by Victoria Howard

When Angela Boan was growing up in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the then 21-year-old met her soon-to-be ex-husband whose family was involved in harness racing. Being a novice to the sport, Boan quickly fell in love with the animal and the game.

In 2001, Boan accompanied her husband to America where he was set to drive an Argentinian horse at Pompano Park in south Florida, but due to political problems, the horse was not allowed to be transported and could not be shipped.

When the couple arrived in Florida, they were introduced to the owner of Kosmos Farm, and were offered jobs. Several years later, Boan’s father-in-law was involved in a tragic horse accident and suffered brain damage. Sadly, he succumbed to his injuries. To honor him, Boan and her then husband, used their entire savings to bring that horse, named Elaine T Cronos, to the United States to compete in the races.

“That was the beginning of my career working with standardbreds,” Boan said. “From there my husband and I built a small stable; owning and training our own horses.

“In 2010, we re-located to The Meadows Racetrack, located in Washington, PA, for we thought it would be a good place to settle down and raise a family. It was, and we remained there until 2014 when unfortunately, the stress of working alongside my husband 24/7, then bringing home our troubles from the barn, took its toll and we divorced.”

Couples and partners who work side-by-side every day can find it difficult and may lead to “everyday aggression.”

When training with her ex-husband, they had a horse named All Heart Gal, who opened up a whole new world to Boan.

“We traveled with her to New Jersey and Pennsylvania,” she said. “For the past 10 years I have worked intermittently at the Tim Twaddle stable, where I currently am employed today. I also worked for trainers Sarah Andrews, Mike Palone, Bruce Riegel and Dan Altmeyer, in the past. All these incredible trainers taught me something I take with me today.

“Presently there are around 25 to 30 horses in the Tim Twaddle barn, and we all work together as a team. Although I don’t personally own any horses, each horse I care for are like mine.”

Boan said her barn time begins early.

“We start our day between 5:30 and 6 by feeding breakfast, giving them hay and fresh water,” she said. “While they are enjoying their morning meal, I begin cleaning the stalls and water buckets before getting the horses hooked up to train or jog.

“When the horse is finished exercising, I bathe him and put him away. Most of my horses are babies [2-year-olds] and are getting ready to qualify soon. They train often, educating and preparing them to do what they were born to do, race.

Boan said she enjoys being around the horses and feels honored that she gets to be with them every day, taking care and loving them.

“It’s not an easy job, that’s for sure, and you have to love them; if you don’t, you shouldn’t be in it,” she said. “Horses are not robots, but instead, they are living, breathing animals who really want to please you. Of course, there are some difficult ones who like to test the waters, but that comes with the territory.

“I have found that if you are kind and loving to them, they will reciprocate. And to me, there is nothing more gratifying then when a horse you have had since he was a baby, grows up and makes it to the races. It’s like watching your child compete.”

Boan said she gets anxious when her horses race, because anything can happen on the racetrack.

“Recently, The Meadows lost one of harness racing’s rising stars, Hunter Myers, which devastated our racetrack family. The only good thing — if there is any that came out of this tragedy — was seeing how horsemen came together from all across the country to honor Hunter. It is so heartwarming to see everyone step up and support Hunter’s fiancée, and baby boy.

“Although he will never be forgotten, for Hunter was one of the kindest, funniest men I know, he died doing what he lived and breathed, racing standardbreds.”

When Boan first went to work in Twaddle’s barn, she was a rider, before shifting to being a caretaker.

“This is not a job to me, but what I love to do, and Tim made me feel like one of his family ever since day one and continues doing so,” she said. “They say that if you do something you truly love, it’s not a job, and that is so true.”

Although she cares about all of her horses, Boan said there a couple that stand out.

“As far as my favorite horses, I would have to say it’s Darling Corey and Perfectime Hanover, but I love each and every one,” she said. “I’m excited to see what 2025 brings, and like a nervous mother, I will be standing in the paddock impatiently pacing back and forth until the race is over and my horse is back in his stall safe and sound.

“My plans for the future are to continue doing what I love to do the most and spending time with my grandchildren, Eliana, Gianna, and Lorenzo.”