Definition

Noun: A type of horse race where the horses are driven by a driver seated in a lightweight, two-wheeled cart called a sulky. The horses compete at a specific, regulated gait, either trotting or pacing, rather than at a gallop.

Usage

The term "harness race" refers specifically to the organized sporting event itself. * The county fair will feature a harness race on Saturday afternoon. * He has been training standardbreds for harness racing for over twenty years. * The most famous harness race in North America is the Hambletonian.

Advanced Usage

• Harness racing is the general term for the sport involving these races.
  • Harness racing is popular in many countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and parts of Europe.
• The horses used are specifically bred for this sport and are called standardbreds.

Variants and Related Words

• Harness racing (n): The sport or industry of conducting harness races.
• Trot (n/v): A two-beat diagonal gait of a horse. A race for trotters is a specific type of harness race.
• Pace (n/v): A two-beat lateral gait where the legs on the same side move together. A race for pacers is a specific type of harness race.
• Sulky (n): The lightweight cart driven in a harness race.
• Standardbred (n): The breed of horse used almost exclusively in harness racing.

Synonyms

• Trot race: Specifically a harness race where horses must trot.
• Pace race: Specifically a harness race where horses must pace.

Related Phrases

• To drive in a harness race: The action of competing as the driver.
  • She will drive her own horse in the harness race.
• To break gait: A violation in harness racing where a horse moves into a gallop, which is not allowed.
  • The horse was disqualified after it broke gait in the final turn.

Noun

1. a horse race between people riding in sulkies behind horses that are trotting or pacing