An Open Letter To Harness Racing

April 25, 2021

Open letter to the harness racing industry from Steve Stewart and Linda Toscano


April 25 2021

Last month we published an open letter to the harness racing community urging USTA leadership to negotiate in good faith over the details of the new federal law that will govern horse racing in the United States. Over 200 members of the standardbred industry, including many of the sport’s most prominent owners, trainers, and breeders signed that letter (full story here).


Many other people, realizing the new law is a reality and that we ought to have a seat at the table as the new regulations are created, have approached us since then to offer their support, as well.


We wanted to share an important update with those of you who supported the letter and those of you who may have your doubts. This past week, we were part of a small group who met virtually for one hour with Travis Tygan, the head of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), which will be responsible for implementing the medication rules and drug testing under the new law. Tygart will work with and report to members of a federal panel that will soon be announced to help bring uniformity and more results to drug testing in our sport.

Our conversation with Tygart was informative and productive. He is certainly open to the idea of having harness racing “opt in” to the new rules. We discussed funding and medication rules, testing protocols, and other matters of interest to the harness racing community. We believe there is an opportunity under the new law, with the guidance of USADA, for the standardbred community to present its best case for why our medication rules should be different in some ways from the rules governing other breeds.


More importantly, Tygart said he was interested in continuing the dialogue with the harness racing community to see if we can make more progress.

We have two requests:

First, if any of you have specific questions you would like to ask Tygart please send them to us using the form below. We will collect them and try to get them answered at our next meeting.

Second, we urge USTA leadership, which publicly ignored our open letter, to join the next virtual meeting with Tygart so that they, too, can get their questions answered.


Steve Stewart and Linda Toscano


Send Us Your Questions


LONG LIST OF KEY INDUSTRY NAMES SIGN LETTER SUPPORTING HISA

Steve Stewart and Linda Toscano have penned the following letter expressing support for HISA. 135 industry participants have agreed. 


The undersigned are encouraging the standardbred industry to negotiate with the thoroughbred industry about how to best structure the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act to be inclusive of harness racing's unique needs. 

We (the undersigned) support the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) recently passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump. 


We know that there are details about funding and other matters that will have to be worked out in good faith between regulators and members of the horse racing community. And we know that the new law is not perfect. But we believe that the new law is a legitimate and important step in the right direction toward universal medication rules for our sport, increased enforcement of drug rules to make the sport more honest and a greater public acceptance of horse racing as a safe, humane sport. 

Steve Stewart and Linda Toscano have penned the following letter expressing support for HISA. 135 industry participants have agreed. 


The undersigned are encouraging the standardbred industry to negotiate with the thoroughbred industry about how to best structure the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act to be inclusive of harness racing's unique needs. 

We (the undersigned) support the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) recently passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump. 


We know that there are details about funding and other matters that will have to be worked out in good faith between regulators and members of the horse racing community. And we know that the new law is not perfect. But we believe that the new law is a legitimate and important step in the right direction toward universal medication rules for our sport, increased enforcement of drug rules to make the sport more honest and a greater public acceptance of horse racing as a safe, humane sport. 


We need all of these things to protect our sport's future. And we need to work within the broader racing community to make the law work for us, especially since it requires regulators to consider the "unique characteristics" of each breed. We believe that representatives of the standardbred industry should work with those who support the new law, and who will be enforcing it, to help establish the rules and policies that will likely govern our sport for years to come.

We need all of these things to protect our sport's future. And we need to work within the broader racing community to make the law work for us, especially since it requires regulators to consider the "unique characteristics" of each breed. We believe that representatives of the standardbred industry should work with those who support the new law, and who will be enforcing it, to help establish the rules and policies that will likely govern our sport for years to come.

