A conversation with Michelle Clarke, DVM

In covering last week’s National Standardbred Horse Show, there were participants from all walks of life both in and out of harness racing.

One participant whom I found to be especially interesting with a deep insight into many different facets of our grand sport was Veterinarian Michelle Clarke.

Harnesslink now shares this insight with our interview with the great doctor as she covers a rich variety of interesting topics…

Harnesslink (HL): We were pleasantly surprised to see your name as a participant in this year’s National Standardbred Horse Show. What has spawned your interest in this show?

Michelle Clarke (MC): Well, this was the 30th anniversary of the grand event and, since I attended one of the original shows, I wanted to participate in this historical anniversary event.

(HL); So, you have experience in competing in these competitions?

(MC): Oh, yes! I used to compete extensively and in a wide range of events including Dressage, Combined Training and Driving, Pleasure Shows, Gymkhana, Racing Under Saddle…

(HL): Let me stop you for a second…I plead ignorance…I don’t know about Gymkhana.

(MC): Gymkhana consists of speed pattern racing and timed games for the riders, many involving children or beginners.

(HL): And you have participated in all of these?

(MC): Yes, you name it…I’ve tried it…and many of my “partners” in these events were standardbred horses. This, of course, was before my studies to become a veterinarian but, before that, this was my whole life!

(HL): I’m told Vet school is not easy.

(MC): Correct, Veterinary school is very difficult, and I had to put competing “to the side” to focus on my career but I REALLY missed competing, and, in 2015, I decided to get back in the saddle and challenge myself.

(HL): How so?

(MC): I challenged myself to train an unridden standardbred in 30 days or less with a goal of competing on a national level.

(HL): Knowing you, it’s apparent you were successful.

(MC): Yes, since then, I have successfully competed in the SPHO (Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization) National Show with several standardbreds, including Berto Adalina, College Major, Best Connection, Phoenician, Glide In The Wind and, this year, Rockette Baby.

(HL): I am familiar with many of these…some winners at Pompano Park like Glide In The Wind, College Major and Phoenician. You know Bruce Ranger and Mary Beth had one in the show—actually, they had three—one was a 15-year-old that is still racing at the fairs in Maine that won a whole bunch of ribbons…pretty fantastic.

(MC): My entry this year, Rockette Baby, is still racing and will be in-to-go soon—if not already!

(HL): How do you train a horse for its “second career?” It seems like a daunting task.

(MC): In every case, I give myself 30 days—MAX—to train them under saddle and/or in harness to compete in the National Show. Most of my horses have been ridden 10 times or less when they step into competition on day one of a show.

(HL): This really shows the agility and versatility of the standardbred.

(MC): Yes, it does…and that’s my goal…to showcase how amazingly versatile they can be and how quickly they learn. Every one of the horses that I chose had another “profession” and all quickly adapted to the pleasure show in a matter of days.

(HL): And they won some awards!

(MC): Absolutely, not only did they compete, which is amazing in itself, but some won classes and achieved Division Champion and Reserve accolades.

(HL): To me, this shows that there is a viable alternative to the “kill pen” and strongly believe our horses deserve that second chance, instead of being “thrown away like a banana peel!”

(MC): That’s a pretty stark way to put it—but a necessary one—and my hope is to help the entire standardbred breed become successful in second careers. I really believe that the sky in the limit!

(HL): This show had something for everyone and every horse…with well over 100 classes for exhibitors. To us, that was remarkable.

(MC): Oh, yes! Just as there are condition sheets for racehorses at the tracks, this show had a “condition sheet,” so to speak, for “rookies, novice and senior” for the horses along with “fresh off the track and war horse” divisions based on their experience on track. And, of course, there were rider classifications, as well like “Junior” and “Senior.” There was something for everybody and every horse!

(HL): Well, you, yourself, have covered many of these classes…What are your favorite classes?

(MC): Rookie and Fresh Off The Track and Warhorse divisions were my choices this year. It does my heart so much good to see those war horses’ step into the competition and perform so beautifully. It does my heart really good!

(HL): So, talk to me about this year’s racehorse, Rockette Baby.

(MC): Rockette Baby is an eight-year-old gelding owned by Bradley Jackson and Cynthia Nostro. He’s won close to a quarter million (dollars) (Eds. Note: $244,139) and has a mark of 1:50.3. He raced on August 31 this year and I got him on September 8.

(HL): That’s not much time to get him ready…

(MC): I started him with a day of lunging and followed by a week of riding and one single session of driving.

(HC): And you were then off to Allentown?

(MC): We were then off to Allentown, New Jersey to see how he would fare.

(HL): How’d he do?

(MC): He was entered in 11 classes. He “pinned” in every class, won twice and was second on five other occasions. I was very proud of his performance, especially considering that many of the classes had 30 or more competitors.

(HL): Anything that really was considered THE highlight for you?

(MC): There were two things…so I had to considered it a “dead-heat” for my top two highlights. First, in the “Pacing For The Cure Challenge,” there were 33 entries. It was split into two random divisions with the top eight from each division invited back for the championship round. This was an Open Class with seasoned, professional horses and riders competing alongside my “rookie.” HE FINISHED SECOND!!!!! It was, definitely, a shining moment of the weekend…SECOND!

(HL): Sounds like two eliminations divisions of The Hambletonian and then coming back for the final!

(MC): It was a shining moment of the weekend.

(HL): And the other?

(MC): The other was the “War Horse” division. There were over 40 entries inn that one with the “conditioned sheet” reading “winners over $250,000 lifetime or 100 starts!”

(HL): And?

(MC): WE WON! Classes included “in-Hand,” “2-Gait Pleasure” and “3-Gait Pleasure” and Driving.” We competed against a very well known, seasoned entry (from MMXX Standardbreds) and, I will tell you, it’s just an honor to compete with them…never-mind to stand toe-to-toe with them…and we were crowned Reserve Champion of the division

(HL): And that’s against over 40 entries!

(MC): Yes, and again, we were crowned Reserve Champion…so, it was a “dead-heat” as far as highlights went over the weekend.

(HL): So, this National Standardbred Horse Show really puts the breed in the limelight and puts the spotlight on the show ring stead of the racetrack!

(MC): Absolutely, every single competitor in this show is an elite competitor and deserves all of the accolades for the time and effort each one puts into the preparation for this show. They are all truly amazing athletes—both human and equine.

(HL): Tell me something…You are recognized as a wonderful, caring veterinarian that has helped countless people and horses through their trying times in your veterinary practice…yet you have taken time to take up this cause when they are finished with their racing careers—if, even, they have had one.

(MC): My goal is to show that the standardbred is a “diamond in the rough” and deserves to have a life as long as possible giving joy to everyone that is lucky enough to have one. You had a column not too long ago about “throwing away the banana peel” after a racing career is over. In my eyes, this is a tragedy These great horses can become a successful pleasure competitor in just a matter of days with proper guidance and care.

(HL): It also lets you get back to your roots, a “bit!”

(MC): Even if it’s for just a few days a year. You know, my best friend, mentor and long time show partner Robyn Coffey passed away this year. It was she who put me on a standardbred when I was four years old. That’s exactly when the fire in my heart started for the standardbred and continues to and through this very moment. This is a bittersweet memory for me and my participation in this show this year—this 30th anniversary—was definitely in her memory.

(HL): Thank you so much, Michelle, for your time and insight into this grand National Standardbred Horse Show. It’s really wonderful to see the value of our great breed after their racing days are over and…IT SURE BEATS THE KILL PEN!

May The Horse Be With You!

by John Berry, for Harnesslink