Harness racing brings fast action to Gogebic County Fair

IRONWOOD - Harness racing packed the grandstand Friday afternoon at the Gogebic County Fairgrounds for six, fast-paced races.

Chris Frenzel, out of Marshfield, Wis., brought five horses to the fair for the Friday races. He said he started racing at 16. He said racing county fairs is much more laid back than racing on the betting tracks where they have significantly more rules and restrictions for both rider and horse.

Riders warmed up their horses in different manners. Some riders will ride them one direction for a mile, then turn then around for the other, said rider Mike Magee. Frenzel said a lot of factors are taken into consideration when warming up the horses, such as weather conditions and heat.

Frenzel said he likes to race at county fairs because it gives him a chance to race his young horses and get them on the track without the pressure associated with large races and a betting public. Both riders said the horses trot at about 30 mph on average, but Magee said the fastest time ever recorded in harness racing was a 1:46 mile. Frenzel and Magee said the horses Friday would most likely clock in around the 2-minutes-plus.

When asked how he handles a great horse when he discovers one, Frenzel said he sells it immediately to someone that races full-time. When asked for clarification because this seemed like such an outrageous answer, Frenzel said, "If you can't sell them, don't race them, because a good horse is better to sell to people doing it full-time; than it is to keep them (under-utilized)."

Frenzel described the lifestyle of full-time harness racers and it sounded rough. There is a racing circuit and the riders might start out the year in California. When California closes they will move to the Midwest, and from the Midwest to the east coast or even Mexico and Latin America, chasing the open harness racing season in a never-ending ride for elusive victories and purses to sustain the pursuit. The best horses are purchased by people doing it full time that can keep the horses racing, and people like Magee and Frenzel race against these drivers on weekends, before returning to their 9-5 job Monday-Friday.

Amy Wetzel is the trainer for Frenzel. When asked about the differing sizes of the Frenzel's horses, she said the only size that matters is their heart. Then she pointed to I Want Revenge who was racing in the third race and said he will injure himself if they don't hold him back, because he tries so hard.

Wetzel said the horse injured one of his legs last year in a race and that this would be his first race since.

Magee admitted sometimes its hard to part with a horse. He said his dad had a horse he couldn't part with and it's still on the farm.

The purse for each race was $720 with the winner taking home 50 percent and second through fourth dividing the remaining 50 percent at 25, 20, and the final 5 percent share to the fourth place finisher.

Harness racing continues today at 12:30 p.m.