Harness racing is a grandstand race in which a horse pulls a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, with a driver seated in it, around an oval track at a trot or a pace, never a gallop. It is an older grandstand tradition at New England agricultural fairs, usually seen alongside cattle shows and pulling. It needs an oval track and stabling, which many smaller fairgrounds lack, so it belongs to the larger and longer-established grounds.
Harness racing
A grandstand race where a horse pulls a two-wheeled sulky cart around a track.
See it at these Massachusetts fairs
Shown first
AgriculturalFamilySeasonal
Topsfield Fair
Eleven days of livestock, rides, and giant pumpkins.
Oct 2–12Topsfield
EndedAgriculturalFamilySeasonal
Marshfield Fair
A South Shore tradition since 1867. Midway, demo derby, and agricultural exhibits.
Aug 21–30Marshfield
EndedAgriculturalSeasonalFamily
Three County Fair
A Northampton fair dating to 1818, with rodeo and livestock shows.
Date not confirmedNorthampton
EndedAgriculturalFamilySeasonal
Franklin County Fair
A Pioneer Valley fair since 1848 with the Roundhouse exhibit hall.
Sep 10–13Greenfield