Breeders

Adam Bowden (Diamond Creek) 

Bruce Trogden (Emerald Highlands) 

Steve Jones (Cameo Hills) 

George Segal (Brittany) 

Mike Gulotta (Deo Volente) 

Senena & Jeff Esty (Spring Haven) 

Frank Antonacci (Lindy) 

Bob Brady (Kentuckiana)

Al & Michelle Crawford (Crawford Farms) 

Ken Jackson (Kentuckiana) 

Mario Zuanetti (Atlantic Trot) 

Massimo Bianchi 

Margareta W.Kleberg (Menhammer St) 

Tom Hill 

Art Zubrod (Brittany) 

Jim & Gibson Wilhite 

Knutsson Trotting 

Tristan Sjoberg 

Bernie Noren 

Al Libfeld 

Sam Goldband 

Charles& Julie Nash 

Jon Wiesman 

Pond A Acres 

Andrew Cohen (Bays Stable) 

Leah Cheverie 

David Heffering (Tara Hills) 

Frank Lomangino 

Johan Arneng (Brixton Medical) 

John Donato 

Ernny Gerbaulet 

Richard Gutnick 

Peter Martinson 

Robert Mondillo 

Victor Zehr 

Ed Telle 

James Daut 

Robert Hechoff 

Richard Arnold (Willow Oak) 

John Schmucker (Black Creek) 

Dan Baer (South Mountain) 

John Lengacher 

John Bootsman (Boko ) 

Dan Lengacher 

Duncan Taylor (Taylor Made) 

Jeff Ruch (Pinestone) 

Anders Strom (Courant) 

Maumee River 

Jeff Gural (Allerage) 

All American Harnessbreds 

Mike Andrew 

Maurizio & Marina Biasuzzi 

John Carver 

Joe Mendelson 

Jim Glass (Walco) 

Stephanie Rothaug (Rails End) 

Jim Avritt Sr (Meadow Creek) 

Stewart Goldberg (Mini Sinks) 

Randy & Kim Haines (Cool Winds) 

Steve & Cindy Stewart (Hunterton) 

Elmer Miller 

Lorne Polger (Polger Holdings) 

Trainers and Drivers

Ron Burke 

Brian Brown 

Virgil Morgan Jr. 

Jimmy Takter (Hall Of Fame) 

Ben Wallace 

Casie Coleman 

Nifty Norman 

Jeff Fout 

Ed Lohmeyer 

Linda Toscano (Hall Of Fame) 

Paula Wellwood 

Mike Keeling 

Jim Campbell 

Carter Pinske 

Tony Alagna 

Donna Lee Ozment 

Joe Holloway (Hall Of Fame) 

Per Engblom 

Tom Cancelliere 

Enos Weaver 

Donald Dancer 

Blair Burgess (Hall Of Fame) 

Brad Mcninch 

Kevin Mcdermott 

Jean Wellwood 

Bob Stewart 

Murray Brethour 

Jim Arledge 

Greg Peck 

Kelly O'donnell 

Tim Lane 

Scott Mogan 

Brett Bittle 

Scott Zeron 


Vets

Dr. Patty Hogan 

Dr. Terry Ruch 

Dr. Doug Hutchins 

Dr. John Park 

Dr. Lynda Rhodes Stewart 

Dr.Nathaniel Newton 

Dr.Ted Mazorisi 

Owners

Mark Weaver 

Howard Taylor

Herb Liverman 

John Fodera 

Murray Brown 

Brad Grant 

Fred Hertrick III 

Carl Howard 

Martin Sternberg 

Bo Lofvander 

Doug Millard 

Ernie Gaskin 

Robert Burgess 

Fred Hudson 

Bryan Montgomery (Regency Ins.) 

Frank Chick 

Myron & Stephanie Bell (Riverview) 

Harvey Nagner (Radio Racing) 

Marc Guilfoil (Ky.RacingComm.)

