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.