Harness: Profile of driver Barton Dalious

The Harness Racing landscape has a wealth of young talented drivers and Barton Dalious is one of those rising fast in the ranks. A local participant on the Delaware circuit since his start in 2020, Dalious started to branch out in 2023. The 25-year-old sits seventh on the wins leaderboard at The Meadowlands since late November while winning a credible 12% of his races from 59 starts (about half the number of races of the top three in wins).

While from a racing family, Dalious was a bit of a latecomer to the sport. The Delaware native and resident discusses his past, present and future in the questions below. Enjoy!

Your father W. Bart Dalious has been involved in harness racing since the early 1990s. Was he the first in your family to be involved in the sport?

No, my grandfather (Bill Dalious) actually had a couple of horses way back but he never stuck to it. He ended up going into the military before becoming a correction officer.

You started your journey in the sport around the age of 20. What had your attention before harness racing?

I was wrestling and working some local jobs. I went to college and tried wrestling there but it wasn’t my thing anymore. When I stopped that I jumped into the horses.

What made you decide to take the leap and follow your dad’s path?

I started going to the barn more; it just felt right. I started jogging and training more and got the idea of, wow, maybe I can drive horses.

Did the driving aspect click right away?

A couple of the main aspects of being a driver did, but obviously you are going to make a lot of mistakes. There is a lot you have to learn.

You almost had more driving wins (168) and earnings ($1,335,594) in 2023 than your father has accumulated in his career. Does that say something about one generation doing better than the last?

Yeah, you definitely learn from the mistakes of the past and he definitely tried to teach me things so I could learn from his mistakes.

Brett Beckwith told me that he basically put his dad’s driving career “out of business” and your dad had his first year without a drive in 2023. Is it the same in your case?

Yeah, I kinda took over for him. He just focuses on training the horses now because I took over driving them.

You have increased your win total and earnings in every season since starting in 2020. Has your career gone as expected?

You always want it to go a little quicker but I’d say I’m on pace. I don’t really have too many goals set in stone, but everyone wants to get a couple of Grand Circuit drives, be top five on the leaderboard where they are racing and eventually be leading driver at a track.

Do you see those goals as attainable?

I think eventually it is attainable. I have to keep working at it and see where I end up.

What is your favorite track to race at? Why?

It was Dover, but I just recently started racing at The Meadowlands and I’m liking the big mile track.

Speaking of The Meadowlands, you picked up your first win there in November 2023. What was that experience like for you?

It was pretty awesome. I was driving a horse named Good Deal for Michael Calderone; he gave me some opportunities and I was able to capitalize on it, so it was a good moment.

Last week you brought in a horse at 56-1 at The Meadowlands. Are people overlooking you?

I don’t know if they are overlooking me. That horse was off a while. He showed a couple of good lines but never like what he did that night. I think he just got to the big track and exploded.

You mentioned Michael Calderone, who returned to training after a 20-year hiatus. How did you hook up with him?

He got in contact with me one day. He has a bunch of horses stabled in Delaware and asked me if I wanted to drive some horses for him. He’s a good guy.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of harness racing?

I have some hobbies I like – bowling; disc golfing when the weather is right; running; going to the gym.

What is one thing about you most fans/bettors don’t know?

My favorite food is steak.

What is one word that describes harness racing for you?

Competition – I love competing.

What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten or given about harness racing?

Turn the page. Nothing is ever going to go the way you expect it most of the time and you can’t dwell on a race. You have to move forward. Some races are harder to get over than others but for the most part I do, especially by the next day I’m over it.

What was your best moment in harness racing?

I won two $100,000 finals in Delaware with my dad’s horse First State Joni. The first one was definitely the most special experience. Everyone wants to drive at the Sire Stakes level and it is a kind of a big deal when you get the job done.

Which is the best horse you’ve ever driven?

I’m kinda biased on that, Disturbed Hanover. He was my first win and I have the most wins on any horse with her. She’s been faithful to me over the years. She floats in and out of the Open [at Dover]. She’s a tough mare and always shows up.

What does your 2024 schedule look like?

Right now I’m going to finish up the Dover meet and continue racing at The Meadowlands until I have to go somewhere else. Whenever that opportunity is over I’ll try to find a new one, maybe pick up some Chester [Harrah’s Philadelphia] drives.

It seems as the meet at The Meadowlands has gone along you’ve picked up drives for many more barns. Is that just a part of people knowing you are available?

People see me out there and are willing to try you out. That’s how you add new accounts.

As a young person in the sport, how can we attract a younger audience?

We have to find a way to get people more involved. There are so many races and so many horses, it is kind of hard for people to get attached to anything. They just come in and bet a few dollars and leave. We need for them to be more attached to the sport and need to find ways so they can follow the horses more closely. Some people like to follow the drivers but I really think it should be more about the horses.

If you had the power to change one thing in the sport, what would it be?

Broadcasting. We have to find a way to get more national broadcasting. I’m not really sure how we do it though. Things are going in the right direction but we aren’t there yet.

How do you view the future of harness racing?

Like I said, we have to find a way to get more people involved because it is a problem that the younger generation isn’t as interested. I think we’ll be ok for the near future and hopefully it will go in the right direction.

What does a day in the life of Barton Dalious look like?

I try to get my workout in, help at the barn with the babies if I can, and then race.

Time for the stretch drive.

Best Horse you ever saw: Somebeachsomewhere – He was before I started getting into the sport but I watched replays and he is just an animal.

Lasix – Yes or No: I think Lasix is a good thing. It really helps the horses and I don’t think it hurts them.

Favorite TV Show: The Office.

Trotters or Pacers: Pacers are a lot easier but I have a soft spot for trotters. If you drive a good trotter it is really nice.