One of the new names on the program at the current Cal Expo meet is Evan Coblentz, who is making his first California invasion after spending the majority of his career in the Midwest.
The 53-year-old Ohio native got the harness bug at an early age, and it’s been a passion of his ever since. “I was about eight when my dad bought his first horse and they were racing at Lebanon and on the fairs. I knew right away it’s what I wanted to do and I was jogging them by the time I was 11 or 12.”
At 14, Coblentz was able to drive in matinee races and he was literally off to the races at that point, eventually competing at the fairs for real just two years later. One of his father’s two trainers was Chuck Peters, and Coblentz credits him with providing a valuable education in the sport.
“Chuck was about 15 years older than me and kind of like an older brother,” Coblentz explained. “He was a driver and a trainer and he taught me about the game from the ground up. I learned a lot from him.”
For the most part, Coblentz has raced on the Ohio fairs in the summer and then gone to Chicago for the winters, while making himself a Minnesota staple of late. He has campaigned a string of good, hard-knocking trotters and pacers without any stars.
While he loves the racing and it has been career, he admits that his wife and two daughters were always his main focus. “Now that we’ve raised our daughters and they’re both married, my wife and I decided to come out here and try something new. It had always been in the back of our minds, and we plan on taking in all the sights.”
Evan has brought out seven performers, six of which carry his banner, and is very happy with the reception he’s received from management and fellow horsemen. “Everything has been great so far, especially the weather. Right now we’re just playing it by ear, but I have three young trotters that I might bring out after the start of the year.”
A reminder that Sunday, December 23 has been added to the live racing at Cal Expo, and there will be a special first post of 2:35 p.m. for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday programs that week (December 21-23).
(Cal-Expo)