The Horseman's Voice

The Amish Way

Most people do not know that Standardbred harness racing has been deeply intertwined with Amish horse culture for over a century. The horse in that sulky does not know it is a surprise. It just knows it is fast. 🐎❄️

The relationship between the Amish and the Standardbred horse is one of the most interesting and least discussed intersections of Amish life with the wider American world. The Standardbred the breed developed specifically for harness racing in nineteenth century America is the preferred driving horse of Old Order Amish communities across Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania, valued not for its racing history but for its calm temperament, its extraordinary endurance, and its natural inclination to trot and pace rather than break into a gallop under harness. A retired Standardbred racehorse, properly transitioned, makes one of the finest buggy horses available and the Amish have known this for generations, creating a symbiotic relationship with the harness racing industry that benefits both communities in practical and financial terms.

In settlements like Sugarcreek, this relationship extends beyond simply purchasing retired racers. Amish families have become involved in the breeding, training, and racing of Standardbreds at every level, operating training facilities and competing in harness racing circuits in ways that navigate the community's restrictions on modern technology with characteristic Amish pragmatism: a horse and a sulky are a horse and a sulky, whatever the context. The young trainer on the track this January morning is doing something his grandfather did and something his son will likely do — working a fast horse in cold air with the particular focused joy of a person whose skill and their animal's ability have found each other and discovered they are well matched. The gravel flies. The breath clouds trail. The horse knows it is fast. So does the man holding the lines. 💛🌾

Did you know about the deep connection between Amish communities and Standardbred horse racing? Tell us what surprises you most in the comments — and follow for more unexpected and fascinating glimpses into the full, layered world of Amish life. 👇

The Amish Way

Most people do not know that Standardbred harness racing has been deeply intertwined with Amish horse culture for over a century. The horse in that sulky does not know it is a surprise. It just knows it is fast. 🐎❄️

The relationship between the Amish and the Standardbred horse is one of the most interesting and least discussed intersections of Amish life with the wider American world. The Standardbred the breed developed specifically for harness racing in nineteenth century America is the preferred driving horse of Old Order Amish communities across Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania, valued not for its racing history but for its calm temperament, its extraordinary endurance, and its natural inclination to trot and pace rather than break into a gallop under harness. A retired Standardbred racehorse, properly transitioned, makes one of the finest buggy horses available and the Amish have known this for generations, creating a symbiotic relationship with the harness racing industry that benefits both communities in practical and financial terms.

In settlements like Sugarcreek, this relationship extends beyond simply purchasing retired racers. Amish families have become involved in the breeding, training, and racing of Standardbreds at every level, operating training facilities and competing in harness racing circuits in ways that navigate the community's restrictions on modern technology with characteristic Amish pragmatism: a horse and a sulky are a horse and a sulky, whatever the context. The young trainer on the track this January morning is doing something his grandfather did and something his son will likely do — working a fast horse in cold air with the particular focused joy of a person whose skill and their animal's ability have found each other and discovered they are well matched. The gravel flies. The breath clouds trail. The horse knows it is fast. So does the man holding the lines. 💛🌾

Did you know about the deep connection between Amish communities and Standardbred horse racing? Tell us what surprises you most in the comments — and follow for more unexpected and fascinating glimpses into the full, layered world of Amish life. 👇

READ THAT AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN

"Asking for a friend, so if Suburban Downs still has their license, does that mean that harness racing is still on at the end of the year and that a new entity can come in and buy Suburban Downs with a land purchase and open a new racetrack for now? That entity can then apply for dates by the end of the month and continue racing in January/February and maybe March 2027 and apply for also other dates in 2027 later in the season or potentially the ENTIRE YEAR!

Is there money sitting in the bank (180 Hawthorne LLC) and then the dark money for purses for the Standardbreds will open up and become available once racing starts in November, which would be a huge amount of money, in PURSES.

Now that the land has been sold, will it be partitioned off into the different entities and the racetrack could be made into its own area with a cheaper tax exposure?

Inquiring minds want to know!?!"

The Horseman's Voice

Asking for a friend, so if Suburban Downs still has their license, does that mean that harness racing is still on at the end of the year and that a new entity can come in and buy Suburban Downs with a land purchase and open a new racetrack for now? That entity can then apply for dates by the end of the month and continue racing in January/February and maybe March 2027 and apply for also other dates in 2027 later in the season or potentially the ENTIRE YEAR!

Is there money sitting in the bank (180 Hawthorne LLC) and then the dark money for purses for the Standardbreds will open up and become available once racing starts in November, which would be a huge amount of money, in PURSES.

Now that the land has been sold, will it be partitioned off into the different entities and the racetrack could be made into its own area with a cheaper tax exposure?

Inquiring minds want to know!?!

The Horseman's Voice

Dalai Lama

His Holiness the Dalai Lama enjoying the sunshine outside his residence, Shewatsel Phodrang, on the final full day of his two-and-a-half-month stay in Leh, Ladakh, India, on September 3, 2026. (Photo by Ven Tenzin Jamphel)

E = mc2

The Horseman's Voice

Hello Rusty Jones hmmmmmm

The Horseman's Voice

INTERNATIONAL AMISH APB

Paging “Richard” we’re all set for Sunday. Then tying up lose ends next Friday.

Thanks for the confirmation, sir.

The Horseman's Voice

More Gooder Band - MGB

The Horseman's Voice