Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Odds On Racing's

Personality of the Month
for December 2007

Tom Charters

Tom Charters is one of the most well-known faces in harness racing today. This former groom to world champion Delmonica Hanover now is the president and CEO of the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown.

The Springfield, Ohio native began his career in racing by attending the races at the Hillard Raceway when he was only 8-years-old. He first worked as a caretaker for the Dick Hackett Stable at Scioto Downs from 1965 through 1968, while at the same time studying print making at Miami University of Ohio.

Tom Charters

The following summer he took a job working as a groom for the late, great Delvin Miller before heading out to serve his country in the Army for two years. In 1971 he began his studies again, this time at the University of Kentucky, where he earned a degree in Animal Science, and again went back to work for Miller. It was there he was partnered with Delmonica Hanover and was able to tour Europe with her.

"In 1975 Delvin sent Delmonica and me to the Hans Fromming Stable in Germany, the year after she won the Prix d'Amerique in France. She got sick that year and missed the Prix d'Amerique, but we raced in Germany, Italy and Sweden in the summer. Seh was incredibly smart and easy to travel with and was a hero all over Europe."

In 1976 Charters worked as an assistant racing secretary at The Meadows--the track founded by Miller. He became that track's racing secretary in 1980, but left in 1982 to serve as Director of Racing in Macau, for their newly formed trotting club in China, a position he held for 18 monhts.

"I was 33 then and unmarried and thought if I didn't go, I would always regret not going," Charters recalled. "I loved the work there and the people, but I missed my family and seeing the good horses back in the United States."

Charters took a two-week safari to Africa and by doing so missed a Christmas card from his old friend, Delvin Miller. In that card, Miller had told Charters not to seek out a job until he talked to Miller.

"When I got home, I called Delvin, and he told me that the Hambletonian Society was starting a new program, and he wanted me to apply for the job."

Charters was hired in 1984 for the then, newly formed Breeders Crown.

For those early years, the Breeders Crown races were all held at different racing venues, but the format changed in 2001.

"The industry told us they liked the Super Night format," Charters revealed. "Having the races at The Meadowlands and Woodbine have been great.