Owner Brad Grant began his involvement in Harness Racing as a kid and after some time away following some urging, jumped back into the sport with both feet. Recently named Owner of the Year behind the power of presumptive Horse of the Year Bulldog Hanover, who he co-owns with Jack Darling, Grant sits fifth on the owner earnings leaderboard in 2022. Grant took the time to talk about his highs and lows in the sport as well as the ride in 2022 with Bulldog Hanover in this installment of On The Backstretch, which is the 252nd done over the last five years. Enjoy! How did you get started in harness racing? I'm third generation; my grandfather was in it and my dad was in it. I was involved when I was younger and I got back into it when Ted Huntbach - back in about 1990 or so - showed up in my office and said 'I have a horse you need to get in on and I'm not leaving until you do.' That's how I got back in. You mentioned your grandfather Bernard Grant and your Canadian Hall of Fame father John Grant. How big of a factor were they in you getting the racing bug? I was around it all the time. At one time I held a valid trainer and driver license. I was involved from the time I was a kid until my 20's. Until I started researching this article I had no idea your father owned Bettor's Delight. That is pretty cool, no? He was a pretty good horse to own. Why didn't you pursue training or driving? First off, I quickly realized I wasn't going to be a driver. I only drove the odd ones here or there. I just wasn't sure [training and driving] was for me. I was young and wanted to try other things. I went into the family business and then out on my own. My dad had a trucking company and I worked there for a while, but in typical father-son fashion we agreed to disagree and I went out on my own in trucking. Does the past experience of driving and training give you a different perspective than some owners? I really don't think so. From the time I was involved with that until when I got back into it, so much had changed. Maybe you can understand some things that happen in a race more than someone who wasn’t as involved, but for the most part it had changed so much. Perhaps I was more familiar with the understanding of the horses and the injuries. I joke that one thing that didn't change was the trainer and driver excuses. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] What kind of car do you drive? Mercedes. Favorite dinner meal? Snack?     Italian; my wife's spaghetti. Snack is a tough question. Probably Pringles chips. What is your favorite track to visit? Why? Obviously Lexington is great because it is the whole atmosphere. My wife and I enjoy it. It is two weeks away together. What is your favorite big event in racing? Why? The Hambletonian, probably because I've won it twice unexpectedly. When I got into the business I was a pacing guy. I had an eye on the Little Brown Jug and the North America Cup. Lo and behold, I haven't won either of them but I won two Hambletonians with two fillies. How often are horses or racing on your mind? Probably once or twice a day. So racing doesn't consume you? No, only on the weekends. That is when most of my horses race. What is your favorite thing to do outside of harness racing? I love to golf but over the last few years '’ve had four grandchildren come into my life and I just love hanging out with them. What is your favorite sport to watch? Team? Hockey - I'm a diehard, true-blue Toronto Maple Leafs fan. What is one thing about you most fans/bettors don't know? I like opera music. What is one word that describes harness racing for you? Exciting. What has kept you in the sport as an owner? The thrill of winning the big races. I can't honestly say if I wasn't successful that I'd be out of it. I'm thick-skulled and I keep coming back. When I was away from the sport for seven or eight years, I never thought about it, followed it or was a part of it. The last horse I followed was Bettor's Delight, but I wasn't in the business at that point. When Teddy convinced me to get back into it, I was very reluctant. But you know how it goes, one became two and two became four and four became eight. How many horses do you currently own? Including broodmares and stallions, about 75. What is the best advice you've ever gotten or given about harness racing? You have to be realistic about your results and don't expect it will always be great, because it won't. The biggest thing is to enjoy it. What was your best moment in harness racing? Winning my first Breeders Crown. That is the pinnacle. When I won with Stay Hungry in 2017 that was kind of my crowning moment. Which is the best horse you've ever owned? I would say Bulldog Hanover strictly because he's in an elite class that very few are. Atlanta is also in a class with the trotters that very few are, but what Bulldog has done for the sport and how he did it along the way, I have to give the nod to him. Which was the most disappointing horse you've ever owned? Obviously Maverick, the colt we paid a lot of money for. He just didn't work out. Along those lines, does paying a million dollars for a yearling like Maverick and watching it not work out linger with you? No. I can't let it. If it consumes you then you shouldn't be in the business. You own some of your horses in partnership and some solo. What goes into that decision? My partners are people I know in the industry who I enjoy being around and look at things the same way I do. Racing doesn't consume them. You win, you lose, you move on. For the longest time I was a single owner. When I got on to racing