by Chris Lomon

It certainly isn’t like trying to pull teeth when asking 19-year-old Wyatt Long to talk horses and horse racing.

He comes from one of Delaware and Maryland’s most successful standardbred racing families, a respected name in the harness racing game for decades.

And while his own career is still in its early stages, Long, who balances a busy life as a trainer and catch driver with a full-time equine veterinarian job, is already tracking success on the dirt oval.

He’s picking up momentum and attention for his efforts in the race bike and he recently added a personal milestone to his racing resume when he recorded his first training win with 4-year-old mare Imnotforeveryone.

The triumph was a trifecta of sorts, considering Long owns and pilots the daughter of Racing Hill.

Add the fact that Imnotforeveryone, bred by Wayne and Linda Shaffer, came into her 34th start without having made a trip to the winner’s circle, and the victory was that much sweeter.

After getting away third in the race at Shenandoah Downs on May 13, Long and his pacing partner took the lead at the stretch call and went on to secure a three-quarter length score in a time of 1:59.2.

The Delaware native felt confident both he and his charge could break their respective maidens when they were in front by a length heading for home.

Having no one in front of them at crunch time was the ideal position for the duo to be in, recalled Long.

“She isn’t one for passing horses,” he said with a laugh. “But I had a good feeling she could win the race when the draw came out. I figured it could be the one. It was a great feeling. I was glad to get it out of the way so that I could focus on winning the next one. She isn’t the most talented horse by any means, but she certainly stands out a lot to me now because it was my first training win.”

There have been other special horses for Long over the years, including a son of Art Official who has nearly 200 career starts to his name.

“I’ve had a connection to some really nice ones,” Long said. “Dragon Strikes, I haven’t seen him race in a while, but he was one who helped me learn a lot in the short time we had him. One we have now, Ginger Tree Finny [a bay son of Captaintreacherous], he’s another one who I built a strong connection with. We’ve had some good trotters over the years, but I would say those two stand out the most to me.”

Although he still works in his father Wayne’s barn, Wyatt has branched out over the past couple of years, chasing his own success, both driving and training.

“I’ve been working for my dad since I was old enough to hold a pitchfork,” Wyatt said. “I’ve been in the business my whole life, so I felt the time had come to go out on my own. I’m still learning a lot from my dad. He told me that in this business you will only get results if you are willing to put in the effort. And that’s what I’ve always done.”

Wyatt’s top priority each morning is to make sure he comes into a barn of contented pacers and trotters.

It’s the same objective whenever he heads home every night.

“I want every horse to be happy,” he said. “When you have a happy horse, you have good horses. I want them to know that they are cared for, and we have their best interest at heart.”

Something that he is also able to show through his equine dentistry work.

When he isn’t helping out his father or sitting behind a horse, Wyatt is a fixture in several barns and other spots, a well-respected and in-demand tooth specialist.

“I went to school in Florida,” Wyatt said. “Since the start of this year, I’ve been non-stop, going barn to barn. I’ve worked on around 250 horses since the middle of February. You really get to understand just how important it is for horses to have healthy, strong teeth. So, it’s a busy life, but a good one. Having the full-time dentistry job has been great, and so is working to educate myself more and more on the racing side of things.”

When he’s not learning more about the standardbred ropes, he’s honing his roping skills in a much different arena.

On Saturdays and Sundays, Wyatt can be found competing in team and calf roping. His talents will take him to several places in the northeastern U.S. when he saddles up as a professional in PRCA (professional rodeo cowboy association) events.

Wyatt, who once participated in youth and junior rodeo ranks and also took part in National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA) competitions, will be on the road from May until September.

“I’m usually working with the racehorses during the week and then it’s the rodeo on the weekends,” he said. “It kind of gets my mind off everything and relax from the racing. It’s something I’ve always enjoyed doing and it does help you unwind. And when I’m done on the weekends, it’s back to the racing. I’ve always been a person who isn’t happy doing just one thing. I like to have a lot going on.”

As for the harness racing world, Wyatt will look to raise his profile as a catch driver.

While that means logging a lot of hours on the road, he’s certainly up for the challenge, and grateful for the opportunities that come his way.

“I’m really just getting things underway with the driving,” Wyatt said. “I was at Rosecroft at the end of the winter last year. I went to Shenandoah as well and right now, I’m at Ocean City. I’m still in the amateur club, but I’m picking up drives there and keeping the trainers happy, which is the most important thing. I’m getting more drives each week, so that’s been good to see. By the end of the year, I’d like to get out of the amateur ranks and to get overnight drives.”

What does Wyatt see as his best skill in the sulky?

Spoiler alert: it’s about going as fast as possible without getting flustered.

“I’ve definitely been able to slow the race down in my head,” he said. “At first, everything seemed so fast, but I’ve been able to slow it down and make better moves, to give the horse the best chance to succeed. You might go in with a plan, but I drive the horse the best way I can, to give them the best trip I can.”

He does it all with a familiar look, an homage to his famous horse racing family.

“My colors are blue, gold and tan, which come from my grandfather. The design is the same as my dad’s and my uncle’s. I just wanted to be able to show how much their support has meant to me and I want to carry on what they have done for the sport. Our family, at one time, was one of the biggest families in racing throughout Delaware and Maryland. Their knowledge has been so helpful, and it helps me get better each race. They always watch every race, and they always have my back.”

It’s one of many thoughts Wyatt carries with him whenever he lines a horse up behind the starter car.

He’s optimistic about what the future holds for him.

“I love the sport and I love the horses,” he said. “I’m just going to keep learning as much as I can, work as hard as I can, and do what it takes to be successful. I know I have a lot of people in my corner, which means the world to me.”