Become A Member of RUS NY

RUS New York is becoming a success thanks to the growing efforts between members, riders, trainers, owners and fans. However, we are a small organization trying to get a lot accomplished. We need every person who has passion for the sport to succeed to be involved for it to continue to grow.

This is why we are reaching out. No matter how little one can contribute we would like every passionate person of the sport to be a member of our group. Members do not have to live in New York and can be anybody who wants to see the sport flourish.

As we work together, we can share ideas and thoughts with each other to make it even more successful. RUS New York hosts several meetings per year, fundraisers and community events to raise public awareness of this growing sport. Last year some of the events included:

• Sip and Paint fundraisers

• Gertrude Hawk Easter fundraiser

• Generous Donations/Sponsorships

• 50/50 Raffles and Promotional Tables

• Sweatshirt/T-shirt Sales

       •   Rider Meet-and-Greets

       •  In 2016 we were able to host 12 races during the fair series at 10 locations and a final. Exhibition races were also held at Saratoga, Tioga and Vernon.

These events, along with several others, were some of our biggest ambassadors in making our racing season successful. It allowed us as riders and members of RUS New York to continue doing what we love, and providing the public with awareness of this great sport and the standardbred breed.

We are planning many of the same kind of activities this year along with new and exciting ones. 

Why Be A Member:

By becoming a member of RUS New York, you can become an important part of helping to ensure that these plans become a reality. The biggest benefit is networking. You will be included in group emails to keep up to date on race schedules, upcoming meetings, press releases, fundraising and more. As a member you are entitled to voting rights during our annual meeting to elect a Management Committee. As an added incentive, we also sometimes offer discounts on merchandise.

Membership is completely free. All you have to do is keep your contact information current with our group. If you would like to learn more about the group, visit rus-newyork.com.

How to Become a Member:

Anybody interested in membership should email rusnewyorkseries@gmail.com or call Ashley Eldred at (315) 717-7455. Please include the following information:

Name: ________________

Email: ________________

Phone: ________________

And any other information you would like to include.

If you’d like any additional information about RUS New York, please feel free to contact:

Michelle Miller (RUS NY President)

mnmiller84@gmail.com    

(607) 643-8047

Once A Member There Are Many Ways You Can Help:

We are always looking for items to raffle to earn funds for our group. We can always use help gaining sponsorships. Please reach out to Jocelyn Gale for more details at  galestables@yahoo.com or (315) 250-7402. The group is always looking for new ways to educate people about the versatility of the Standardbred breed and would entertain any new ideas anyone might have. We can always use help with marketing materials such as brochures, fliers, blogging ect. If you have graphic, photo, video or writing experience please let us know. Just promoting our Facebook posts, website, fundraisers and online store on your own page helps more than one could know.

Get On Our Active Rider List:

We are also re-creating an active rider list on our website so if you would like to be included please us know. We categorize it by where riders are from so we will need the following information: Your Full Name, where you are located, email address and phone number. Basically the list is so trainers and owners can get ahold of riders in their area when looking for a mount for a horse.

Remember to keep your contact information current with our secretary because if your email changes we have no way keeping in touch. If you would like to learn more about the group, visit rus-newyork.com.

RUS New York Sets Organization Meeting

RUS New York will be hosting an organizational meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12 at Jocelyn Gale’s home. 

This is a very important meeting where a lot of decisions will be made for the 2017 season. Anyone who wants to participate in RUS NY events are highly encouraged to attend.

Voting will be held to elect the group’s Management Committee. RUS NY President, Michelle Miller, has put together a presentation that will include financial information, highlights of the 2016 season and goals moving forward. Discussion about the District 8 meeting and awards banquet will also take place. 

Not sure what racing under saddle is all about, but would like to learn more? This meeting is a good time to find out and see how to get involved. 

