Blast from the past: Article featuring Therese Lindgren

RUS Helps Make Dream Come True in a Way

Article written in 2014 by MICHELLE MILLER 

Therese is a native of Sweden and is having a great RUS year – most recently winning the Red Mile race in Kentucky aboard In Nomine Patri. Also this year, she won an elimination race of the Hambo series at the Big M and placed second in the final. This blog was written by Michelle Miller using notes provided by Therese Lindgren.  

Featured Rider: Therese Lindgren  

Horses have always been a big part of Therese Lindgren’s life. As a kid, she dreamt of one day becoming a jockey.

“My mom told me I was going to be too tall, so I put my energy into being a harness racing driver,” she said.

The 32-year-old grew up in Sweden where she started driving in pony races at the age of 8. She said she got her first pony 14 days before she was born and could basically ride before she could walk. Lindgren won a Swedish RUS championship for ponies in 1993.

“I use to be in smaller jumping competition as a kid, but it wasn’t my thing,” said Lindgren who started to ride for a private trainer in dressage when she was 10 years old.

At age 16, Lindgren started working for a big stable in Sweden. And at age 18, she got her harness horse drivers license. Lindgren said she had a “really nice” year when she was 21.

“I was driving in big races in Sweden, Denmark and even got invited to a big race in Italy where I was third in the elimination and finished fourth in the final,” she said.

After that year, Lindgren took a year off from all things horses to catch up on school. However, she was right back working with them in no time.

“I started up my own stable and did okay,” she said. “I rode a few races over their but not really with any success.”

According to Lendgren, she got sick of everything in Sweden and sold everything and moved to New Jersey. She moved in 2009 and has been living  there ever since.

In 2011 Lindgren did something that could have kept her from racing – she broke her back. She said she had two discs that were laying on her sciatic nerved so there was only 10 percent left of it. Lindgren had back surgery and thought she may never walk again.

It was a RUS event that gave her the determination to not only walk again, but race again. Lindbgren set her sights on participating in the racing under saddle race set at the 

Meadowlands on Hambletonian Day and she had nine months to prepare.

“I felt in my whole body that I wanted to be in it,” she said. “With a lot of hard work and a  mind of steel I laid all my energy into it.”

Lindgren rode Take My Picture to a second place finish, but said for her it felt like a win. 

She said she was able to ride for a great horse owner who believed in her.

Last year Lindgren only rode in one RUS race. She said it was for her good friend Michelle Crawford, also a RUS rider and a native of Sweden. The venue was Saratoga Raceway where she rode Vassar Hall to a 2:07 victory.

Lindgren is having a very successful RUS  season this year. Aboard Take My Picture she  won an elimination of the Hambletonian RUS series at the Meadowlands and placed second in the final. Ironically, her good friend Michelle beat her on A Penny Earned in a time of 1:57.2.

Most recently, Lindgren raced to victory aboard In Nomine Patri in a RUS race held on October 5 at the Red Mile in Kentucky. Lindgren said she qualified the horse for two good friends of hers a week before the race.

“Lisa (Vatanen) who owns and trains him asked me if I wanted to ride him in Lexington and my answer was of course yes,” Lindgren said.

According to Lindgren, Lisa told her In Nomine Patri is a nice horse to ride but can be a little aggressive so her plan was to “take him back and race from behind and give him cover.”

“I didn’t want to go first up,” she said. “Everything worked out perfect, and on the stretch he flew home with a 27.2 last quarter.”

“It was like flying with the wind,” added Lindgren.

The win was bitter sweet for her however. Her mother had passed away three weeks before the big race and Lindgren wanted to honor her memory. According to Lindgren, the horse’s owners, Lisa and Joe Hanney, and her mother had been through a lot together so the win was felt magical.

While Lindgren has had several horses in her life, she says she has a special bond with Take My Picture.

“I used to work for his trainer Nik Drennan, so I have been taking care of him for years.” Lindgren said. “I know him very well and think I have him figured out pretty well.”

The RUS rider said she often advises Take My Picture’s driver how to drive him in harness races.