Richard Young 

Martti Ala Seppala 

Harvey Fried 

Robert Lindstrom 

Perry Soderberg 

Tommy B Anderson 

Jack Remey ( P. Judge) 

Lynn Jones 

Randy Manges 

Bob Marks 

Joyce & Richard Mcclelland 

Bill Vit (Cool Cat) 

Craig Henderson 

Ray Baynes 

Gary Corona 

Allan Schott 

Howard Perlmutter 

Gorden Banks 

Dan Kazmaier (P.Judge) 

Bob & Jeanne Stewart 

Mark Hanover 

Ed Biddle 

Kimmo Kempi 

Nick Salvi 

Mike & Don Robinson 

Joe Sbrocco 

Virginia Berkner 

Steven Wienick 

MarthaFrank 

Robert Leblanc 

John Balzer 

Geoffrey Dubrowsky 

Bill Reepmayer 

Frank Cannon 

Jason Settlemoir

Tim Konkle (Midwest Harness Report)

Chuck Sylvester (Hall Of Fame)

Wanda Polissini (Purple Haze)

Trond Smedshammer

Paul Kelley

Nancy Takter

Scott Alberg

Seth Cohen

George DeRocker

Mike Kimmelman Sr

Paul Huber

Jorgen Jahre

Carter & Helen Duer (Peninsula)

Ted Macdonnell

Bob McIntosh

Randy Taft

Todd Scadel

Mickey McGivern

Dr Arnie Chusid

Jason Bartlett

Taylor Gower

Dana Parham (Odds On Racing)

