The Racing Under Saddle (RUS) series is heading to New Jersey this month, with local rider Marielle Enberg representing Canada.
A series for trotters racing under saddle, the RUS event will take place at Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and will feature two legs worth $10,000 on July 19 and 26, and a $25,000 final on Aug. 3.
Enberg is a 26-year-old Swedish native who moved to Guelph two years ago to work and race horses in a harness racing jurisdiction that was very vibrant and successful.
Enberg is petite and hardworking; quiet, but also a fierce competitor.
Often referred to as Monte racing (Monte is the French word for ride), RUS is very popular and a regular part of racing in Europe, and Sweden in particular.
Enberg started her career with harness racing, but she also rode Standardbred horses, as a regular part of their routine and way to keep them fit.
In preparation for the RUS at the Meadowlands Racetrack, Enberg and her horse Amoreena raced and trained as the horse normally would: jogging (exercising at a moderate speed with a harness and jog cart), plus a couple days a week riding her under saddle.
Amoreena is a five-year-old mare. She has earned $83,888 and won six of 44 races. Last year, when Enberg was looking for a mount for the RUS at Hanover Raceway, she raced Amoreena under saddle for the first time and won the event.
Enberg says what makes a good RUS horse may be different from what makes a good harness horse. Although both are race horses, varying strengths and weaknesses come into play because of the differences in pulling a bike, versus carrying a rider.
“What makes a good RUS horse is a big horse with a big stride,” said Enberg. “If a horse is a bit high strung in a harness, they seem to relax being ridden.”
Enberg says allowing riders a chance to practice and ride at racetracks and behind the starting gate is important to growing the discipline in Canada. The goal of the local RUS group is to gain as much experience as possible and bring a good product to racing fans.
Enberg hopes RUS will eventually have its own place in Canadian horse racing. She noted that the few times RUS has been featured at local racetracks, there have been good crowds and people genuinely show an interest towards the event as well as the riders and the horses involved.
The RUS be at Grand River Raceway on July 26, with a another group of riders accompanied by trotters normally seen in harness racing, showcasing the versatility and speed of the standardbred.
For more information about RUS Ontario visit www.RUSontario.com.
