Ken Mathieson’s life is better with harness racing in it
by Matthew Lomon
Ken Mathieson’s nearly four decades as a hobby horseman have taught him plenty about the game, and by extension, life itself.
Between the exhilarating highs and heart-breaking lows, the prevailing lesson, no matter the circumstances, has always been clear: racing becomes a part of who you are.
“I’ve been in and out of the business the past few years; I’ve had a couple of bad spells,” Mathieson said. “But once you’re in the game, once you get hooked, you’re in it for life – and that’s what I’ll be.”
The only member of his family in the sport, Mathieson’s interest in standardbreds sprouted from trips to Flamboro Downs with his father-in-law in the late 1980s.
His curiosity quickly developed into full-fledged passion with the help of longtime friend, and later business partner, Henry Banakiewicz.
“He’s been a great partner of mine from the beginning; he still is” Mathieson said. “In those early days, it was Henry who said to me, ‘I know this guy who trains horses.’ That person was [trainer/driver] Jimmy Whelan, but the day I went out to visit, he happened to not be there.”
Morrison added with a laugh, “After that, Henry said, ‘Well, I know this other guy. And it was [trainer/driver] Larry Nickle. I started going up on my days off to learn how things worked, and that’s how I got my start.”
In the years that followed, Mathieson’s connection to the game remained strong, mostly in an ownership capacity.
It wasn’t until 2021 that the first-generation horseman officially took his involvement to the next level, obtaining his trainer’s license.
Mathieson’s first objective as a conditioner was to get bay pacer Alethia to the races. As he told it, the daughter of Western Ideal—National Gallery got close, but a tendon injury forced her into an early retirement.
It was Alethia’s contributions off the track, however, that would deliver the most memorable chapter of Mathieson’s racing career.
“After she had recovered from the injury, I made a broodmare out of her,” he said. “The second foal [Mattjestys Pride] I had out of her didn’t really pan out, but the last one I had, Life Is Better, set a couple of track records at Clinton [Raceway] and Leamington [Raceway].
“Every time I went to the track with that guy, I knew I was at least getting a check. He made me look good. I learned a lot from him.”
Life Is Better entered the world as something of a miracle baby for Mathieson, who lost the first foal out of Alethia and had arrangements to breed to Hall of Famer Camluck before the plan fell through.
While it wasn’t the most auspicious of starts to Life Is Better’s career, as he missed roughly six months after injuring himself in his stall, the Betterthancheddar bay blossomed into Mathieson’s most prolific performer.
Between 144 starts around the Ontario circuit, Life Is Better accumulated a 28-18-18 line, good for over $158,000 in total prizes.
The reliable pacer’s best work came on Aug. 7, 2022, at Leamington Raceway, where he reset the track record for older pacing stallions by a full second (1:55.4), and again on June 18, 2023, at Clinton Raceway, where he rewrote the same category, finishing in 1:54 flat.
The latter feat remains fresh in Mathieson’s mind.
“The best memory was when he set the track record at Clinton,” he said. “To be honest with you, it was almost like winning the North America Cup for me.”
Unfortunately, the horse that supplied the highest of highs for Mathieson also brought on the lowest of lows.
“Two years ago, we ran into complications following a procedure and I had to put him down,” he said. “When that happened, I thought that was the end of it for me. He was the best one I ever had, and to be honest, when I had to put him down that day, man, I was pretty upset for a while.
“That’s when I got right out of it for six months. I couldn’t even look at a horse.”
That half-year away from the game gave Mathieson, by trade a porter at St. Joseph’s Healthcare center in Hamilton, ON, time to re-evaluate his relationship with the sport.
“A lot of the guys that were helping me out, said ‘Listen, it happens to all of us,” Mathieson said. “‘There are ups and downs in this game, and sometimes there are more downs than ups. You just have to find a way to move forward.’ And eventually, that’s what I did.”
Despite the sour taste left by the tragic loss of his star pupil, Mathieson found his way back to the track with a plan to honor Life Is Better.
“I have a Bettors Delight colt out of Alethia named Life Is Better Now,” he said. “He’s a 2-year-old, so he’s coming along slowly but I’m not in a big rush with him.”
Alongside the living tribute to his cherished former pacer, Mathieson picked up a pair of claimers from friends in 4-year-old Wicked Ending and 5-year-old Beethreepo, the latter whom he co-owns with Banakiewicz.
A future that once looked bleak has begun to fill with promise.
“I’m going to retire in a few years, so I’m trying to build something that will keep me occupied,” Mathieson said. “I have the two claimers right now, but the hope is I can progress from there and just keep going… I’m never going to be out of the business, let’s put it that way.”
With a plan in place, the Hamilton-based horseman has everything he needs to continue feeding the passion so many have helped him sustain over some 40 years.
“I can name 20 people off the top of my head who have helped me; they’ve all been so willing to teach or offer help anytime I’ve asked,” he said.
It’s a list dedicated to both friends and family.
“Ken Oliver, the last guy I worked with, he’s helped me out quite a bit,” Mathieson said. “He doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. He’s an all-around horseman that does pretty much everything, and is a good guy.
“My girlfriend, Teresa, she’s put up with me for the last 25-30 years. The same goes for my son, Kenny. I’ve missed a lot of Saturday and Sunday nights with them racing, but they’ve been really supportive and I’m forever grateful for that.”
As Ken Mathieson discovered, life is better with harness racing in it.