Joe Bongiorno

Jennifer Bongiorno

Todd Shadel

May 22, 2026
This Tactical Landing filly, the first foal out of the tremendous, $3 million-winning mare Jiggy Jog S, arrived on April 18 at Hunterton Farm in Kentucky. Jiggy Jog S, the Dan Patch Older Trotting Mare of the Year in both 2023 and 2024, won the $1 million Yonkers International in 2024 and Breeders Crown finals in 2022 and 2023, among other stakes wins. Jiggy Jog S posted a lifetime record of 24-10-2 in 41 starts and had a mark of 1:49.2. She will be bred next to Captain Corey.
May 16, 2026
Hunterton Consigned & Bred Three Times Bettor (Dexter Dunn) persisted through a methodical first-over push in a quick tempo to score a track-record-equalling 1:48.3 win in hand in the KYSS final for pacing mares at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel. Dunn tipped his charge out of third after following a clip of :25.4 and :53.1 and inched towards pacesetter Odds On Chesapeake (Todd McCarthy) rolling to three-quarters in 1:20. As Odds On Chesapeake began to tire, Three Times Bettor grabbed the lead and scooted away confidently for a length win over pocket-sitter Aintnothingucando (Scott Zeron), who zipped up a seam at the pylons for second. Unreasonable (Jason Bartlett) followed the winner's cover to take third. Brett Pelling trains Three Times Bettor , a mare by Bettors Delight-Three Times A Lady, for owner Thaddeus Wier. The win was her seventh straight in a streak dating back to last season. She took her 12th win from 20 career starts and raised her bankroll to $365,068. The win price was $2.50. Her 1:48.3 clocking matched the track record for aged pacing mares set in 2022 by Blue Diamond Eyes.
May 10, 2026
Oak Grove, KY — The pair of $30,000 Open events at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel on Sunday (May 10) had starkly different payoff outcomes, but saw dominant performances from both Burnout and Three Times Bettor , who scored in the Open Pace and Fillies and Mares Open Pace respectively. A few races later, 1-9 favorite Three Times Bettor (Dexter Dunn) tightened the screws for her $100,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes final on Preakness Saturday (May 16) with a 1:50.1 jog in the co-featured $30,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace. Dunn, flying into town for only two drives on the day, circled the Brett Pelling trainee to the top after a :26.4 first quarter and gradually quickened while peeling away from the competition. She clocked a :55 half and 1:23.1 three-quarters and widened all the way to a 5-1/4-length win under wraps over Yankee B Something (Geremy Bobbit), who gave pursuit from a pocket ride in second. Bonitas Best Bet (Brandon Bates) saved ground to take third and Lyin’ Eyes (Joey Putnam) folded from a first-over push into the last turn for fourth. Thaddeus Weir owns Three Times Bettor, a 4-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight-Three Times A Lady. The mare won her 11th race from 19 starts and has now banked $213,814 in her career. She paid $2.22 to win.
May 10, 2026
Anderson, IN — Finding another gear late, Hunterton Born, Raised and Sold, Drink Up Drink Up driven by Brandon Bates for trainer Walter Haynes Jr. returned to winning ways downing the $22,000 Open Trot at Hoosier on Saturday (May 9). Starting the race competitively, the field moved four wide as the trotters fought for the lead. Eventually from his assigned post four, Drink Up Drink Up found the rail in third as Ponda Jet (Kyle Wilfong) beat out Cs Flying Co-pilot (Marcus Miller) to lead the field at the first quarter in :26.2. Trotting down the back stretch, the field grew stagnant in a single file line through the halfway mark in :55.3. Content with their position at this point in the race, the six-horse field remained unchanged to the three-quarter pole, led by Ponda Jet in 1:25.1. The first bit of action since the start of the race came from Finite (Trace Tetrick) in fifth, who broke the silence first-over before flushing Drink Up Drink Up. Heading into the stretch, Drink Up Drink Up glided past Cs Flying Co-pilot, leaving only Ponda Jet in his way of a winner’s circle visit. Continuing that momentum, Drink Up Drink Up chugged along the outside to beat out the post time favorite Ponda Jet by a length to the wire in 1:53.1. Ponda Jet settled for second, while Famous Father got up for third. The Trixton gelding, Drink Up Drink Up, is owned by Adam Friedland and Brian Carsey. Drink Up Drink Up added his fourth win of the season to increase his lifetime earnings to $421,058. Drink Up Drink Up paid $11.60 to win.
May 9, 2026
