GOSHEN – Gary Smith may have the best seat at Goshen Historic Track. His blacksmith shop sits at the head of the final stretch, and he can usually tell who the race winner is going to be before the public-address announcer can tell the audience.
“I love this,″ Smith said, as a field clip-clopped past his location on Saturday, the opening day of action from the Grand Circuit Weekend. “I don’t get as much chance to go to the track and watch races because I’m always working or doing family stuff. Here, I get to watch the best colts in the country and the best drivers, too. These guys are good.″
One would think Smith would be pretty busy as a farrier for an extended four-day racing weekend but he says the stakes are high and most horses come to the track prepared.
“They race for $15,000,″ Smith said. “For $100 pair of shoes they are making sure it’s done ahead of time.″
Smith is on hand for mostly repairs and a good conversation. “A lot of people stop in and learn about harness racing, and I know a few things so I answer questions a lot.″
Like, how often do horses get shoes changed? About every three weeks, more or less, Smith says.
Are shoes all the same? No, some have different designs to accommodate a track’s conditions and the way the horse takes turns, much like there are different treads on car tires.
Are there “Air Jordans” with horseshoes? Actually, yes. There are lighter-weight aluminum models with steel toe-grabs.
Smith, 60, learned the trade from his father, Earl, and he runs blacksmith shops at Goshen Historic and Monticello Raceway, each about three days per week. He also makes farm visits in Middletown, Bullville, Pine Bush, Goshen and other places in the mid-Hudson.
Most Standardbred horses are gentle creatures but one out of every 100 can be fairly mean, Smith said. He’s learned the tricks on how to keep them calm, and it certainly helps when the trainers and grooms stay with the horse.
“Some people will say, ‘I’m too busy to stay with my horse’ … that’s wrong,″ Smith said. “The horse (feels) you dump me in here and you left … they feel abandoned, they really do.″
Smith would never call himself a “Horse Whisperer” but he understands them better than most.
“You get to know them and get to know their personalities and know their quirks,″ he said. “You get to know if they are going to bite you or kick you. I’ve learned not to fight with them as much. My father told me, ‘Don’t be fighting … you’re going to lose.’ And he was right. I’ve learned to be nice-nice. The horses feel that right through.″
By Ken McMillan