Carter Dalgety chats USA

“It’s very different and it’s taken a while to adjust. I probably haven’t fully adjusted yet but I’m getting the hang of it. It’s becoming quite enjoyable,” was New Zealand Junior reinsman Carter Dalgety’s comment about his experience in harness racing in America when I spoke to him recently.

Dalgety is in the States after receiving the Valachi Downs Young Scholarship Award.

The scholarship awards $15,000 to help individuals under the age of 35 progress their careers in the equine industry and is supported by the New Zealand Equine Research Foundation in partnership with the Valachi Downs Stud and the Hickman family.

He’s based at champion driver and kiwi Dexter Dunn’s place at Allentown, New Jersey.

“Living with him is pretty good but he’s travelling most days because racing at this time of year is just crazy for them (drivers).”

Since there, Dalgety has been visiting plenty of stables to get an insight into how the Americans train, and so far has visited the establishments of Niffy Norman, Trond Smedshammer and Ron Burke.

“Pretty much whoever rings up, I’m there. I’ve got a few more to visit this week.”

Dalgety is keen to learn about the way the Americans prepare their two-year-olds.

“I’ve driven mainly two-year-olds at the qualifiers. It’s amazing to see, from when they’re bought at the sales to when they go to qualifiers. They have very few days off. They don’t turn them out like we do downunder.”

He’s also learning a lot about the way they rig up young horses.

“They probably use the same gear as we use at home but probably use it a wee bit more aggressively. They use block blinds quite a lot which you don’t see in New Zealand much because we run over longer distances. Things like two poles and no boots as well.”

Getting a license to drive was straightforward and Dalgety only had to get a clearance from HRNZ.

“I’ve been licensed in Pennsylvania which has three or four tracks and in New Jersey as well. It’s a different process for each State but it’s been pretty smooth so far. Just a bit of paperwork. Nothing too silly.”

Since being in America Dalgety has had six race day drives for two wins and he’s had twelve drives in the qualifiers.

“A qualifier is like a race for no money if that makes sense. It’s not like our trials at home where they dawdle around and run home. It’s a pretty full-on mile and they still run good times. It’s good to get that experience because it’s so similar to a race.”

Both of Dalgety’s race day winners have been for ex-pat kiwi Chris Ryder.

“I’ve had two drives for him for two wins which has been great.”

Dalgety says his colours are very similar to those he uses in New Zealand, the only difference being his white sleeves that have been changed to maroon with white cuffs and a white collar.

He says there’s racing almost every day and the schedule is a busy one.

STONEBRIDGE REEF REPLAY

“It’s pretty full on. The travelling to the tracks from Dexter’s place to Chester or Harrah’s is a bit over an hour. Today we’re at Pocono Downs which is about two hours. On Thursday we’ve got Chester during the day then we drive to Yonkers which is a few hours. You spend a fair bit of time on the road so there’s not a lot of downtime.”

With nine horse fields and racing over a mile the style of racing in America is completely different to New Zealand.

“There are very few similarities. I’d call it the total opposite. The biggest change is driving in single file the whole way. Here (America) they give everyone a lot of room because the carts are a bit wider and they’re going quicker. In New Zealand we race extremely tight. Last night we went 1-48 and we were humming. The pace never slackens. In New Zealand we burn out of the gate then back off for a half or a couple of quarters.”

Carter is still adjusting to the way the American drivers lean back in the cart.

“It’s a lot harder than what I thought. It might come with time. I talked to a few of the other drivers, and they said when they first started it took quite a while to get the hang of it. After a few more races it might come naturally but if not, it’s not the end of the world.”

Dalgety plans to stay in the US for another two months.

“I’m definitely tempted to stay on but I have a lot of nice drives at home that are coming up in Cup Week. Horses like All You Need Is Me and Krug. We’ve got a couple of nice two-year-olds and it’s hard to let go when you’re right there. I’ll definitely go back, that’s for sure.”

Currently Dalgety has a three-win buffer from Sam Thornley in the New Zealand Junior Drivers Premiership but that will no doubt change during Carter’s absence.

“I think Sam will be too good this year.”

He says he’s not missing New Zealand too much. “Just a few of my mates.”

On the social front when he does get some downtime, he enjoys a beer called Fresh Wave.

“There’s a lot of Corona and Stella Artois. I had a couple of Bud Lights the other day. They weren’t too bad. There’s plenty on offer.”

Plenty on offer in terms of harness racing in the States for Dalgety too, which should stand him in good stead for his future career.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink