Dana Bright (left) and Ann Gardner ride in the
Pennsylvania carriage racing competition.
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Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
January, 2008
Like a modern-day Ben Hur, Miranda Cadwell drew herself erect in her chariot-like carriage and urged her ponies to speed around obstacles.
Rambo and Toby, a pair of Welsh ponies, raced around the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex Large Arena this past January.
They sped around eight barrels, being careful not to knock off the rubber ducks on top, and around eight raised wooden structures at the other end of the arena, leaving the ducks standing.
Then they galloped down the home stretch into first place and into the hearts of 6,000 wildly cheering fans at this unique equestrian event at the 92nd Pennsylvania State Farm Show.
“This was great,” said Cadwell of Southern Pines, N.C. “It’s a real adrenaline rush.”
The Farm Show offers the nation’s only indoor Arena Carriage Racing, said Paul Martin, event organizer and announcer. He said that its usually done outside.
These Dutch Gelderlanders, “Mickie and Janet”, driven by Ronda Palmer and navigated by Roy Munt, placed second in the Pair Horses division. The husband and wife pair has been involved in numerous competitions all over the world.
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Drivers sit in the front and control the reins to guide the horses. Navigators ride the back, throwing their weight from side to side to counterbalance the turns.
Bruce Rappoport, another event organizer, said carriage racing involves one or two horses or ponies racing against the clock.
Sarah Schmitt and Glenn Haskell achieved the second best time to win the Reserve Grand Championship.
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Participants in steel marathon carriages use special harnesses to guide the horses through the tight turns needed to navigate the obstacles and hazards in the fastest time.
Seven teams participated in the two day event.
Driver Dana Bright and navigator Melinda Russell
blur through the starting line.
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“We love this,” said Dana Bright of Felton, nodding at her navigator, Ann Gardner and her Welsh ponies.
People laughed when they saw Ben and Jerry, a pair of bright pink stuffed toy pigs, on the back of their carriage. People howled when Jerry tumbled off during the race.
The crowd clearly loved Miranda Cadwell and her younger sister, Keady.
Miranda Cadwell last summer became the world leader in the sport, earning the gold medal at the World Pony Driving Championship in Denmark.
On Tuesday, she drove her team as if her life depended on it, leaving rushing air and flying dirt in their wake.
When the race ended, Miranda Cadwell won first place in the pair of ponies division, Keady Cadwell won first place in pair of horses.
“We push each other to do better,” Keady Cadwell said.
A must-see is the video listed below.
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Race Video:
Carriage Races, Pennsylvania Farm Show
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News Link: Pennsylvania State Agriculture Site
News Link: The Patriot News
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