“When I would go to the county fairs, I loved the horses...I just thought it was so cool what they did. I just wanted to learn more and more about the sport. My parents took me to the races and I’d wander off to the barns and learn from there. I went out to a farm and jogged my first horse and I knew this is what I want to do.”
When it comes to learning about harness racing, Brady Galliers looks to those with experience -- even when they are horses.
Galliers, a 20-year-old driver and trainer from Ohio, fell in love with harness racing as a youngster at the county fairs. His family had no involvement in the sport at the time, but Galliers eventually convinced his parents, Mark and Jane, to buy a racehorse.
In the ensuing years, Galliers got more deeply involved in harness racing as an active participant and now has a stable of 12 horses. In January, he received the Ohio chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers Association’s Peter Haughton Memorial Award, which is given to an up-and-coming horseman in the Buckeye State.
Last season, Galliers competed on Ohio’s fair circuit in addition to racing at Hollywood Gaming Dayton Raceway, Miami Valley Raceway, and Scioto Downs. He won 24 of 393 races as a driver and notched 15 wins in 161 starts as a trainer.
Among the horses in Galliers’ stable is past stakes-winner and millionaire Schoolkids. Galliers purchased the now 10-year-old gelded pacer for $10,000 at last November’s Blooded Horse Fall Speed Sale at the Delaware County Fairgrounds. Schoolkids, who races in Saturday’s $20,000 Open at Miami Valley Raceway with Galliers in the sulky, has in a way graduated to teacher.
“He definitely teaches me,” Galliers said. “It helps out a ton. That goes for a couple other horses I’ve got too. They’ve been doing it for longer than I have, so I kind of let them do their thing for the most part. He goes out there and does what he does best. I’ve only had him for a few months, but he’s been great to me. He’s a great horse to be around. He has his moods, but who doesn’t?
“It’s really cool to think that I have an Open horse right now,” Galliers added. “He’s not the best Open horse, but he’s in there and I know he’ll give it a shot. He’s an old class horse, that’s for sure. He’ll give it his all. I would love to have a barn full of horses like him. It’s an honour to have a horse like him and be racing in the top classes every weekend. He really makes it a joy.”
Galliers has found joy in harness racing since watching it at the fairs before he was even a teenager. He was active in a number of sports --- basketball being his favorite --- but gave up all those other pursuits by his junior year in high school so he could focus on racing.
“When I would go to the county fairs, I loved the horses,” Galliers said. “I just thought it was so cool what they did. I just wanted to learn more and more about the sport. My parents took me to the races and I’d wander off to the barns and learn from there. I went out to a farm and jogged my first horse and I knew this is what I want to do.”
Galliers started driving in 2013. He bought a horse named Windy City Ron, competed with the pacer in the fair circuit’s Signature Series, and advanced to the series final on Little Brown Jug Day at the Delaware County Fair. Galliers and Windy City Ron finished third.
For his career, Galliers has won 38 of 538 races as a driver. So far this year, he has two wins, four seconds and two thirds in 15 starts.
“My parents have helped me tremendously, with supporting me and getting me horses,” Galliers said. “They’re my biggest owners. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. I started with one horse and now I’m up to 12. I want to be a driver, though. That’s my biggest thing. But I know that being young I have to start slowly and get my name out there. I think the best way is getting my own horses.”
Training also is an opportunity to get more experience with horses.
“It definitely benefits me,” said Galliers, who has moved from his hometown of Defiance to Dayton so he could be nearer to most of the state’s racetracks. “It’s not just jumping on and off the horse. I want to be mainly a driver, but I don’t mind having a stable of my own. Horsemanship-wise, it’s taught me everything. I’ve got to take care of my horses. I have to get them healthy and ready. It’s a whole different game. You always have to be ready for the next week.
“I’ve had people help me tremendously but I’ve never really worked for anybody so I’ve kind of learned on my own. I’m still young and I don’t know everything, obviously, and I’m always willing to learn. Every day I learn more, from training wise and driving wise. I think I’ve learned a lot in the last year.”
As for what he most enjoys about harness racing these days, Galliers responded with one word.
“Winning,” he said, laughing. “Who doesn’t love to win? But what I love the most after that is being out there driving. It is what I love doing. It’s something I want to turn into a profession.
“I know I’m young and I know I don’t really have a shot yet with some of the trainers. You go up against the best drivers every night, so it’s very hard. I’m just trying to get my foot in the door. I take any drives I can and hopefully one of these days I’ll find a trainer who will give me a shot.”
This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.