British Columbia native Carson Abbott has chosen to take the path alongside his family into the harness racing industry, and the young horseman made quick work to make his mark.
Carson acquired a horse from his father, longtime participant Gord Abbott, and made his first start as a trainer on Sept. 22. The horse, named Sea Breezes, finished third in a $6,500 race but then one week later put Carson in the winner’s circle following a 1:59.4 lifetime-best victory in rein to older brother John.
“It was very special,” Carson Abbott said to Trot Insider. “She's really having a better year. Last year she broke her maiden in September and then kind of struggled the rest of the year. But this year she's come back and she's so much better; more mature and sounder, more confident. She's always been kind of nervous, but I can see a lot of confidence in her now. And yes, very special for me to have the whole family there and John driving.”
The cards did not necessarily stack for Carson to land in the winner’s circle with his family surrounding. Much younger than his brothers Mark and John, others guided Carson to move away from the horses and pursue further education beyond the sport. Carson naturally did chores around the family barn growing up but only within the last few years followed his heart, which set on entering the training game.
“As I grew up, I started to really pursue becoming a trainer, so that's when I started jogging and training more seriously,” Abbott said. “I always jogged over the years but kind of like a couple times a week thing whereas now, the last three or four years, I've been jogging and training and taking it a lot more seriously and having a lot of fun, that's for sure.
“I've had many other jobs and I always come back here,” Abbott also said. “Actually, two days before my first training [win], I stopped working at a cement plant and came back and then I got my first training win a couple days later and it really made it feel like the right decision.”
Sea Breezes will aim to double Abbott's career win total on Thursday (Oct. 13) at Fraser Downs, drawing post five in the evening's seventh race.
"Sea Breezes is very happy right now. She trained nicely for me this week, and I think she has a good shot to get a cheque," noted Abbott. "I see some outside leaving power but with the five hole I'm hoping she can get away towards the front end and get a good trip."
Going forward, Carson hopes to expand his stable while working alongside his father Gord.
“I'd love to have my own little stable like attached onto my dad's,” Abbott said, “and also help with his, and I'd like to get my driver's [license]. That's my next goal. I'd like to be doing my qualifying drives, either at the end of this meet towards the summer, or maybe early spring. And if not, then certainly next fall. I think by then I'll be ready.”
Carson said the best influence his father had on him is that “His work ethic is amazing. He never takes a day off. He's always here. And he taught me patience, which is something I didn't have at first.” The pair have worked together as Carson worked towards becoming a trainer and travelled to Alberta in Fraser Downs’ offseason last year – a move he’s contemplating again this year.
“We haven't really made any set plans but I'm thinking this summer we may go up,” Abbott said. “Whether it's I go up or my dad; one of us will probably stay here with some, like the young ones. But we actually went up to Alberta last summer. We went up from May until August, my dad and I, and that was a lot of fun. It's a lot of expenses for sure. But that's something I'm very interested in, because I’d never been there, so it was really cool to go and I met a lot of good people. Tons of great people there, Century Downs, there. I really liked that place. It was nice.”
Now that Carson treks down the trodden harness racing path, he is mindful of the fragile blossom that is racing in Western Canada. He hopes to be part of the revitalization of racing in the region, but will go down any road necessary to stay in the business.
“As a young person, I really want to become more involved...I just want to do more to help the racing here. Not exactly sure how to do that, but that’s something I'm very passionate about. As I get a little older, maybe I’ll have a shot to do that.”
(photos courtesy Michael's Fine Photography; Facebook)