Grand Circuit horses, there are a lot of good people out there and some of them asked me to go in. Other times I've bought a horse and people have asked me to get in. I've been very lucky to have a lot of great partners. I've seen you at the track this year at Mohawk in Canada, in New Jersey at The Meadowlands, and even in Ohio at Dayton. Is it important for you to support your horses in person? This year I've probably shown up a bit more due to Bulldog Hanover. We knew what type of horse he is and we could drive to most of the spots. It is not totally important for me to be at the races. I can't do anything but cheer and I can do that from home. My wife enjoys going so we enjoy jumping in the car and going to Ohio or Hoosier or The Meadowlands. If I can work it around my business and family time I'll go, but it is not that important for me to be there. Ironically you weren't there for Bulldog Hanover's 1:45 4/5 world record at The Meadowlands. Does that bother you? That one bothers me because I had full intention on being there and something came up. I just couldn't get there. It is disappointing but he didn't need me there to do what he did. You watched at The Meadowlands as both Atlanta and Bulldog Hanover were retired. Is it sad to see them go? It is sad; two great equine athletes. Atlanta was ready to retire. She had done everything she could while racing against the best. With Bulldog, it was the right time. He beat everyone consistently and many times handily. I don't think he had more to prove. Will I miss seeing both of them at the races, absolutely, but at the same time, at some point they have to pass the torch. The next thrill will be watching colts and fillies from both of them racing and hopefully owning some of them. Can you describe what Bulldog Hanover has meant to you? Everything. He was a top racehorse. He will be a top stallion. To see all of the people who came out to watch him race, it was special. He has that wow factor. Was there ever a chance that you wouldn't retire Bulldog Hanover at the end of 2022? We never sat down and honestly had that discussion. I think we both believed there was nothing else he had to do. I jokingly said to Jason Settlemoir when they were going to do the retirement thing [at The Meadowlands]: 'geez, you have done so much for him tonight. I hate to tell you we are going to bring him back next year.' He just looked at me and said: 'That's ok, we'll do it again.' Seriously, Jack [Darling] and I were just on the same page that it was the right time and he had nothing left to prove. How hot of a ticket do you think Bulldog Hanover will be as a stallion? I think he’ll be very hot. Not just the fans of the game but the people in the game all like what he’s done. He'll have a really good chance to succeed because h'’ll have a really good book of mares. He is in my book a top stallion. Does his pedigree hurt him a little? I don't think so. I know some people aren't or weren't fans of Shadow Play, but he has thrown some good racehorses along the way, topped by Bulldog Hanover. Why is it important for you to invest in a Mohawk Million ticket? I'm obviously hoping I'm going to have a horse that can win it, but I also believe in the concept. It helps create interest in the business and you can sell your share if it doesn't work out for you. I think they've done a good job with it. How would you rate yourself as an owner? Are you laid-back or more hands-on? I'm laid-back but I want to know what is going on. Just tell me - good or bad. I've been very lucky, I have trainers that tell me the way it is. If a horse is not going to make it, so be it. When I sell a horse, I hope the person after me succeeds because that means they'll come back and buy again. Not everyone gets along with every horse. What about as a yearling selector? Are you making your own selections? No. It goes by committee. I trust the people who look for me. I give my opinion and I listen to what they say. If you had the power to change one thing in the sport, what would it be? I would like to see them be more aggressive on cheaters. I think it is still in our business even though they have caught a bunch of them. I wish more was done about it because it harms our industry. How do you view the future of harness racing? I think it is strong, I really do. At The Meadowlands the other night I was talking to some young people who had never been to the races before. They were downtown New York people - eight of them. I asked them why they came out and they had heard about Bulldog Hanover. I asked them if they would come back if he wasn't here and they all said yes. I think if we can figure out how to get people to the races, especially the younger generation because that is where our future lies, I think they'll come. Time for the stretch drive. Best Horse you ever saw: Bulldog Hanover. Best Driver? Dexter Dunn, then John Campbell, Mike Lachance and Ron Pierce close behind. I find that Dexter Dunn is like the Wayne Gretzky of harness racing. He seems to be able to see more and command more. Gretzky always knew he could send a puck to a spot because he knew someone would get there. Or he knew to go to a spot because the puck would be there. Dexter seems to be able to do that with a race horse and do that with people in the race. That is what makes him great. Best Trainer? I've been blessed to have a lot of great trainers. Lasix - Yes or No? I'm in favor of it. Favorite TV Show? Blue Bloods. Trotters or Pacers? It depends on the year [laughing]. I love the true gait of the trotter but I love the speed of a pacer.