Gale resides at 6157 Cooper Street in Vernon N.Y. Those who cannot physically attend are encouraged to contact Michelle Miller at mnmiller84@gmail.com with their email and phone number. We will be inviting people through Google Hangout Video Call so that we can include as many people as possible. If this form of communication does not work for everyone we may be able to figure out an alternative way to get everyone involved (we have a few that use FaceTime) so please contact Miller as soon as possible.

We do not only need committed owners, trainers and riders to get involved, but need people who are just enthusiastic about the sport and want to help. Anybody can become a member of the group, not just those from New York. 

Saratoga To Host Racing Under Saddle

The start of the Aug. 30 race held in Saratoga.

Trotters Will Be Ridden To The Finish Line

Racing at Saratoga Harness Track usually consists of drivers racing trotters or pacers while pulling a sulky. However, on Sunday, October 16 spectators will have the chance to see a different style of racing called racing under saddle. 

A hybrid between harness and thoroughbred racing, RUS is an exciting part of international standardbred racing and is conducted daily at most European tracks as part of their regular pari-mutuel wagering programs. The sport has not become a wagering event in the states, but has seen a surge in popularity over the past few years. 

Riders race on Standardbreds, the same kind of horses that are regularly driven at the track. The horses are started behind a moving starting gate just like harness racing. The ride may look a bit bumpy for the riders, as unlike thoroughbred racing, the horses are supposed to stay on a trotting gait instead of galloping.

This will mark the second time this year Saratoga Harness and the Saratoga Harness Horseperson’s Association (SHHA) have teamed with RUS New York to host such an event.  Saratoga was the site of the last race of the RUS New York Fair Series. The August 30 race featured a field of nine horses. 

In recognition of breast cancer awareness month, riders (all women) in the October 16^th RUS event will wear pink helmet covers. The race will feature a purse of $400 per horse. (State law requires that the purse be distributed evenly to all participants.) The winner of the race will receive a cooler made possible by generous sponsors. The SHHA is putting up $1,600 for the purse, and RUS New York will be contributing the rest of the purse money. RUS New York depends on sponsorships and fundraising to raise funds for racing. 

RUS New York was formed in early 2014 to assist with the organization and management of series’ and races across the state. The main goal is to promote RUS as a sport, increase interest in Standardbred racing and showcase the versatility of the Standardbred breed.The group also promotes the Standardbred breed as a riding and sport horse, beyond just the sport of racing.

To learn more about RUS New York visit rus-newyork.com. To keep up on RUS NY happenings follow the group on Facebook, Twitter and Blogspot at:

• Facebook.com/RUSNYSeries

• twitter.com/RUS_NewYork

• http://rus-newyork.blogspot.com

RUS Fair Final Winner Has Jumping Background

Vanessa Karlewicz and Admirable Hannover in the winner's circle at Batavia Downs.

Rider Has Not Always Been In The Racing Industry

Finger crossing is a hand gesture commonly used to wish for luck.

Rider Vanessa Karlewicz did this superstitious act before racing in her first fair final and the outcome was great for the 36-year-old and her mount, Admirable Hanover, because the duo ended the night in the winner’s circle.  

Karlewicz, of Florida New York, called the experience “surreal.” 

“When I crossed the line there was a massive roar, but I had no idea if I had won by half a second, by 1,000th of a second or even lost,” she said. 

“As we slowed our horses up on the backside, I was still unsure as to who would be continuing on to the winner’s circle,” she continued. Then the placings were announced... I had won! It finally sunk in and that's when I became emotional... My first meaningful win on a bigger track. I was overtaken with joy and gratefulness.”

As the race moved off the last turn, Karlewicz pulled Admirable Hanover and drew alongside last year’s fair final winners Andrea Pratt and My Friend Charlie.  Admirable Hanover edged his way past the wire and won by a neck in 2:03.4. My Friend Charlie was second and Jeanie Marie closed sharply for third after an early race miscue in the non-betting event.

Karlewicz said it is natural to envision yourself winning, but said she also tried to keep her expectations grounded. 

