Whether at work or play, Joel Wheeler is dealing with plenty of horsepower. Wheeler, from Pepperell, Massachusetts, owns two motorcycle businesses as well as
a stable of trotters and pacers. Last year, Wheeler was the leading owner at Plainridge Racecourse and finished tied for third in the trainer standings.
Plainridge opened its 12th season on Monday (April 5). The meet runs through November 26.
“It’s been a slow start,” Wheeler said about preparations for this year’s campaign. “It was a tough winter. Being down four months, it’s tough. It’s tough on everybody, not just me.
“I’ve got the businesses, so I’ve got to work hard in the winter so I can get some time off in the summer,” he added. “We sell over 2,000 motorcycles a year, so it’s a lot of work.”
Wheeler runs Motorcycles of Manchester, affectionately known as MOM, in Manchester, New Hampshire and another shop in Foxboro, Massachusetts. His harness racing stable consists of 25 to 30 horses, including broodmares and babies.
“When the kids were growing up I always had one or two horses,” said Wheeler, who followed his father and uncle into the sport. “It’s kind of a hobby gone wild now.”
Two of Wheeler’s top horses in recent years were homebreds Moms Sweet Dreams and Moms Angel. Another homebred, Dawns Angel, was a multiple winner on the New York Sire Stakes circuit in 2004.
His stable has earned $848,954 over the last eight seasons. Wheeler also was the leading owner at Plainridge in 2006, when he finished second in the trainer standings, too.
“We’ve had some pretty nice horses for around here,” said Wheeler, who won 143 times as a driver in his career but has not driven regularly since the mid-1990s. “I like doing the babies and the projects. I just enjoy it. Most of what I race, I’ve raised. And I enjoy the people.”
Jim Hardy was the leading driver in wins and purses last year at Plainridge and is back this season to defend his titles. Hardy has won the driving title at the track each of the past three seasons. Mike Eaton was second and Brad Irvine was third in 2009. Dawn Anderson and Hardy tied for the most wins among trainers, with Wallace Watson and Wheeler finished deadlocked for third.
This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.