The bay gelding is a great horse to ride, but according to Lindgren he does have a few quirks.

“He doesn’t like to be on the track so he only goes on the machine or leads behind a horse,” she said, adding she also rides him once in a while on the farm.

Lindgren said Take My Picture is very special and has a mind of his own. For example, she said the horse likes to run off the track during warmups and does not like to turn to the starting gate. Even so, Lindgren said she is honored that the trainer and owners let her ride the open trotter.

The horse enthusiast currently works for White Birch Farm – a 800 acre standardbred breeding farm and renowned training center in Allentown, Monmouth County, New Jersey. She takes care of a horse she owns half of and helps others out at the farm as needed. As far as future goals, Lindgren said she plans on buying a baby and another race horse sometime this year to “see what happens.”

When it comes to RUS, Lindgren said she could not do it without Anthony “Tony” Robbin’s life coaching techniques.

“I am a huge fan and have attended two seminars with him. It changed my life,” she said.

It’s all about psychology and energy that one absorbs, according to Lindgren. The rider said she used to get very nervous for a race and almost freak out. She also claims she felt bad after racing with headaches and no energy in her body.

Lindgren admits she still gets butterflies in her stomach before a race, but said she is now more focused and knows how to better handle her feelings.

“My body now feels great after,” she noted.

Afton Fair RUS Conditions Announced, Entries Due July 3

This race's winner circle leadline presentation is sponsored by 
T&K Harrington LLC.

Afton Fair RUS Conditions 

Entries will be taken by RUS New York via email or text and must be submitted by 9:30 p.m. Friday, July 3. Email: rusnewyorkseries@gmail.com text: (607) 643-8047. You will get a confirmation email or text back. You can also call the number if you do not have email or text.

Purse: No less than $800 to be distributed evenly. Winner will also get halter and leadline. 

Anybody entering the fairgrounds must pass a temperature check and sign a Covid release. 

Horses must have rabies and coggins and be checked in with secretary no later than 15 minutes before the noon time post no matter when the race is scheduled. Rider waiver, W-9(s) and purse authorization must be turned in the day of the race NO EXCEPTIONS! Nobody should get on a horse until paperwork is handed in. 

No entry fee 

Riders and horses do not need to be qualified as this is being held as an exhibition race.  Please be responsible and ride and practice as much as possible before the race to make for safe racing. Entries can be denied at the discretion of the race secretary or RUS NY Committee. 

Riders must wear helmet, safety vest, colors and proper boots at all times while on a horse. 

Horse Eligibility Requirements

All horses participating in RUS events must be registered with either the United States Trotting Association or Standardbred Canada in the name of the current owner. No horse under the age of three shall be eligible to start, however horses older than 14 will be permitted.

Horses that plan on racing under saddle must have RUS electronic eligibilities activated prior to entering for any RUS event. This is in addition to the eligibility they hold for regular harness events.Pacers and trotters will race together 

Required Equipment

(a)  Bridle with bit and overcheck.

(b)  Rubber racing, Ladder reins or Double “French” reins.

(c)  Crupper.

(d)  English, monte, or jockey saddle. Overgirth on saddle with only one billet.

(e)  Breast collar or buxton.

(f)  Appropriate saddle pad.

(g)  Head numbers, head poles, line poles and two-ring martingales are prohibited.  Line burrs are now allowed 

(h)  Securing the rider to the saddle and/or the legs or feet of the rider in the stirrups, including but not limited to tying the stirrups to the girth, banding the feet in the stirrups is prohibited. 

*** hobbles are allowed 

RUS NY Won’t Be Hosting Fair Series, But Has One Fair On Board To Race

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the RUS NY Fair Series is cancelled for 2020.  However, we are happy to announce at least one fair will be hosting a race and conditions are set. 

“The shutdowns due to the virus have caused countless disappointing consequences, and that is an understatement,” said the organization’s president Cathy Gearwar. 