“We have had a few wins this year, but those were all on fair tracks,” she said. “I also knew that there was a competitive field of horses in the final, not to mention last year’s winner. Certainly I knew I had my work cut out for me, but was going to give it my best shot.”

This marked the third year RUS New York has organized a fair series. It included 12 races at nine fairs across the state, a race at Saratoga Harness Track (a part of their fair day) and the championship race. It was a historic event because it was the first time Batavia Downs had ever held a racing under saddle event. 

The win was the third in six starts under saddle for Admirable Hanover this year. The horse  is owned by Peter Gerry and is trained by his rider, Karlewicz. This is the fourth year the 9-year-old gelded son of Cantab Hall has competed in RUS and the 2:03.4 time was a new lifetime RUS mark for him.

The win was a little extra special for Karlewicz because it came the night before her birthday. 

“Admirable certainly gave me the best birthday gift ever,” she said.  “I was so overwhelmed with both people congratulating me on the win, along with birthday wishes. To say I was on cloud nine is probably still an understatement. Everybody's kind words and support was very meaningful.”

Karlewicz has not always been in the racing business and still considers herself to be somewhat of a “newbie.”  In fact, Karlewicz’s full-time job is managing her family's horse farm "The Stables at MiraBella.”  It is primarily a hunter/jumper facility. The farm houses about 40 horses: A mixture of boarders, lesson horses and young stock as breeding is also a big part of the business. 

Karlewicz said she initially got introduced to Standardbreds three years ago through Connor Racing Stables. 

“I started out jogging a few horses once in a while for fun. The more I was around it, the more fascinated I became. I was intrigued to learn about a different side of the sport and I was certainly drawn into the speed and thrill of racing,” she explained.

According to the horse enthusiast, she received a lot of support while learning the sport and was ultimately able to get her trainers/driving license. Karlewicz said she was graciously supplied with horses to drive and race from both the Connor Stables as well as owner/driver Peter Gerry.      

“RUS specifically was something I never knew existed until I saw a race one day during the Goshen matinees,” Karlewicz said. “I knew instantly that I had to try it.” 

Gerry’s horse was stabled with the Connors where Karlewicz said he never quite developed into a horse for the “big races” so they gave her the chance to drive him in an amateur series. 

“He has proven to be a bit of a quirky horse in that he has struggled with the starting gate and he tends to get nervous and makes breaks especially when starting from the rail (the post position the duo had in the fair final),” Karlewicz said. 

This was a challenge being new to the sport, according to Karlewicz. However, she said, figuring the horse out has made her a better horsewoman. 

The rider/trainer said everyone at the Connor Stables and Gerry are supportive of RUS and were willing to try different horses in their program to see how they would fair doing it. Both Jennifer and Brian Connor have ridden horses under saddle themselves. 

“It always seemed like something Admirable was good at and seemed to like,” Karlewicz said. “This year I decided to put most of my efforts towards RUS versus driving and  made arrangements to take over Admirable’s care and training schedule myself.”

“Being Admirable’s full-time trainer brings a great sense of pride in that I feel his wins this year solidify my horsemanship skills in a field that's relatively new to me,” Karlewicz added. 

Admirable and Karlewicz have had time to bond. She says she has had a lot more experience driving him, but feels he is much calmer while working under saddle. 

“One of the greater challenges driving him is that he is a very hot horse: Both jogging and in the race bike.” Karlewicz said. “The under saddle work, I feel, keeps him calmer and therefore he's easier to handle. He is a horse that we towed a lot instead of jogging in an attempt to avoid him overworking himself in a jog cart every day. This is where I'm happy to offer him the under saddle work off the track. I think he really enjoys that.”

Coming down the stretch to the wire. 

Racing Strategy:

Every horse has a preferred racing style or at least one that lets the horse perform at its best. For example, some like to leave, while others do better if tucked in a hole  with cover and conserving energy until the end. So what is the secret to Admirable Hanover?

