SC Rewind: Remembering Levi Harner

In the latest edition of Rewind Robert Smith takes a look back at the career of the great U.S. horseman Levi Harner.  He was a highly accomplished trainer and driver for many years.  Although he passed away a number of years ago I am sure that he is still fondly remembered by many who knew him or have read about his career.

Years ago when Canadian horsemen travelled in large numbers across the border to join in U.S. racing activities, many friendships were made with local American horse people.  One of the great hotbeds of racing, dating back to the 1940 era, involved the Buffalo/Batavia circuit in Western New York State. For several decades, large Canadian-based stables spent at least six months a year racing in this area. The dotted lines and waterways that separate our two Countries are often forgotten as people work together and engage for a common purpose. 

Levi Harner is shown after one of his many victories with Tar Boy in this 1960 photo at Buffalo Raceway. He raced many fine horses over his long career but this horse was said to be his favourite. 

One U.S. horseman who was always among the first to befriend newcomers was a man named Levi Harner. Although Mr. Harner was from Pennsylvania, he plied his trade in the Upstate New York area, employed for many years as the head trainer for the highly successful  T.J. Zornow Stable of Pittsford, N.Y. Mr. Zornow specialized in the Hanover breed at his Avon Farms location and many high class performers came out of this longtime combination of Zornow and Harner. Mr. Zornow was a long time fixture with the U.S.T.A., serving as its President from 1970 to 1977. Their two most famous horses were Kat Byrd and Tar Boy, the latter acknowledged as Levi's all-time favourite. 

Levi Harner in 1967 after winning his 2000th Career race (Hoof Beats)

He was a publicity shy type of person who shunned the spotlight but performed at a very high level winning many driving championships at both the local and national levels dating back to 1946.  In 1967 Levi Harner became just the third driver in history (see trivia question below) to record 2,000 lifetime wins and did so in a rather unusual fashion scoring the milestone win in a dead heat.  Imagine it took 40 years to win that many races, truly an indication of how short the racing season once was.  He first drove in 1927 at a Pennsylvania State Fair but did not win his first race until 1930. He believed that his first 100 or so victories occurred before accurate records were kept prior to the U.S.T.A.'s formation in 1939. 

On the evening of November 3, 1967 Levi thought he had his 2,000th victory all sewed up while driving the Rodney-sired trotting mare Scandalous,  but at the last moment a horse  aptly named Rifle Ball (John Stark) shot through at the rail causing a dead heat.  There was no doubt two races later however as he trotted home a winner in the $3,500 free-for-all Trot with Lofty Hanover to score win number 2,001.  When Harner recorded his record setting tally he was 58 and still going strong.  

A week later in a special trackside ceremony Levi was honoured by Batavia officials and his sulky colleagues.  Despite his shyness he was obviously pleased and thankful for the standing ovation he received from a crowd of 5,000 loyal followers who had watched him for many years.  He told a reporter that he was very happy for a number of reasons, none the least of which was the fact that he did not have to deliver a speech.  

Mr. and Mrs. Harner had a special tie to Canada as their daughter Gwen Harner married noted horseman William "Bud" Gilmour. Both Bud and Gwen are now deceased but certainly well remembered by their many friends and family that remain on both sides of the border.   

Also passed but not forgotten is their late son Eldon Harner, an accomplished horseman who studied under his father's watchful eye and went on to a lengthy and successful career in the sport.  His career in the sulky started way back in 1952 at the age of 18.  "Eldie" — as he was often called by writers — raced at many tracks but was very successful at Monticello.  He also won the Cane Pace in 1969 with Kat Byrd and was victorious driving Apache Circle in the 1983 Peter Haughton Memorial Pace at Roosevelt to name a few of his standouts.  

Eldon was the victim of a freak accident at a Florida track quite a few years ago. While taking a horse out of the stall it spooked and struck him, causing his death.  In late 2002 while racing at Pompano Eldon was taking his horse Toibin N out of the stall when the horse bolted and knocked him unconscious.  He was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries and died two days later.  He was 69 at the time. 

Levi Harner was not a frequent visitor to Canadian tracks but he did manage to win a number of races of note many years ago both as a trainer and driver.  When the inaugural Maple Leaf Trot was held in 1950 at Thorncliffe Park in Toronto,  the race's first winner was Adeline Hanover.  This mare was from the Harner - Zornow stable and driven to victory by catch-driver Harold Wellwood.  Levi also won an early edition of the Canada Cup race at Old Woodbine in 1956 driving Baldwin Hanover.  He was back the following year with second-place finisher Maynard Hanover in the same event. 

He was also a visitor to the Montreal circuit and raced his standout pacer Tar Boy to victory at Blue Bonnets.  In a memorable race at neighbouring Richelieu Park in 1961 which saw Adios Butler set a new Canadian record of 1:58.2, the fourth place finisher in that race was Tar Boy with Levi Harner in the sulky.  

Adios Butler, in rein to Eddie Cobb, glides to the wire in 1:58.2 with a huge Richelieu Park crowd looking on. Finishing second is Bye Bye Byrd (Clint Hodgins) with fourth-place finisher Tar Boy (Levi Harner) also in the picture. Out of camera range on the inside was third-place finisher Apmat with Billy Haughton in the sulky. (Hoof Beats)

Levi Harner lived a long and productive life and his maroon-and-gold silks continued to appear in races until he was 79 years of age, scoring his last 2:00 mile at the age of 77;  at the time believed to be the oldest driver to do so. In 1985 he entered the Harness Racing Living Hall of Fame.  He raced at virtually all of the U.S. tracks that were in operation during his career and often competed in high-class stake races, always with horses from his own stable.   

The gentleman from Pennsylvania died in his sleep on September 17, 1998 at the ripe old age of 89. His memory lives on.

Driver Levi Harner and Forest Ranger at Buffalo Raceway in 1946, quite early in his career (Harness Horse)

Quote For The Week: "I would rather be a live coward than a dead hero." - A very old saying undoubtedly from some very wise person. 

Trivia Question related to today's Rewind: When Levi Harner recorded his 2,000th career victory in 1967,  he joined just two other drivers who had already reached that lofty plateau.  Who were the other two? Let us know who you think they were.  

Who Is It?

Can you correctly identify this famous driver in a photo from over 50 years ago? 

Where Is It?

Can you identify this track which is still in operation? Let us know where you think it is.