Harness racing in Pennsylvania has a long history, dating back to early in the 19th century.

Competitive fires reached many farmers who were eager to see how their horses stacked up with others in the area. The horses were used to pull carriages and wagons for transport purposes, but were also thrust into competitions at county fairs around the state.

This was the extent of the sport for well over a century. According to an article written by Patti Reed that appears on www.pennhorseracing.com, laws in Pennsylvania regarding racing and gambling were loosened in 1959, and then it was only a matter of time before wagering on harness racing would be offered.

On June 8, 1963, the first official bets were placed at the now-defunct Liberty Bell Park in Philadelphia. Three weeks later, The Meadows near Washington, Pa., joined in and the sport had entered a new era.

“I'm sure there was betting going on between farmers and other people in the earlier days of the sport,” said Seth Dowling, a marketing associate for the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Association. “But the legalization of wagering made the sport grow. Then in the 1980s, tracks began offering simulcasts, so you didn't even have to be at the track to place a bet.”

Currently, three venues in Pennsylvania accept wagers on harness racing — The Meadows, Harrah's Philadelphia Racetrack and The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono near Wilkes-Barre.

The Meadows is open year-round while the other two feature races nine months of the year.

Betting means big money for the tracks, and for those who have the right hunch, the ones placing the wagers too.

“I don't have the numbers split up between harness and thoroughbred racing, but together, there was nearly $676 million wagered in the state last year,” Dowling said. “Harness racing is a big part of that.”

The rewards for the owners of a Standardbred horse, the type used in harness racing, can also be sizable, but Dowling said it can be a risky business.

“If someone owns one horse, it is said that to turn a profit in any one year, the horse must earn between $35,000 and $40,000. It's hard to make a living solely as an owner,” he said. “The trainer and driver also get paid, so if someone owns and trains, they can bring in more money.”

Racing is still seen at 16 fairs around the state, including Big Butler Fair.

The fair circuit offers more proof of how popular the sport is in Pennsylvania.

Dowling said that Hanover Shoe Farms in York County is the largest breeder of Standardbred horses in the world. “Pennsylvania is the No. 1 state in almost every category,” he said. “It is to harness racing what Kentucky is to thoroughbred racing.”