She said members of the RUS New York Management Committee have decided to take this year and focus on fundraising to make sure a complete series can happen in 2021. The management committee will help to plan races if venues are still interested in having races on an individual basis but cannot guarantee rider and horse availability. 

“The plan for this year is to only hold races being funded by the host track and save our funds for next year so we can have a series and satisfy our commitments to our sponsors,” explained Gearwar, who is also the group’s sponsorship director. 

“Fundraising and sponsorships are more important than ever because once racing is back the funds need to be there to continue and we cannot rely on getting the New York Sire Stakes grant funds that we normally receive,” she continued. “We thank everyone who has supported us and appreciate your patience and understanding through this all.” 

Sponsors who have already supported the group are posted on the RUS NY website, rus-newyork.com, with most having links to their website or Facebook pages. For more information on sponsorship opportunities please visit: http://rus-newyork.com/become-a-sponsor/. 

“We really need to use this year to rebuild and try to get new blood interested in the sport,” Gearwar said. “We cannot give up and look at it as a total wash out year. We would love to network and help out anyone who would be interested in getting licensed and try it out.” 

On a more positive note, RUS NY has been able to work with race secretaries at Afton Fair to still be able to put on a race on Thursday, July 9.  It will be held as an exhibition race. The conditions can be found at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tRlxBoekNgcDqz9_qE_4ZN8zyN86jx4BlSFHz_4Sw7A/edit?usp=sharing. 

The group is holding a raffle to help raise funds for the 2021 season. Winners will be drawn in October via Facebook Live. Date and time TBA at a later date and the video will be left on the RUS New York Series Facebook page for all to be able to view. All prizes are good through 2021. Names will be drawn for the amount of prizes offered. Once the drawing is done the president will call each individual to choose one of the prizes. Then the next person will be called and so on. Tickets can be purchased from riders or online at https://rafflecreator.com/pages/37801/rus-ny-fundraising-raffle?fbclid=IwAR2oEiTlkMi8cwSwBms4mgTHNNoel0lK0EGKj3ydwGm3k3HGnb4hTLsgWqg. 

Plans For Uncertainties Announced

RUS New York is facing the same unknowns as the rest of the world because of forced cancelations caused by the Coronavirus.  At this time, there is no way to know if there will be a racing season or not. There is a lot still up in the air, as some things have been put on hold. 

Will there be fairs? If not, will the racing season still go on? Will some of the season be canceled instead of all of it? 

The future of the 2020 RUS NY Fair Series largely depends on the existence of county fair harness racing and grant money provided by the organizations’s flagship sponsor, the New York Sire Stakes and Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund. 

“We are considering all options for saving the season or some part of it, but also considering what to do if canceled,” said Kelly Young Executive Director of the Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund. 

She said there are still plans to review the RUS NY grant needed to host the series, but at a later date. For now, grants and the publication of the fair book is on hold, according to Young. She said, “Because we are the epicenter, all these decisions may be made for us.”

“If the grant does not get approved, there will be no racing series,” RUS NY Marketing Director and Treasurer Michelle Miller said.  "A couple of individual races at fairs that do open may be possible in this event, determined on a case by case basis.”

According to Miller, the most important thing right now is to make sure RUS NY sponsors know they will be taken care of no matter what happens. 

Committee members held a meeting in early April to form a plan. If the season is canceled all sponsorships will be transferred to the following season. Sponsorships get added to the RUS NY website as the group receives funds so sponsors will actually be advertised longer if this is the case, she explained. If only some races are cut, sponsors will be included in that many races in 2021. Winner circle leadline sponsors will be transferred to the following season or possibly be allowed to switch to available races not spoken for if available.   

Questions about sponsorship for this year can be sent to Director of Sponsorships Cathy Gearwar at fourgears@shoreham.net or through the Facebook page, RUS NY Series. 

“We will take care of our sponsors,” Gearwar said. “They are essential to our existence.”

Sponsors can be found at http://rus-newyork.com/sponsorship-fundraising/our-2020-sponsors/. Most logos are linked to the sponsor’s direct website or Facebook page. Please show your support! 

