Christina Johnson wears many hats extremely well

by Victoria Howard

It’s hard to keep a good woman down and that means Christina Johnson. Not only does she train and drive, but she also helps keep our horses’ teeth healthy.

Johnson recently returned from competing in the Bernie Kelley International Ladies Race held on Vincent Delaney Memorial weekend in Wales.

The Vincent Delaney Memorial is a prestigious harness racing event held annually at the Tir Prince Raceway in Abergele in South Wales. It’s a true celebration of harness racing and anyone who loves horses and racing must experience this at least once.

How did you first become involved in harness racing?

“I was born in Alvin, TX, but presently live in Canton, Ohio. When I was little, my mother was active in rodeos, and I was involved in barrel racing, competing with quarter horses.

“None of my family was in the sport, except for one cousin named Paul Kennedy, Jr.

“One day I met a horse trainer named Leon Cable who asked if I wanted to go to Florida to work for him during the winter and I jumped at the opportunity.

“Today, I have my own stable. It consists of one yearling, two 2-year-olds, one 3-year-old, three 4-year-olds, and two aged horses. I race mostly at Northfield Park, the Ohio fairs, and Shenandoah Downs.”

Do you have a horse who holds a special place in your heart?

“I love all my horses the same, but I would have to say if I had to pick one it would be the mare, Crystal Chris. She was my invitational pacer and once in a lifetime horse.

“I drove her at Northville Downs, and she was the first horse I won with as a driver. ‘Crystal’ won four races in a row there, despite the fact the boys parked us the entire mile.

“Disaster is my 2-year-old trotter, and I have high hopes for him; but the one horse that will always hold a special place in my heart is a little trotter my owner purchased from the Amish. His name was Armbro Believe and he cost $1,800.

“He was the horse that taught me how to balance a trotter. He kept making breaks when I first got him, but once I got him right, he went from being a $3,000 claimer at Northfield to an open trotter at Hoosier Park.

“Sadly, one night when I raced him in a Winner’s Over at Northville, he passed away after the race from a pulmonary embolism. His death broke me and I almost walked away from the business for the heartbreak was too much to bear. I never experienced losing a horse before and pray it won’t happen again. That was the worst experience I had in the business and do not wish that on anyone. It is quite devastating. ‘Believe’ was also my first qualifying drive [and I won!]”

Can you talk a little about your experience in Ireland and Wales?

“All I can say is wow! The entire experience was incredible. The sell-out crowd, and all the people who showed up to cheer on their favorite horse and driver.

“The fans truly treated the female drivers like ‘ladies’ and we felt like we were literally movie stars.

“My friend Roger Huston asked me to compete in the Bernie Kelley International Ladies Charity Race representing the USA in 2026. When I asked him what the requirements were, he said, ‘You must be the best female driver.’

“In 2024, I put 100,000 miles on my vehicle, competing in every race I was put in and won every major event. I won the finals, the point standings and the Pace for the Cure race (which I won in 2023, 2024, and 2025).

“I was victorious in Delaware for the amateur trots, as well as the Lady Series final.

“For the race at the VDM, I was blessed to have drawn the rail, but I was also driving the only horse that was not handicapped in the race, with a rating of 31, some of the other horses in there had ratings of 72.

“Despite this, the racing God’s were with me that day. I gave the mare a perfect trip, sat in the pocket and finished third, getting beat by two open horses who were very much the best.

“Although I didn’t win, I gave it my best and the mare raced great.

“I felt I did a good job. When the horse’s trainer met me in the winner’s circle to get his blue ribbon, he told me that was the fastest mile of his mare’s life, so that made me feel pretty good.

“Beside the races, we got to see a lot of different areas in Ireland as well as Wales. The entire country is amazing.”

What has been your most exciting experience in the business?

“When I was racing Ucan Call Me Apple in the Kentucky [Fair] Stakes. We set a track record in the 3-year-old filly division and won all the divisions but one that year. We had big expectations for the final, but unfortunately the mare entrapped and we finished third.”

I’m sure you have many people you would like to thank for giving you these opportunities.

“Yes, I would like to thank the USTA [United States Trotting Association], the Great Lakes Amateur Driving Association, the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association, Harrod Insurance Company, Diamond Creek Farm, and the Delaney family who sponsored my trip and made it possible for me to go there and represent the United States as a driver.

“I’d also like to thank Heather Wilder. She puts in so much work organizing everything to get the ladies there and is truly an amazing person.

“And last but not least, I want to thank Roger Huston. He not only sponsored me but believed enough in my talent enough to select me as their international lady driver.”