Harness racing is a unique event in which a horse pulls a driver seated in a two-wheeled cart — the driver-horse pair compete in various heats. Courtney Tauriainen, Alpena County Fair Board president, said that horses and drivers race at up to 40 miles per hour on the track.

The Alpena County Fair Board applied to host a harness racing competition through a lottery that the Michigan Harness Racing Association puts out each year, according to Tauriainen. She said the Alpena County Fair was chosen as a competition venue back in January.

She added that harness racing has a historic legacy to the fair.

“It’s a super historic event that the fair used to have,” Tauriainen said.

News Photo by Kayla Wikaryasz Drivers are seen being pulled by horses in Sunday’s harness race at the Alpena County Fair.

Tauriainen explained that the Alpena County Fair used to host harness racing events back in the 1970s and prior, when horses used to be kept in stalls under the grandstand. The horse stalls have since been replaced with areas where crafters and 4-H members can display their wares.

Though it has been about 50 years since harness racing has been hosted at the fair, echoes of the tradition run deep despite the event’s long absence.

“Harness racing is what put the Alpena Fair on the map,” Tauriainen said.

Tauriainen stated that she isn’t entirely sure why harness racing took a hiatus from the fair, but she said that the Alpena County Fair Board and the community are excited to have the event back on the track to reignite a bygone tradition.

“We’ve heard hundreds of stories of people with close connections with the track,” Tauriainen said. “We are excited to bring this back to the roots of the fair and how excited the community is about it.”

News Photo by Kayla Wikaryasz Competitors line up for a heat behind a car on the track during Sunday's harness racing event at the Alpena County Fair.

Tauriainen told The News that 114 horses competed in 13 heats in the race on Sunday. Horses and drivers came from all over the state to compete.

Though it has been some time since the track has been used for harness racing, the quality has not faltered.

Tauriainen stated that many drivers and members of the Michigan Harness Racing Association commented on the quality of the track, stating that it is one of the best tracks they’ve seen in the state.

Tauriainen said that she and the Alpena County Fair Board are optimistic about the future for the harness racing event since the association and the competitors expressed their approval of the track.

“If everything goes well, they’d like to come back,” Tauriainen said.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.