RUS NY is also looking for items for an online raffle, keeping in mind the drawing will be done in the fall. Items should be easily mailable and good through 2021. The deadline is May 31. Contact Gearwar for more information. 

BECOMING A SPONSOR: 

For as little as $200, sponsors will be put in all forms of promotion that we do for the season. This includes being featured in all fair race programs (generally parimutuals will include a page of our sponsors as well) and much more. The earlier one gets on board, the more exposure one will receive.

What you get for your buck:

Just for donating you will be provided advertisement on our website. 

For just $200 or more you will get a mention in all promotions such as race programs. (200 copies are printed for each fair) 

For $500 or more you will be provided everything above as well as a feature spot on our homepage and inclusion on a bucket to be used as a prize throughout the season. 

We will link your website or Facebook page to any ad on our website if provided

There will be limited opportunity to become a sponsor for a winner’s circle presentation. This offering will be done on a first-come, first-served basis. Sponsors will have their info printed on a lead line to be handed out after each race. A group photo is taken with the lead line being presented and an announcement is made on the sponsor’s behalf. Please visit
www.rus-newyork.com for more information. 

It is not always feasible to donate money and RUS NY more than happily accepts product donations that can be used for prizes or fundraising purposes. 

RUS NY Meeting to Focus on Uncertainties Being Caused By Coronavirus

Like so many others, committee members of RUS New York are preparing and navigating through this uncertain time created by Coronavirus (COVID-19). 

While many things are being canceled, some being rescheduled out as far as September, the reality is we cannot be sure our racing season will be held as planned. For now, everyone in the state is being told to stay home unless it is for “essential” reasons and the reality is this probably is not going away anytime soon even if the president loosens up restrictions. New York is being hit hard. 

We will be holding a meeting at 6 p.m. Sunday, April 5 via Facebook video chat to discuss these uncertainties and plans moving forward. If there is anyone that would like to get involved and is not on the video chat group already please contact RUS NY President Cathy Gearwar at fourgears@shoreham.net or call (802) 537-2145. She may also be able to arrange alternate ways of being involved if Facebook is not an option. 

It may seem like the least important time to get involved, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. We will need the support and commitment to the group more now than ever. Please get involved and we appreciate any support during these times. We thank all our fans and supporters and hope you and your families are staying safe. We hope to see you out at our events sooner rather than later! 

Officers Elected to Management Committee, Participation Needed

Going into the new year, RUS New York plans to focus on recruiting new participants and start back up from its roots as it was difficult to get enough officers to stay in existence.  

Cathy Gearwar, who has been a part of the organization for two years, will take on the lead role of president giving Michelle Miller some time off from the duties. Gearwar will remain the sponsorship director and help with website and Facebook postings. Miller will be staying on as an officer, accepting the position as treasurer and helping with fair planning, marketing and promoting the versatility of the breed. 

David Fisher will begin his second year as vice president providing guidance as a non-rider and someone who has worked in the standardbred industry for more than 35 years, including experience as a race judge. 

Kara Duh will remain the secretary of the organization. Also in her second year, she will continue to be the director of membership. 

Officers and directors were voted on at the December meeting. Directors will be Hillary Hartnett and two more non-riders, Hannah Miller and Russell Hoagland. Hannah Miller will serve as entry clerk like in year’s past unless otherwise noted. 

Gearwar said with a lack of rider participation in 2019 the goal will be to still offer a fair series, but to cut back on the number of fairs in hopes of offering fuller fields for more exciting racing. This will be decided based on miles being driven by committed riders, not having more than one race a week and funding. 

At the last meeting, according to Michelle Miller, members agreed to make sure every horse will get at least $100 in purse money to participate to help cover travel costs and perhaps encourage participation as long as the funding is available. The rest of the purse funds would be distributed based on where the horse places like in the past, she said, noting this would require larger purses. 

The hope is to be able to offer another rider challenge, but it will not be able to be as grand as last year’s, she said, adding more information will be provided once funding is secured. 