Karlewicz said she always has to ease Admirable into the race and is not one that she likes to leave the starting gate with too fast. 

Her strategy for the final was to try and be patient off the starting gate and make it around the first turn. 

She said, “Once we make it that far, I can usually ease up and start participating in the race. There are usually always horses that like to leave so It works out for me to tuck behind someone. Addie generally races better mid pack so getting away third suited us. I knew going down the back stretch for the second time that I needed to start to make my move if I stood a chance. I pulled his ear plugs and he nicely filled the gap. Coming around the final turn I was really happy with where we were. I felt my horse had more in him, so I pulled to the outside and urged him on. Crossing that line first in that close of a race is a thrill I will never forget.” 

How Karlewicz Began Riding:

Karlewicz started riding when she was 8 years old. She said jumping has always been her main focus. However, she said she has dabbled a little with dressage, eventing, western, thoroughbreds, Arabians…

“Jumping has always been my passion. Years later it's intriguing to be learning yet another side of the sport,” she said. 

Karlewicz said she would love to see RUS continue to grow and one day evolve into a betting sport here in the U.S. 

“I would love nothing more than to be able to continue to participate in this sport, hopefully get more rides, and expand to racing at new tracks,” she said. 

The rider/trainer said she has always been and adrenaline seeker so that is why racing under saddle “spoke to her.” She said, “Once I got a taste of racing, both driving and RUS, I was instantly hooked.”

Now that the fair series has come to an end, Karlewicz said she is looking forward to starting back up in the NAADA  Amateur Driving Series that takes place at Monticello, Yonkers and Freehold this fall.  

Admirable Hanover Wins Fair Final

******This article was written by Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs *********

Batavia, NY --- Wednesday night (Sept. 7) was historic for Batavia Downs as the first ever racing under saddle contest was held at the oldest lighted harness track in America. And the show put on by the competitors in the $4,000 RUS New York championship race had the fans on their feet and cheering.

Five horses went postward before My Friend Charlie (Andrea Pratt) went right for the lead as the race began. But shortly after getting away second, Funny Photo (Sophie Engerran) came early, pulled alongside the leader and immediately pushed the issue.

The two trotted side by side setting fractions of :30 and 1:00.3 before Funny Photo made a break past the five-eighths pole. At that point My Friend Charlie was alone on top but Admirable Hanover (Vanessa Karlewicz), who inherited second after the break, was right on her tail.

As the race moved off the last turn, Karlewicz pulled Admirable Hanover and drew alongside the leader. The pair trotted in step in a thrilling race to the wire before Admirable Hanover got a slight advantage and won by a neck in 2:03.4. My Friend Charlie was second and Jeanie Marie closed sharply for third after an early race miscue in the non-betting event.

It was the third win in six starts under saddle for Admirable Hanover this year. This is the fourth year the 9-year-old gelded son of Cantab Hall has competed in RUS and the 2:03.4 clocking was a new lifetime mark under saddle for him.

Admirable Hanover is owned by Peter Gerry and is trained by his rider, Vanessa Karlewicz.

“The crowd loved this race,” said Todd Haight, Director/General Manager of Live Racing. “They were on their feet at the rail cheering as the two horses battled down the stretch. The girls put on a great show and we hope this isn’t the last we’ve seen of RUS at Batavia Downs.”

Since this was the first ever RUS event at Batavia Downs, the winning time of 2:03.4 is a new track record.

RUS NY Fair Series Final Just Days Away

Heather Reese and Jeanie Marie (outside position) and Sophie Engerran and Funny Photo are seen nose-to-nose at Otsego County Fair in Morris. 

The race that so many have been working all summer for is finally almost here. 

The countdown is on. In less than a week, horses and riders will be competing to capture the title of the New York Racing Under Saddle Fair Series.