East Rutherford, NJ – Frattina Diablo S and Create Escape emerged victorious in the Friday night (May 8) co-features at The Meadowlands in a pair of $20,000 high-end conditioned trotting events for 3-year-olds with Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks dreams. In the split for fillies, the Tony Alagna-trained Frattina Diablo S, sent to the gate as the 4-5 favorite, sat a three-hole down the backside before making her way towards leader Caviart Queen Emma, who set the pace at the quarter and half in :28.3 and :57.3, respectively. “Frattina” was surging on the outside in second as the “Queen” clicked three-quarters in 1:25.4, but through the stretch, Frattina Diablo S, a daughter of Captain Corey -Lindy Strong, trotted away from her foes, hitting the wire 3-1/4-lengths clear of second-place finisher Che Bella in a lifetime-best 1:53.2. Chant was third. “We were very high on her last year and (owner) Steve Stewart and I decided to stop after Lexington to give her extra time to grow up since she was such a big filly last year at 2 and she came in Jan. 1 a different animal,” said winning trainer Alagna. “We have high hopes for her.” Driven by Johnathan Ahle, Frattina Diablo S returned $3.80 after winning for the second time in seven lifetime tries. Ahle completed a driving sweep of the marquee events after guiding Create Escape to victory lane for trainer Ake Svanstedt in the division for colts and geldings. The colt by Gimpanzee -Final Countdown completed the mile in 1:55. Practical Man, the 7-5 favorite, was gunning for a second straight score, but after going parked for the first seven-sixteenths-of-a-mile before clearing the lead, he didn’t have it in the stretch, failing to hit the board, finishing fourth. Create Escape vacated the pocket with an eighth-of-a-mile to trot and eased his way to a confident score, holding off the late-charging Sevenato by a half-length. Read The Room was third. “He qualified well last week and felt good the whole way,” said Ahle. After going off as the 3-1 third choice, Create Escape paid $8.80 to win.
May 8, 2026
Yonkers, NY – Hunterton Sold Tarapasta looked hopelessly boxed in coming into the homestretch, but Matt Kakaley was able to find a seam at the head of the stretch, and the 6-year-old Downbytheseaside mare kicked into overdrive to capture Friday’s (May 8) $456,000 Grade 2 MGM Ursula McIntyre Series final at MGM Yonkers Raceway at a stunning 25-1. Tarapasta, trained by Travis Alexander for owner Greg Luther Racing LLC., completed the mile and a quarter distance in 2:23, winning by a length over Coastal Babe N, with 1-10 favorite Louies Girl N settling for third. Kakaley had Tarapasta energized early, leaving strongly ahead of Louies Girl N on the opening bend. Coastal Babe N, with Yannick Gingras, left hard and needed nearly the first quarter before supplanting Tarapasta in a :28.2 opening fraction. Jason Bartlett wanted no part of a three-hole, and he moved Louies Girl N on the second turn, assuming control at the half in :56.4. After Louies Girl N had the top, she cut three-quarters in 1:25.2 and was put to some pressure when Millwood Bliss N moved without cover on the backstretch for the final time. Still, Louies Girl N looked to have control of the race past the mile marker in 1:54 and entering the final turn with Coastal Babe N locked along the pylons and Tarapasta sitting third without room. When Seaside Diva, with Scott Zeron, struggled to keep with Millwood Bliss N coming into the stretch, Kakaley seized the opportunity and quickly angled Tarapasta wide. The rest was history as Tarapasta overpowered a struggling Louies Girl N and won going away. Tick A Loch A rallied wide for the fourth spot. Tarapasta returned $52.72 to win and keyed a $169.94 exacta and a $340.78 trifecta. “Travis has done a superb job with her,” said Kakaley. “She’s been super. I’ve been along for the ride.” In the $100,000 McIntyre consolation, favored Walkin On Sunshine and driver Scott Zeron were up in the final strides for the victory in 2:23.3 for the added distance. A 6-year-old by Always A Virgin, Walkin On Sunshine just nailed second choice Bath Bomb with Andrew McCarthy driving. Zeron had Walkin On Sunshine away quickly from post five and out-sprinted Bath Bomb into the opening turn. Following a soft :29.1 opening quarter, McCarthy moved Bath Bomb to the front. Once in control Bath Bomb stayed in front through a half in :58.1 and three-quarters in 1:27.3. With Turn The Page N and Ron Cushing beginning an outer flow at that point, followed by Rocket Deo, Bath Bomb picked up the pace noticeably with a 28 second fourth quarter, reaching the mile in 1:55.3 and making it a virtual two-mare race. Zeron tipped Walkin On Sunshine from the pocket late on the final turn and needed a solid drive to narrow the gap and eventually overtake a determined Bath Bomb. Rocket Deo and Todd McCarthy rallied late for the third spot, with Fearless Ginger fourth across the wire. Walkin On Sunshine is owned by Maynard Miller, Daniel Lehman and Michael Yoder and is trained by Brett Pelling. As the favorite, Walkin On Sunshine returned $3.86 to win and keyed a $7.36 exacta and a $41 trifecta. Walkin On Sunshine won for the 30th time in her racing career and pushed her lifetime earnings above $705,000.
May 5, 2026