“We have parimutual tracks on board that are willing to host races, but we need to know we can fill fields before putting the cart before the horse,” Gearwar said. “We really need new blood to be successful. And not just to ride, but to get involved as members, be active in the group’s fundraising and meetings so things can run smoothly.”

Pacers are now allowed to race under saddle and will be allowed to participate in the fair series. 

“With the addition of pacers the possibility of more than one race held at a given fair or track increases,” Gearwar said. “Hopefully this addition will make it easier for riders to get mounts and increase participation and interest in the sport as there are more pacers on the tracks and they can generally be purchased for less money than trotters.”

RUS New York is required to have seven members on its Management Committee. 

Duties of the those on the Management Committee shall be to:

• Provide leadership and strategic direction for the organization.
• Ensure that an organization remains accountable to its donors and to the general public.
  
• Evaluate financial policies, approve annual budgets, and review periodic financial reports to ensure that the organization has the necessary resources to carry out its mission.
• To act as lesions to our members and represent their best interest when voting.
  

Directors are expected to actively participate in organizational planning and decision-making and to make sound and informed judgments. When acting on behalf of the organization, directors must put the interests of the Group before any personal or professional concerns and avoid potential conflicts of interest.

An information group has been made on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/rusny1/ for networking and getting important notifications to those wanting to race. For more information on the organization including race dates and more, visit rus-newyork.com. 

RUSNY needs more rider involvement to succeed and grow. If you are interested contact Gearwar at 802-537-2145 or email rusnewyorkseries@gmail.com. 

RUS NY Seeks Sponsors & Product

RUS New York highly relies on sponsorship funds to be a success. The organization is reaching out for support before the race season begins so that businesses and individuals get the most out of their buck. 

Where else can one get so much advertisement and promotion for so little money? The answer is nowhere. 

For as little as $200, sponsors will be put in all forms of promotion that we do for the season. This includes being featured in all fair race programs (generally parimutuals will include a page of our sponsors as well) and much more. The earlier one gets on board, the more exposure one will receive.

What you get for your buck:

• Just for donating you will be provided advertisement on our website. 
• For just $200 or more you will get a mention in all promotions such as race programs. (200 copies are printed for each fair) 
• For $500 or more you will be provided everything above as well as a feature spot on our homepage and inclusion on a bucket to be used as a prize throughout the season. 
• We will link your website or Facebook page to any ad on our website if provided

There will be limited opportunity to become a sponsor for a winner’s circle presentation. This offering will be done on a first-come, first-served basis. Sponsors will have their info printed on a lead line to be handed out after each race. A group photo is taken with the lead line being presented and an announcement is made on the sponsor’s behalf.

It is not always feasible to donate money and RUS NY more than happily accepts product donations that can be used for prizes or fundraising purposes. 

The organization is in the midst of putting together a raffle where tickets will be sold throughout the season to maximize profit. There will be multiple names drawn, so the goal is to have at least three donations. A couple of big ticket items would really help this fundraiser become a success. A May 31 deadline has been set so tickets can be made in time for the race season. Keep in mind the drawing will be done in the fall, probably at our fair final or shortly after, so gift certificates ect. need to be good after that time.

Why support RUS NY?

• Because we are about more than just racing. RUS NY was created to help promote the versatility of the breed and to organize and promote under saddle races for Standardbreds across the state of New York including fairs. Our group promotes the Standardbred breed as a riding and sport horse, beyond just the sport of racing. One of our goals is to show people how versatile the horses are and help rehome them once their racing careers are done.  
• Because the sport allows women and men from all different equestrian disciplines to have the opportunity to participate and it helps attract some fresh fans to the sport of harness racing.
• The sport and group offers a second career for Standardbreds by providing horses that may not make enough or fit classes at the tracks with another use for owners. Retired horses can continue racing in this discipline as long as they can meet qualifying standards. 

RUS NY also has a link, http://www.rus-newyork.com/sponsorship-fundraising.html,  where donations can be made via PayPal. For more information, contact RUS NY President and Sponsor Director, Cathy Gearwar at fourgears@shoreham.net or (802) 537-2145.