This year’s RUS New York Fair Series championship will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 7 at Batavia Downs with the New York Sire Stake’s County Fair Finals. Post time is set for 6:15 p.m.

The RUS event is a non-wagering event that will be raced after race nine at about 8:50 p.m. 

This marks the third year of the series, which included 12 races at 9 fairs across the state and a race at Saratoga Harness Track. Horses earned points during the series to determine final entries.

In order to be eligible for the final, horses needed to compete and finish in any two races. Fifteen horses participated in the series with nine qualifying to race in the final. This year’s field will consist of five horses. 

Horses Entered In The Final: 

Jeanie Marie- This is the first year Jeanie Marie has been used under saddle. The mare leads the group with 176 points. She has raced in five races winning three. She was a close second to Funny Photo in Palmyra. Jeanie Marie’s worst finish was Tuesday in Saratoga where she placed eighth with a new rider. 

Jeanie Marie will be starting in post position #4. She has mostly been ridden by Heather Reese, and the two of them are a strong team.

Jeanie Marie seen with rider Heather Reese, left, and trainer Jennifer Sansone, right, after her win at Owego. 

Funny Photo- Is second in points with 145, but could be considered a favorite because he and rider Sophie Engerran have shown good speed on the big and small tracks. Funny Photo won a race at Vernon Downs in a time of 1:59.1. The duo has captured three wins on fair tracks only losing one when they were placed down for not loosing ground when making a break. 

Engerran started racing under saddle in France in 2004. She raced there for 10 years. Funny Photo and Engerran were introduced last year when the horse was being trained by Andy Gardner at Vernon Downs. Engerran broke the dark chestnut to ride and had success on the track and decided to purchase him last November.  According to Engerran, it was not planned to race at the fairs this year because Funny is more comfortable on big tracks, but she said they gave it a try and the horse seems to enjoy it.

Sophie Engerran and Funny Photo at Vernon Downs. 

Admirable Hanover - Is not far behind in points (138), but shows to be more of a threat on the fair tracks. Batavia may pose as a challenge for the 9-year-old gelding and his rider Vanessa Karlewicz. The duo, who will be starting on the rail, has shown improvement as the season has moved forward so don’t totally count them out. They captured victories in both Morris and Bath and finished mid-pack on the bigger Saratoga track. 

This marks Karlewicz’s second season with Admirable Hanover and her first year participating in RUS on a regular basis. The rider said she mostly used Admirable in the amateur driving series last year. 

“He's a pretty handy horse on the fair tracks and I've been happy to have three wins with him this year,” she said.

Vanessa Karlewicz and Admirable Hanover at Goshen Historic Track. 

My Friend Charlie- Will be defending his title. This 5-year-old gelding and his rider, Andrea Pratt, were named the winners of last year’s fair final in Monticello. This duo has raced on three fair tracks this year earning two seconds and a fourth. 

In July, Pratt rode Charlie to a second-place finish at Vernon Downs in a time of 2:02.1. The pair has a total of 59 points and placed sixth in the final race of the series in Saratoga. Charlie seems to like the bigger tracks better so having the final at a larger track may give this team an added edge. They will be starting in post position #2.

Andria Pratt and My Friend Charlie at Otsego County Fair in Morris.

Kash Now- Is the longest shot on the board so to speak (as there is no betting on RUS). This is the only horse that no longer races in harness. She was ridden by Michelle Miller in the first fair series where the two of them learned to race under saddle together. The duo didn’t make a comeback until mid-season in Morris as Miller was using another horse. 

The 12-year-old mare had not raced in almost two years, but was used to ride and keep Miller in shape. Kash has always struggled to finish strong, but has been getting stronger each outing.  This duo will be starting in post position #3 and really has their work cut out for them. Kash and Miller have earned 50 points in four races. 

Michelle Miller and Kash Now at Saratoga Harness Track

All participants will earn $800 for earning their way into the championship race. Batavia Downs is contributing $1,000 toward the final purse and the rest of money comes from RUS NY sponsors and fundraising. The New York Sire Stakes is the series’ flagship sponsor and  generously donates $5,000 as initial purse money. 

