Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Varty & Odds On Horses at The Big M

December 15, 2006

Canadian native Nat Varty has returned to New Jersey after spending the last six years based on the Ontario circuit and will be conditioning horses for Odds On Racing.

“I’ve moved down here to Middletown, New York, and I’m training 15 horses at the Mt. Hope Training Center,” said Varty, who turns 36 on January 20. “I had a couple of tough years, and I decided to move from Ontario with the support of Odds On Racing and few other owners. As active as Odds On wants to be in the claiming game, I’ll be. They’re my claiming account. I had already been involved with Odds On for a couple of years, and that was part of the impetus for me to make the move.

"When the Meadowlands re-opened for the Fall Meet, I took the opportunity to get my foot in the door here. It’s basically a fresh start for me. I’m rejuvenated, and you have to be a survivor in this business. It’s all about entering them in the right spot where they can win or at least be competitive. If they don’t do well, it’s disappointing for everybody. You have to have them where they don’t actually need a trip every time to win.”

Varty first surfaced at the Meadowlands in the mid-1990s with Bill Robinson’s New Jersey string. The Petersborough native returned to Ontario in August of 1999 to start his own stable. He consistently ranked among the top five trainers at Woodbine and Mohawk.

Through December 13, Varty trainees at the Meadowlands have posted six wins, one second and two thirds from 15 starters for $80,195, good for a tie for third place in the trainer standings with Mark Ford. Mickey Burke tops the rankings with 10 wins followed by Mark Silva with eight.