Hooked On Harness

After several months of lockdown, we are thankful and excited that harness racing has returned in Ontario. Six weeks into the re-start, we actually have horse updates beyond just training videos. For once, it even looks like Adam M. has a better-than-mediocre horse. We chat about the return of live harness racing to TSN, horse racing movies and even a couple of good books. Enjoy!

Thankfully, harness racing has either re-started or is about to restart in most of North America; Ontario is just a few sleeps away. What will the new normal look like? How will it impact horses, fans, trainers, wagering, TV coverage (?!) and a slew of other considerations. Is this actually a unique chance to grow the sport with more new fans? We discuss some potential new wagers being considered, as well as our usual - but ever expanding - horse updates. Enjoy the episode and please like & subscribe!

Bern Tobin 'sits down' (virtually, like everything else these days) with John Campbell, the winning-est driver in harness racing history and current President of the Hambletonian Society. Not an easy time for most industries in the face of the current global pandemic, and harness racing is no exception. What's the right path forward, and what are the options in the face of a potentially prolonged shutdown? We're all 'Locked In The Pocket' right now, but that doesn't mean any slow down in HOH thanks to our new virtual recording shtick. Enjoy from wherever you're socially distancing!

One of our favourite topics is how to improve the sport: what's the ideal amount of time between races? Our list for horse updates seems to get longer with each episode. A tour of a world-class breeding farm at Winbak Farms, where Adam M. got to be a fan boy with the top Ontario Sires, plus a deeper look into the program for some (mostly useless?) data that we've never noticed before. We rarely neglect our craft beer review, and this time we come away with a unanimous vote. Enjoy the episode, and enjoy some harness racing from wherever you are in the world. We appreciate you listening!

For our first HOH of 2020, we try out two new segments: 'Inside the Program' to better understand some of the statistical gems that are hiding in there, and a look at older horses that Bern and Adam K. have owned in the past. We'll break for our craft beer review, check in on our new horses and throw in some other assorted (but still tasty) sundries. Thanks for listening!

For the first time in years, the Breeders Crown returned to Canada and Woodbine Mohawk Park. We debrief on the Saturday night that was, talk Lexington yearling sale and loading up on new horses in 'the draft'. Now that it's real, we chat about the longer race distance that was recently introduced at Mohawk. We somehow manage to squeeze in a craft beer review - all that in just 34 minutes!

We take our time to get angry political and tear a righteous strip off one of our least favourite local tracks trying to ban kids. Horse updates, getting ready for the fall yearling sales, our second 'yay or neigh' segment and our first unanimous craft beer review. Enjoy!

Mid-summer horse updates, a super-local craft beer review and our new 'yay or neigh?' segment on some of the harness racing innovations being tried in other countries. All from Puerta Backyarda. Enjoy!

Johnny LaRue and the best characters from SCTV: is this the perfect naming convention for race horses? Finally, Adam M. gets his in in-depth interview with 'Uncle' Bernie and the usual medley of horse updates, both good and tragic. Enjoy!

We're back from a brutal 2 months of winter weather for a spring 2019 preview and what's ahead for HOH. Super fans of harness racing, horse updates, our now-regular Off&Pacing segment and more. Also an explosive "Arts & Crafts" beer review, which thankfully isn't cider.

Adam x2 and Bern go through our 2018 harness racing highlights, update on new horses, introduce you to the new 'Catch Driver' virtual racing game and squeeze in a year-end craft beer review...sort of. Enjoy!

Bern and Adam M update on the summer/fall performance of their horses, including frustrating under-performers. Also, why are we constantly being asked if it's OK to bring kids to a racetrack? OffandPacing update and more - enjoy!

We start off old-school with the HOH ‘mailbag’ and answer some common questions from newbies to harness racing, then take a look to the future of the sport = not to name tracks (you know who you are, Northfield Park), but it's time to stop hiding a great sport’s on-line presence behind a bunch of slots & casino gobbly goop! Why harness racing is the best sport in our digital age of distraction.

The two Adams introduce you to "OFF and PACING", a mobile harness racing game that's almost as much fun as the real sport. Things quickly go full-nerd, as we can't resist veering into the intricacies and strategies to finding winning horses.

The O'Brien's are like the Oscars of Canadian harness racing, complete with red carpet - or does that make them closer to the Junos? HOH's own Odds on Amethyst picked up the big trophy, and one of our co-hosts was so star struck he spilled his beverage...

HOH catches up with trainer, driver and stable.ca co-founder Anthony MacDonald. Mandatory listening for anyone new to harness racing, minority horse ownership, or just thinking about it. Delicious insights for all, and way more interesting than following the baseball off-season.

Most of our horses never got a whiff of the big stakes races (with one exception...), but that doesn't mean we didn't have an absolute blast this past season. It also won't stop us from calling this episode a 'stakes season wrap-up'. To keep it all in perspective, Adam M. chats with Chuck, a more experienced owner(45+ years!) and harness racing fan.

We share some of our favourite racing stories, including one musical interlude, talk about what makes a great driver and still manage to squeeze in a craft beer review - D-LISH!

Is it worth paying ten bucks to watch a night of live racing, and which soap opera theme music should we use when discussing the ups and downs of horses we're following?

When looking for a champion racehorse, or even one that's modestly competitive, exactly what should you look for? I'm guessing there might be a thing (or 200) to learn from Pat Crowe, trainer and driver of the legendary Cam Fella. We sent Bern on assignment to learn more...

What do you get when the horse named Jack Reacher overlaps with the pulp fiction Lee Child character by the same name? Possibly the craziest, most random horseracing story ever told!

"Paying for potential", standardbred horse characteristics we're looking for - either as more experienced owners, or hack newbie amateurs. Horses we're looking forward to seeing race this upcoming summer season, and an Ontario Craft Beer review...

Inaugural episode of Hooked On Harness - where we talk harness racing, craft beers and what races we're excited about for the 2017 summer season in Ontario.