Oak Grove, KY – Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel carried the fervor from a historic running of the Kentucky Derby into a jam-packed day of harness racing stakes on Monday (May 4) that saw a pair of track records established in the eliminations for the Oak Grove Trotting Oaks and Oak Grove Trotting Derby as well as a day of betting that annihilated the previous handle record for the Southwest Kentucky track. Crack Shot (Doug McNair) delivered a snug 1:51.3 win at 1-9 odds in the first KYSS division for pacing males. McNair circled the heavy favorite to the lead after a :27.1 first quarter and strolled through middle splits of :55.3 and 1:23.3 before wrapping up the mile an easy winner by 1-1/2 lengths. Somelousomewhere (Tim Tetrick) closed first-over for second with Captain Arturovico (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) rallying off a ground-saving trip for third and pocket-sitter Delray Beach (Todd McCarthy) tiring to fourth. Winning in his seasonal debut, Crack Shot collected his 12th victory from 25 starts and has now earned $563,733 for co-owner Gregg McNair, who also trains the son of Bettor’s Delight-Beautyonthebeach, and partners Dale Hunter, Frank Brundle and George Kerr. He paid $2.18 to win.
May 5, 2026
Oak Grove, KY – Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel carried the fervor from a historic running of the Kentucky Derby into a jam-packed day of harness racing stakes on Monday (May 4) that saw a pair of track records established in the eliminations for the Oak Grove Trotting Oaks and Oak Grove Trotting Derby as well as a day of betting that annihilated the previous handle record for the Southwest Kentucky track. Unreasonable (Dexter Dunn) vaulted off a helmet to score the faster win of the two KYSS splits for 4-year-old pacing mares with a 1:49.1 effort as the 3-5 favorite. Dunn bided his time while Duration (David Miller) sped to the point and cut quick fractions of :26, :54.2 and 1:21.1 before slowing for home. Odds On Chesapeake (Todd McCarthy) pulled off the pylons from third moving to the final turn and reached for the pacesetter while Dunn, perching onto her cover, launched three wide through the last turn and hit her best stride into the lane. Unreasonable pushed past her rivals and crossed the line 1-1/4 lengths better than Odds On Chesapeake while Champagne Room (Yannick Gingras) shook free from a locked-pocket trip for third. Duration held fourth. Andrew Harris trains Unreasonable, a daughter of Huntsville -Roaring To Go, for owner Punisher 11 Stable LLC. She won her 13th race from 28 starts, earning $771,634 in her career, and paid $3.44 to win.
May 5, 2026
Oak Grove, KY – Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel carried the fervor from a historic running of the Kentucky Derby into a jam-packed day of harness racing stakes on Monday (May 4) that saw a pair of track records established in the eliminations for the Oak Grove Trotting Oaks and Oak Grove Trotting Derby as well as a day of betting that annihilated the previous handle record for the Southwest Kentucky track. Chris Beaver pupil Endurance (driven by Andy McCarthy), who set the track record for 2-year-old trotting colts last year, added another Oak Grove track record to his resume with a fierce 1:51.3 effort in his seasonal debut, muscling first-up for the win in the third of three $50,000 eliminations for the Oak Grove Trotting Derby. McCarthy waited in third with the 1-2 favorite while Big Ranger (Ronnie Gillespie) hustled to lead in a :27.1 first quarter and continued through a :56 half, at which point Endurance angled off the pylons and built his momentum in the backstretch. Endurance hit his best stride after three-quarters in 1:23 and collared Big Ranger coming off the final turn before spurting away for a 1-1/2-length win over AI (Yannick Gingras), who popped off a pocket trip for second. Nix Nacken (Dexter Dunn) earned the last berth into the final in third and Big Ranger tired to fourth. Lowering the previous track record set last year by Yannick G Kemp of 1:52.3, Endurance added a seventh win to his card from nine starts and has now earned $582,450 for owners Super Endurance Stable, Bill Manes, Leo Fleming and Mark Moger. The colt by Captain Corey -Love Session paid $3.18 to win.
May 5, 2026
Oak Grove, KY – Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel carried the fervor from a historic running of the Kentucky Derby into a jam-packed day of harness racing stakes on Monday (May 4) that saw a pair of track records established in the eliminations for the Oak Grove Trotting Oaks and Oak Grove Trotting Derby as well as a day of betting that annihilated the previous handle record for the Southwest Kentucky track. Yo Tillie (Todd McCarthy) emerged the top performer from the seven divisions of Kentucky Sire Stakes (KYSS) second preliminary on the Monday undercard with a track-record equaling 1:51.4 mile to win the lone $50,000 division for 4-year-old trotting mares. She worked past a revved Winnpanzee (Yannick Gingras) to the lead in a :26.3 first quarter and continued at a solid clip of :55.1 and 1:23 all while Winnpanzee followed intently from second. R Dutchess (Tim Tetrick) mounted a first-over bid but plateaued into the lane, locking Winnpanzee in the pocket until the final sixteenth. She attempted a late attack on Yo Tillie but came calling too late as McCarthy crossed the line a measured winner by three-quarters of a length. R Dutchess held third and Best Friends Girl (David Miller) finished fourth. Equaling the track record for aged trotting mares set three years ago by Yanaba, Yo Tillie won her 21st race from 26 starts, earning $1.33 million. Andrew Harris trains the daughter of Tactical Landing -Consolidator for owner Punisher 11 Stable LLC. She paid $2.62 to win.
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