Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Odds On Racing's

Personality of the Month
for March 2009

Steve Wolf

Steve Wolf, 53, has been one of the most popular and hard working publicists and writers working in the harness racing industry over the years. The New Jersey native, who grew up on a working dariy farm, fell in love with harness racing at a very young age, and that love for the sport hasn't wavered.

He eventually turned that love into a career, and began grooming horses as a teenager.

Steve Wolf

"There's something about the horse racing business that grabs you; you just want to be there everyday. If I'm not at the races at night, I miss it," Steve noted. "I wake up every morning and I get to do something I love. I feel very fortunate to have been able to make a career out of harness racing."

Wolf moved to Coral Springs, Florida after visiting the area frequently, and immediately began working at Pompano Park as the director of racing in 2000. He said he has enjoyed every minute of it.

"When I first got in the sport in the 1970s it was at an all-time high and it was great to be a part of," Wolf said. "I would say from 1978 through now, I've probably seen some of the biggest and greatest races in the history of the sport."

"One of the strangest things I ever saw at the track was a few years ago when we had a horse racing fireworks stunt show from Australia," Wolf recalled. "The performer would stand on the chariot, then he would put the reins in his teeth and while the horse raced around the track, he would shoot off more than 2,000 rounds of fireworks. It was an amazing feat and the greatest drivers in the world were in awe of this guy."

Wolf's involvement in the community extends to the Pompano Beach Chamber of Commerce, where he has served on the board of directors for almost eight years. He was appointed chairman of the board, which he said was an honor. While serving as chairman, Wolf said he wants to network local businesses and entice more commerce to the area.

"If I wasn't involved full time in racing, then I probably would be involved or working for a chamber of commerce or raising funds for a needy charity full time," Wolf noted. "I've been in the harness racing business for years and the time I was away from the business was a very tough time for me."

Wolf said there's nothing else he'd rather do. A married father of two, Wolf enjoys swimming, relaxing by the pool and reading adventure novels to pass the time when he's not busy at the track. He's a valued member of the U.S. Harness Writer's Association where he serves as National Second Vice President, and also is a member of USHWA's Florida Chapter.