Two Danish drivers making trip to Big M for International Women’s Day races

Mariann Thorup Nielsen and Sabina Gammelgård have won races around the world, but never competed in the U.S. — until Saturday night (March 4). Nielsen and Gammelgård, both from Denmark, are among the harness racing drivers participating in races celebrating International Women’s Day at The Meadowlands.

The Big M is hosting two races Saturday (Mar. 4) with fields of all female drivers. The first, which is race two, is a $13,000 claiming handicap pace. The second, which is race four, is a $15,000 conditioned trot.

Nielsen and Gammelgård both will drive in the trot.

“Trotting horses are our life and this is a fantastic experience,” said Nielsen, who breeds and races horses with her husband, Theo Damsgaard. “The sport of trotting is fantastic for me. My grandfather and my father raced and had quite a few horses, so I was born into the sport.”

Nielsen got her license when she was 18 and several years later helped start under-saddle racing — known as Monté in Europe — in Denmark. She is the chairwoman of the Danish Monté Association and also serves on the board of the DTC, or Central Association of Danish Trotting, which is the sport’s highest organization in Denmark.

“Monte gives young girls the chance to try riding a trot, which probably seems easier for many girls than driving a trot,” Nielsen said. “It is incredibly important for our sport as it captures other target groups.

“It is incredibly exciting to be part of, to develop trotting, which is important so that we maintain the joy of the sport but also the financial aspect. It is important that we keep everyone in the sport — from the children’s pony trot, to the elite, and then all amateurs and Monté races.”

Among Nielsen’s top wins include an international women’s race at Solvalla Raceway in Sweden, as well as a triumph in an international women’s event in Malta.

“We go to the Elitlopp almost every year, so it was an indescribable experience to win at Solvalla,” Nielsen said. “Malta also was very special. We visited the president of Malta and she visited the racetrack to see the race. It was a great experience.

“All these experiences are special in their own way and the joy is equally great, but the acquaintances I meet on my travels mean an incredible amount to me.”

Nielsen and her husband met at Charlottenlund Racetrack, near Copenhagen, and have 13 horses at their farm.

“Bo Westergaard drives our better horses in the Great Races,” Nielsen said. “We look forward to new experiences in 2023 and hope our horses have a fantastic season and create many wonderful memories.”

Nielsen will drive Nylander for trainer Katricia Adams in Saturday’s trot. They will start from post five and are 9-2 on the morning line. Lauren Tritton will drive 3-1 favorite Harry Knows IR for her husband, trainer Shane Tritton.

Gammelgård, who got her license in 2008, has long been one of Denmark’s top riders — both trots and gallops — and has recently turned more of a focus on driving. As a rider, she has won more than 60 races, including memorable victories in Sweden and Bahrain, and received multiple awards.

In 2022, she visited Ontario to present a seminar on Monté, and riding in general.

“I used to be scared of driving races, but as I got my own horses, whom I trusted, I got braver,” Gammelgård said. “It gave me good experience. I realized it wasn’t the driving I was afraid of, it was the other people I was driving against. As I got more confident, that slipped away. I don’t feel any fear anymore. That is why I dared to do this.”

Gammelgård gained experience driving pacers while in Ontario, and hoped she would get to drive one at The Meadowlands.

“I thought pacers were great,” she said. “They’re so fast. It’s like they have two more gears.”

Gammelgård will drive Tad Krazy Hanover from post one on Saturday for trainer Per Engblom. They are 7-2 on the morning line.

“This is a great opportunity,” said Gammelgård, who is visiting the U.S. for the first time. “It’s going to be great fun. I don’t ever have expectations, except for the experience. Obviously, you always want to win. I’ll just do my best and we’ll see what happens.”

Racing at the Meadowlands begins at 6:20 p.m. (EST). Free TrackMaster programs for The Big M can be found here.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA