Harness racing is now front and center for Evan Stephenson

by Matthew Lomon

Growing up, standardbred racing was always a background character in Evan Stephenson’s story.

A competitive baseball and hockey player, Stephenson’s connection to harness racing came from his mother’s side of the family, particularly his uncles and grandfather, all of whom trained horses.

With his focus elsewhere, a future in the standardbred business hardly, if ever, crossed Stephenson’s mind.

It wasn’t until his careers on the diamond and ice cooled down that the sport that long starred in a supporting role stepped into the spotlight.

“Racing’s always been around, that’s for sure,” Stephenson said. “I grew up playing baseball and hockey pretty seriously, and when that started to die down, I started working around the horses when I was about 16-17 [years old].”

Not long after his foray into racing, Stephenson received the opportunity to work for the Whelan racing family, who reside a short distance from his Ancaster, ON, home.

“It’s a great place and opportunity to learn a lot,” said Stephenson. “They’ve been around a long time and have had a lot of success, so I’ve enjoyed learning from them. It’s been an amazing experience.”

With the multi-generational operation, which offers expertise across the industry gamut, Stephenson developed his horsemanship by familiarizing himself with all facets of the job.

In doing so, he discovered a passion for training.

“I figured pretty quickly that I like the track work more than the grooming or putting away,” he said with a laugh. “I really just started trying to do everything in the barn, and that inspired the training part of it… a snowball effect type thing.”

Stephenson’s conditioning career officially began rolling in 2024, when, at the age of 20, he obtained his trainer’s license.

Milestone moment number one came in start number seven, courtesy of Stephenson’s now 10-year-old war horse Bettors Victory, on Nov. 2, 2024, at Flamboro Downs.

“Paul MacKenzie was driving, and he came first up with him,” Stephenson said. “He just hung on by a head, and it was really exciting. I still have the win picture at home. Then I photocopied and sent it out to the family, which is pretty cool. That’s one you remember for sure.”

Going into battle with MacKenzie — a lifetime winner of more than 9,500 races — holding the reins was plenty reassuring.

“I was pretty sure he had it, but the horse was coming pretty hard behind him, and I was getting a little nervous halfway down the lane, but it was nice that he could hold on for it… he’s a legend,” Stephenson said.

The young conditioner picked up two more wins in 2025, both with Bettors Victory, who bested the rest at Buffalo Raceway in the summer and again at Flamboro in the winter.

Proud, but not complacent following the 2025 campaign, Stephenson took his involvement to another level in 2026, acquiring his standardbred driver’s license.

“The plan, or the goal, was always to end up driving some horses,” he said. “You want to do it all and go fast, you know?”

Stephenson and 6-year-old pacing mare Getting Euchred were certainly zooming on July 5 at Clinton Raceway, when the former scored his first driving win in a dominant gate-to-wire display.

The 2¾-length decision in 1:56.1 started to feel promising at the three-quarter pole.

“She felt strong, but you never really know who’s coming behind you,” Stephenson said. “But I knew she felt good and felt like I got a little breather in there.”

It was a dream scenario for Stephenson, whose uncle Brent Belore trains Getting Euchred.

“That’s how I wanted it to go, either with my horse [Bettors Victory] or one of his horses because it’s special to get to drive for him,” Stephenson said. “It’s nice of him to give me the opportunity.”

The ascending reinsman continues to feel his family’s unwavering support.

“It’s been huge, especially with the driving part,” Stephenson said. “I’ve been driving a couple for my uncle [Belore], so it’s really been a big help for me. Obviously, they like to come watch, and we always talk about the races and everything. It’s pretty special.”

Each drive is a learning experience for Stephenson, who now has more than 70 starts on his scorecard.

Touring the Signature and Grassroots circuits from his race bike, as well as occasionally venturing to the United States as a conditioner, has given Stephenson the opportunity to pick up cues from his contemporaries.

“Watching now, you see guys like Tim Tetrick and those guys in the [United] States,” Stephenson said. “It’s amazing how they perform and carry themselves. I’ve got to watch them in person a few times, traveling with the Whelans.

“There are also a lot of guys who are good to talk to around Flamboro and elsewhere. You can talk to Scott Coulter or Sam Fillion or Austin Sorrie, to name a few. They’re all pretty good at giving advice. They’re all doing really well.”

Sharing the spotlight with some of the sport’s finest has had a surreal effect on Stephenson.

“It’s pretty awesome,” he said. “Especially to think of the accomplishments they have, and I’m obviously just starting out, so it’s cool to be around them and see how they do things… watch and learn.”

For Stephenson, a life in racing has meant exploring a previously unimagined path while staying in touch with the roots his family laid generations ago.

Frequenting Ontario’s B-tracks has given him the opportunity to do that.

“At the smaller tracks, the atmosphere is incredible,” praised Stephenson. “At Clinton, for example, there’s a big crowd; you can interact with the fans, and I like that.

“Sometimes, I’d be in early [on the card] and then go over to the grandstand after and watch some more races because I have family out there that would always come watch. I’d just go hang out with them in the grandstand and watch the rest of the card.”

Making time for family and himself, with his career asking so much of him, became another chapter in his development.

“I usually start at the barn around 6:30 a.m.,” Stephenson said. “We usually work here until 2 or 3 o’clock – I also have some cows at home, so I have to look after them as well in the morning and after work. Then, at night, I’m racing horses.”

“You have to maximize the nights off, that’s for sure. I usually play hockey or baseball if we have the night off. You have to make the most of it because the days are usually pretty busy.”

Stephenson’s days — and nights — are sure to get busier as he works toward his goal of one day operating a stable of his own.

“That’s the main goal, training, and driving my own horses,” he said. “But if somebody else wants you to drive their horses, you end up driving them, too.”

As for exactly where it will take him, the 22-year-old horseman is content to pursue his racing dream with an open mind.

“Obviously, you want to race horses at the big tracks for the most money, but it’s really about settling in wherever I think I can be successful,” he said.