Harness racing insures challenges and excitement for Tom Svrcek

by Murray Brown

Tom Svrcek has been involved in a multitude of harness horse related activities. Among them have been as a breeder, an owner of a horse rehabilitation center, a trainer, a sometime driver and of course, an owner of several currently-racing horses, in addition to being a director of the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association(MSOA). It was prior to his attending a meeting of the MSOA that I caught up with him.

You’ve just returned from South Florida where your horses are stabled at Sunshine Meadows. How was your and the stable’s winter?

“We had a wonderful winter. The weather was glorious, especially so when you compare it to the rough climate experienced by most people up north. The horses trained well and we are looking forward to a good season of racing.”

Breeding, training, and driving harness horses is a second career for you. How did you get involved in the sport?

“I had an insurance agency about 20 miles from The Meadows. I sold it fairly recently and decided to devote most of my time to training and racing horses. The insurance agency, although a good way to make a living, was pretty boring. Racing horses on the other hand, although exciting, is not the means I’d choose if I were looking to make a good living. I enjoy the challenge in trying to develop a top trotter. Ironically, I believe the very first horse I bred and raised, a trotter by the name of Correctamundo was destined to become that ‘top trotter.’ As a 2-year-old he won in 1.55 when that meant something. Sadly, he died shortly thereafter. I’ve been chasing after that top horse ever since.”

You are different than most owners in the game in that you have transitioned from being someone who sat on the sidelines owning horses to being involved in choosing the ones you want to own, and training, breeding, and even driving them.

“I suppose that is the nature of the beast. I enjoy challenges and I love excitement. All of the above relate to both challenges and excitement.”

How is your stable presently comprised?

“We have 10 horses – all of them are trotters. We have four 2-year-olds as well as an equal number of 3-year-olds, plus two older horses. We now have them at my training center, which is in Belle Vernon, about 20 miles or so from The Meadows.”

Let’s start with the 2-year-olds. How are they doing?

“They all trained in the 2:20 range before we left Florida. The best in my estimation is a Greenshoe colt Flight Hanover who looks to my eyes to be better than average. The knock on the Greenshoes it seems to me is that they have speed, but you have to be careful with them because they can get hot. This colt has been perfect all winter. I’ve got my fingers crossed. I’m hoping that he could be the one. I’m guessing that there are many trainers who feel the same way. I suppose we will know soon enough.”

How about your 3-year-olds?

“We have one that I feel pretty good about. His name is R Tommy Collins. He is also a Greenshoe. He showed extra talent last year when training down, although like some of the others by Greenshoe, he was a bit of a head case. We brought him along fairly slowly and didn’t race him much. He took a record of 1.54.2 in winning a Pennsylvania Sires Stakes at Pocono Downs. He seems to have gotten over some of his problems and now appears to be perfectly mannered. I’m hopeful and very much looking forward to a great racing season. It’s almost that time of year and we should know soon enough.”