The winner will also receive a championship saddle pad donated by Everett Hopper of Advantage Edge Equine-Pro and a halter and lead line gifted by Divine Equine Custom Equipment. 

A High Point Rider Award will once again be presented at the final to the rider who has earned the most points, regardless of horse(s) ridden throughout the series.  To be eligible for the award riders must participate in at least three races. 

The current standings of qualified riders for the Rider Award are as follows: Heather Reese (250), Funny Photo (145), Vanessa Karlewicz (138),  Ashley Eldred (137), Michelle Miller (125), Michelle Crawford (95), Hillary Hartnett (62),  and Andrea Pratt (59). No matter the outcome of the final, Reese has earned enough points to take on the honor this year. 

What is Racing Under Saddle: 

Also known as Monte Racing, RUS, is a hybrid between harness racing and thoroughbred racing. The sport consists of a rider atop a Standardbred (generally a trotter) in a saddle instead of pulling a sulky.  RUS is an exciting part of international standardbred racing and is conducted daily at most european tracks as part of their regular pari-mutuel wagering programs. The sport  has seen a surge in popularity  in the U.S. the past few years.

The Fair Series is organized by RUS NY, an organization that helps coordinate and promote under saddle races across the state. The main goal is to promote the unique sport,  educate about the versatility of the Standardbred breed as both a racing and a riding horse and to help Standardbreds find great homes after they finish their days on the track.

To keep up on RUS NY happenings follow the group on  Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr. 

• Facebook.com/RUSNYSeries
• Twitter.com/RUS_NewYork
• http://rus-newyork.blogspot.com
• Rus-newyork.com

Saratoga Joins Fair Series

There will be one more opportunity for horses and riders to earn points leading into the RUS New York Fair Series Final. 

The Saratoga Harness Track will be hosting fair racing on Tuesday, Aug. 30, and is including racing under saddle to the card. Racing will begin at 1 p.m. 

Entries will be taken by the track’s race secretary and the draw will be held Thursday Aug. 25. The box will close at 3 p.m. See the condition sheet on the track’s website, http://saratogacasino.com/racing/, for more details. 

The Saratoga Harness Horse Association is putting up the purse money for the race. Because of state law, the purse has to be distributed evenly to all participants because it is being held at a pari-mutual track. The SHHA has agreed to put up $200 per horse.  RUS New York hopes to have a special prize for the winner. 

All the fair rules and conditions will apply to the race. Visit http://www.rus-newyork.com/fair-conditions.html for more information.

This year’s fair final will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 7 at Batavia Downs. Horses need at least two starts to be eligible for the final with points earned along the way to determine final entries. A High Point Rider Award will once again be presented at the final to the rider who has earned the most points, regardless of horse(s) ridden throughout the series.

There are only two more races to go until the final - Tompkins County Fair in Trumansburg will host the second to last race on Tuesday, Aug. 23. 

Current Horse Standings: 

(Those with a * have the required 2 rides to qualify for entry into the final) 

*Jeanie Marie - 175 

* Admirable Hanover - 133 

* Funny Photo - 112

* Canbec Kangourou - 87

* Jolie's Prayer- 75 

* Good Advice - 75 

* Maple Grove Emily - 62 

* My Friend Charlie- 58

Iron Will - 50 

* Kash Now- 24

PL Inclining - 12 

Sign Out - 8 

Current Rider Standings:

(Those with a * have the required 3 rides to qualify for the Rider Award)

* Heather Reese - 225  

* Vanessa Karlewicz- 133 

* Sophie Engerran- 112

* Michelle Miller- 99 

* Ashley Eldred- 87

*Michelle Crawford - 83

* Hillary Hartnett - 62 

* Andrea Pratt- 58

Sasha Moczulski- 12