From her native Sweden, to Italy, to a stopover in Florida, Linda Magnusson has found a home in Sacramento, California at Cal-Expo. She is an outrider by day and a harness horse owner by night, with nine performers currently carrying her banner.

“My dad was a trainer back home in Sweden, and eventually I went to Italy and spent some time there,” Magnusson explained. “After I met Carl and Rod Allen, they offered me the chance to come to the United States for the first time.”

That was in 2000, and after spending six months with the Allens in Florida, Magnusson met Dr. Harvey Stein at a horse sale and came to California that summer to work for him. She’s been here ever since.

“It was interesting when I first came to the United States, because we only have trotters in Sweden and it was the first time I was ever around any pacers. After I’d been here in California for a time, I started working for Rocky Stidham and got to be around some real nice horses like Eaton Road Kill, Rowdy Somolli and Nad. (I) learned a lot working at his barn.”

It was three years ago that Linda first got her name on the program as an owner with a pacer named Heart of Hearts, and fast-forward to 2011 and you’ll find a slew of winner’s circle photos in the scrapbook -- and which is her favourite among those pictures?

“That would be Winning Star,” she responded. “I took care of him for some time before I ever owned him and we had quite a bond. You couldn’t ask for more from a racehorse. As far as winning a race goes, especially with a horse like him, it doesn’t get any better.”

Magnusson, who goes back to Sweden for a visit every once in a while, pointed out that the trotters are a major sports attraction in that country, much more than the thoroughbreds.

“Harness racing is probably the third most popular sport in the country behind hockey and soccer. They love their trotters in Sweden.”

Live racing will resume at Cal-Expo on Thursday, February 3 and will continue through Saturday, February 5. First-race post time on Thursday is 5:30 p.m. (PST). First-race post time on Friday, February 4 and Saturday, February 5 is at 6:00 p.m.

On Saturdays, Cal-Expo offers a reduced 15 per cent takeout rate on both the Early and Late Pick-4 wagers, with both Pick-4s having a $10,000 gross-guaranteed pool.

(Cal-Expo)