that wants it as bad as he does will be successful,” he said.

Harness Heroes

Teenage driver carries on the family tradition

Boy Wonder

fby Misty Geyer

Jenn was a very _________ girl. unlike most of her __________, who lived in the city,

she lived on a __________ farm. living on a farm meant she could __________ and

__________, __________ the ducks by the pond, or drive the big, red __________, but

best of all, it meant she could __________ her very own horse. no matter what they

did or where they went, Jenn and her __________ horse, __________, always had a

great time together. It’s like her __________ Dad said, “You can take the girl out of the

country, but you can’t take the __________ out of the __________!”

The Write StuffAsk a friend to give you a word for each blank space without letting him or her see the page, then read the completed story out loud for some hilarious results!

The Adventures of

Awesome Autumn

!

Cby A. Ryan

adjective favorite store

adjective

adjective plural noun

noun

verb

Word SearchThere’s a lot that goes into getting a horse ready for a race. Can you help us get in gear by finding all this gear? Racebike, Harness, Headpole, Bell Boots, Shin Boots, Overcheck, Tail Tie, Jog Cart, Hobbles, Knee Boots, Buxton

L

For the solution, go to www.hoofbeatsmagazine.com/youthbeats/puzzles.cfm

noun

adjective

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verb verb

verb

noun

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