Words from Harry Harvey, Part 1
by Murray Brown
One never knows where one will find treasure.
About two weeks ago, I was speaking with my friend Ellen Harvey. She happened to mention, “I came across the transcripts of two speeches that my dad delivered to the Connecticut Valley Trotting Association at the behest of his brother Steve in 1964 and 1965. Someday if you run out of topics for your column, you might want to use some of the information contained in his talks to these horsemen.”
That day arrived much quicker than expected, not necessarily because I had run out of topics, but because the treasures contained therein were too valuable not to be shared.
To those of you who might not know, Ellen’s father, Harry Harvey was a Hall of Fame horseman active and prominent in two métiers of harness racing, first as a trainer/driver, best known for his win in the 1953 Hambletonian behind Helicopter. Then as the farm manager of Delvin Miller’s Meadow Lands Farm, then back to his greatest love training, driving, and developing great harness horses, the best known being the world champion Albatross.
In his life at Meadow Lands Farm, Harry also wrote the chapter on farm management in the initial volume of The Care and Training of the Trotter and Pacer, in my opinion, still the greatest volume ever written on the sport of harness racing. If you are a harness racing devotee and have not as yet read it, you owe it to yourself to do so. This scribe makes it a habit to reread it every decade or so.
It is with his role as the farm manager of Delvin and Mary Lib Miller’s Meadow Lands Farm that this and next week’s discourse will cover. Harry’s thoughts, with almost no exceptions are just as valid today as when they were expressed over 70 years ago.
Before reviving Meadow Lands Farm, Delvin was likely the greatest all around horseman of his generation.
While in the breeding business, his most notable achievements were the acquisition of the horse that some consider to be the greatest sire ever, Adios, and the somewhat happenstance breeding of the perhaps equally great sire Meadow Skipper. All the while, he continued doing what he was likely most adept at in training and developing great harness horses.
Delvin is deservedly given most of the credit for the success of Adios and of Meadow Lands Farm. But he needed someone capable to perform the day-to-day travails which led to not only the success of Adios in the stud barn, but also to raising the innumerable champion racehorses that were bred and raised on the acreage of Meadow Lands and Bancroft Farms.
Delvin was exceptional at just about everything when dealing with the harness horse. An area where he particularly shone was in delegating responsibilities and in developing great horseman as well as great harness horses.
One of his very best pupils was Harry who along with stallioneer Buster Henry and his long-time secretary Gloria Likar took care of the day-to-day happenings at Meadow Lands Farm.
This and next week’s column will deal with some of Harry Harvey’s thoughts expressed in his addresses to the Connecticut horseman’s group back in 1964.
Here are 10 quotes from Harry:
1. “You should make sure your mares get plenty of good hay and enough grain to keep them in good condition. I do not like to see them overfat. Water should be available at all times… Bran is a good source of calcium and phosphorous, two of the elements so vital at this time. Turn the mare out several hours each day for exercise and sunshine.”
2. “If you are having the mare foal at your farm, it is wise to consult your veterinarian in advance. Make sure he will be available for foaling if necessary. When things go wrong, you will need help – fast! In the great majority of cases, no help is needed. Overindulgence in proceedings does more harm than good.”
3. “We think its most beneficial for the mare [and her foal] to get her out every day after foaling. I know you have some bad days in winter up here, but if you make a sincere effort, you’ll find at least a few minutes a day that are decent.”
4. “We examine the mare on the eighth day [after foaling]. If she is clinically alright, we start teasing. We have found since having [their] ovaries palpated, that most mares will ovulate on the 11th day.”
5. “A good teasing program is most important. A knowledge of a mare’s habits is a big help.”
6. “Our main interest is the foal. He will be putting on weight every day. We halter our foals the next day after birth and lead them alongside the mare to and from the paddock. We find this is the best way to halter break them. It also keeps them from wandering into trouble as they are apt to do when the mare is being led.”
7. “We start worming at two months of age and follow this up with monthly treatment. You will find if you are running many horses, some sort of regular worming program is a must – pasture rotation helps.”
8. «We start trimming the foal’s feet at two months, sooner if necessary. The feet should be trimmed every six weeks.”
9. “All our yearlings are raised in loose housing arrangements – that is NO STALLS, unless they are sick or injured. We have turned out a high percentage of racehorses from every crop using this method. Keep plenty of good hay in front of them. If your hay isn’t good enough, get rid of it, and get the very best you can afford.”
10. “Good pasture is a must for all classes of livestock. Test your soil and make friends with your county agent. Pasture clipping and drag harrowing are two very beneficial practices.”
