by Chris Lomon

Niko Karna’s connection to horses started before he was even welcomed into the world.

He was perhaps destined to have a life in horse racing, although what and when that would be were questions that remained to be answered in his early childhood years.

“It all started before I was born,” Karna said. “My dad had bought me a pony. So, my first gift after being born was a horse. I remember being around 4 or 5 and driving the pony around myself. The pony liked to kick, so we had to make a different type of race bike. I can still remember those days. As time went on, I never really wanted to do anything else with my life, other than to work with the horses.”

Growing up in Kitee, a town of just over 9,500 people located in Eastern Finland and part of the North Karelia region, Karna deepened his bond with horses, and became a student of standardbred racing, embracing every opportunity to learn more about the sport and its stars.

Even at a young age, he dreamt of what it would be like to work in the industry.

“I had hopes and dreams of having a career in racing,” Karna said. “I would tell my mom that one day I would either go to the United States or Italy when I grew up so that I could work with horses. She never believed me until it happened.”

In 2018, Karna left his native Finland in pursuit of his long-held goals, arriving in the U.S. when he was 23.

“My friend told me we should go to the States and try it out there, to look for work and see what we could find,” Karna said. “We felt that we could find work and we were lucky enough that it happened. I ended up getting my visa and then another visa. I went home for a couple of months, came back, and I never left.”

Karna, who started the driving side of his harness life the year he came to the U.S., quickly found work in the barn of a fellow European, namely, Swedish-born conditioner Lucas Wallin.

Working with the rising star horseman proved to be a fruitful experience. Just as it did when he worked for Jim Campbell, another respected trainer.

Currently, he is part of Noel Daley’s team.

“All of them have helped me a lot,” Karna said. “You learn so much every day you walk into a barn. That was a very important part of my development, to keep my eyes and ears open, to watch what they were doing. The foundation was that hard work creates success. That’s what stood out for me. You can always take what you learn from others and put it into what you do.”

Those lessons learned helped him in every facet of his racing repertoire, including the race bike.

Karna earned his first driving win in his second start, the victory coming on Nov. 2, 2018, in the ninth race at Freehold.

In rein to Wallin trainee Blenheim, the 8-5 choice in the $3,200 trot dash, Karna and the bay son of Yankee Glide got away in second before the duo struck the front.

On top by 2 ½ lengths at the stretch call, the pair crossed the wire the easiest of winners, 10 lengths ahead of their nearest rival.

“He was my favorite horse, and he still is my favorite horse,” Karna said. “I took care of him when I first came here, and I developed a bond with him. He became a very nice racehorse. So, to get that first win here with him was very special.”

Karna was, to say the least, emphatic in the victory.

“I celebrated like I had won the Hambletonian,” he said with a laugh. “It was a dream come true, so I didn’t care that I was so excited. It was just being in the moment and having that feeling come over you.”

This year, Karna is having a career year in the sulky, while also contributing to Daley’s success.

Despite having a personal-best season driving, sitting behind pacers and trotters isn’t the top priority when he looks at his racing future.

“You never know how the year will unfold,” Karna said. “I am happy that it has been a good year, but my ultimate goal is on the training side. I always thought I would be a catch driver, but that has shifted towards becoming a trainer. I’ve been leaning towards that way for a while. But I am very appreciative to all the owners and trainers for giving me the opportunity. I was able to drive in a sires stakes in New York and I was able to win two races at The Meadowlands, which I had always dreamed about too. So, to have those chances were very nice. I am grateful.”

Karna is also very focused on the here and now.

“I try to take things from a day-to-day outlook,” Karna said. “When I look ahead, I feel that at some stage I will be training on my own. It will happen when it is right, but I will continue to stay in the present for now. I am not in a rush. I like to work with the horses and help them improve and be the best they can be.”

Outside of racing, the 28-year-old doesn’t have any particular hobbies or interests.

His preferred way to relax is sitting down to a nice dinner with friends.

“I like to go out and have something nice to eat, to hang out with my friends,” he said. “A couple of years ago, I found out I really like to do [car] simulators. It takes my thoughts away from the horses for a little while and gives me a chance to unwind and relax. Racing is very demanding, so when you get an opportunity to step away from it for a little bit, it is good for you.”

For Karna, life in racing is a bona fide dream come true.

“Working with Noel has been great,” Karna said. “We have a guy from Ireland, and a couple of Finnish grooms; it’s a pretty international place. I am very happy with the way things are and I am very excited for whatever is in store for me.”