A chance encounter with a Standardbred yearling sale introduced David Richey to the world of harness racing. Just six years later, Richey was watching one of his horses battle in one of the most prestigious Standardbred races in the world.
Rock Swan, who Richey co-owns, ended up having a tough time in the $500,000 Breeders Crown Three-Year-Old Filly Trot on Saturday night. She would go on to finish eighth against some of the best fillies on the planet. But Richey's story shows how a brief trip to a yearling sale can elevate even a novice owner to the highest stage the sport has to offer.
"It was just a freaky thing," Richey, 73, recently told the Indianapolis Star. "I didn't know a thing about horses or horse racing. Nothing. I've been in the banking business my entire career."
Richey went on to explain that he was doing some business in Fort Wayne, Indiana when a contractor he was working with -- John Smucker -- invited him to come and check out an yearling sale that was taking place. They would go on to meet up at the sale, and Richey was close to the action when Smucker started bidding. Before Richey knew it, Smucker was bidding on a horse that was going through the ring. The gavel fell after a successful bid from Smucker, at which point he turned to Richey and said, 'How much of this are you going to buy?'
Richey has explained that he immediately said that he was in for a third of the yearling, and thus his ownership journey got underway. Richey has said that, at first, he couldn't believe what he had done. "Then, I got hooked," said Richey.
Rock Swan, pictured during a recent race at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.
Richey's daughter, Adele Benson, marvels at the fact that her father is in this position after having not known anything about Standardbred racing.
"It’s kind of an amazing tale seeing as how he knew nothing about horse racing -- or even horses, in general -- when he fell into this industry haphazardly one day six years ago," Benson has conveyed to the Indianapolis Star. "It’s been one hell of a rollercoaster."
To read the Indianapolis Star piece in its entirety, click here.
(With files from the Indianapolis Star)