Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Roberts Faces New Challenges with Cold Weather

March 21, 2005

By Kimberly A. Rinker

Steering race horses in frigid temperatures makes for its share of difficulties for any driver. When a drive has suffered career-threatening injuries—such as Johnny Roberts did nearly a year and a half ago, it can make driving during the winter all the more difficult.

"The cold weather really seems to bother my back now," Roberts, 24, said. "I mean, it was something that never ever affected me before in the least. But then again, I never had a broken back before."

Roberts was seriously injured when he was thrown to the racetrack and then trampled by horses in a mid-September qualifying accident at Maywood Park in 2003. He underwent numerous operations, and on December 29, 2003 doctors placed four pins into his spin and fused several of his broken vertebrae together.

John Roberts

"Because of my injuries, I’ve been forced to alter my position in the race bike," Roberts noted. "Actually, in an odd way, it’s actually helped me. I’m able to keep horses up on the bit a lot more now because I’m sitting in a more upright position than I did before. Prior to breaking my back, I’d lean pretty far back in the bike and look from side-to-side as opposed to looking over the horse’s back, like I do now."

Roberts returned to driving in May of 2004, after undergoing many hours and days of physical therapy. He also was required to wear a full body cast for nearly four months during his recovery.

"I’m a lot more passive in my driving than I was before the accident," Roberts said. "When I’m in tight spots, I tend to be less aggressive. I’ll duck horses now and race them for a good check as opposed to going all out to the front or being parked out. I’ve gotten over that need to win every race by 15 lengths."

The lanky and tall reinsman (standing 6��") had his best season in 2001, piloting 93 winners to the tune of $526,627. Though his 2004 campaign was curtailed due to his recovery time, Roberts still managed to pilot 51 winners to nearly $300,000 in purse earnings.

"I was kind of a one-dimensional driver before my accident," John said. "I was trying harder to win than I really needed to. It wasn’t that I wasn’t able to drive differently, it’s just that I found out that I could. As a result, I’ve been given better horses to drive and have been doing well with them. By being more patient on the track, my driving has improved and that’s why I’ve been given better horses to drive."

Donning the green, white and scarlet red colors that are the trademarks of the Roberts family—his father Ronnie has been a long-time trainer in the Prairie State—John has come back stronger than ever in 2005. Entering his eighth season as a Windy City driver, John has already posted 17 wins and over $73,000 in earnings, and currently sits eighth among all the drivers at Maywood Park, and is in the top 15 drivers at Balmoral.

"This wasn’t something I was expecting, to come back this strong," John said. "I really think it’s as a direct result from me being more relaxed in the sulky, and driving horses in a more conservative fashion."

Because of the weather having such a negative affect on his back, John says he rarely helps his father in the stable during the cold morning hours.

"I don’t make it to the barn in the mornings as much as I used to," John said. "I’m really glad that my dad has his stable. He lets me do what I want, and if really needs me on a cold day, I’ll come in, but if I don’t have to, I don’t go. Once it warms up again, I’ll probably be there a lot more."

Though initially he underwent a lot of physical therapy because he was happy just to be alive and able to walk, John nevertheless abandoned his dream of becoming a full-time Chicago circuit catch driver.

"I’m really lucky that my folks were involved in the business," John noted. "It gave me a great opportunity to get drives in the beginning. Now that I’m getting drives on a regular basis, it’s crossed my mind to consider going to some of the smaller tracks to drive. For instance, I absolutely love driving at Windsor Raceway in Canada. I love the five-eighths mile racing. As a driver you tend to drive hard the first and third quarters of the mile, which is completely different from Chicago racing. I really prefer this kind of racing to racing over the mile."

"I’d love to go to other places and race, but if you’re not driving at home, then someone else will be," John added. "That’s probably the biggest con of being a catch-driver. As a driver you aren’t able to take any time off or try your trade at another venue. You’re almost afraid to try something else for fear of losing your drives."

Despite the ‘downs’ of the racing game, John—coined "The Rocket"—by his peers, says he wouldn’t want to do anything else.

"I just love this sport, the business, and the people involved," John said. "It’s a great way to make a living."