Trainer Dave Dewhurst didn't come from a harness racing family but fell in love with the sport and taught himself how to succeed by watching others. The 55-year-old New York native handles a 17-horse stable with some stakes-caliber talent and does much of the shipping himself.  While driving back from Saratoga on a Monday by himself with three horses on his trailer, Dewhurst took the time to discuss his journey in the sport, his 45% win rate as a driver, his mare Racine Bell and about the harness racing industry in general.  How did you get started in harness racing? My step-father owned horses when I was a kid. We had a farm and that is how I got started. I was 12 when I started to teach myself. Did anyone help you along the way? I'm hearing impaired, so I watch a lot. I was basically deaf when I was young. Now I have a cochlear implant.  Was there ever a chance you wouldn't be involved in the sport? When I was 18 I broke down with my truck on the way back from Dover and I said if I didn't have more money by the end of the summer, I'm done. My dad owned a construction company and I could've went to work there.  So I guess it all worked out? I own a farm and I don't owe anyone money, so yeah. What kind of car do you drive? 2021 Ford Tremor for my personal care and a F-350 for pulling the horses. Favorite dinner meal? Snack? Pizza; It used to be anything sugary but I gave it up eight months ago. What is your favorite track to race at? Why? My home track has always been Vernon but the best place to race has always been The Meadowlands. Not too many people can race there. What is your favorite big event in racing? Why? I've never been a big stakes person but I hope I win the Matchmaker final next week. How often are horses or racing on your mind? I really don't have much life outside of the horses now that my kids are in college.  What is your favorite thing to do outside of harness racing? Spending time with my girls. What is your favorite sport to watch? Team? College Basketball -- Syracuse. What is one word that describes harness racing for you? Life. How many horses are in your barn? Right now there are 17. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter You have over 2,200 training wins. What does that number mean to you? It means I've worked hard. It's hard to do it with a small stable. You have hundreds of starters a year. Why do you consider yourself a small stable? I never really get over 20 horses anymore. That is small compared to some of these guys with 40, 60, 80 and up. You also own a spectacular 45% win rate as a driver. Are you keeping the good ones for yourself? I'm hearing impaired so I only drive at the fairs when there is no other driver there. I know my horses and that helps. In 2021 you had a career year in terms of earnings in part due to Racine Bell. Can you eclipse those totals in 2022? Yeah, I have some really good horses. She's good, I have a few trotters that are nice and some young ones that are doing good. I think we can beat the numbers.  What is one of the trotters? Dewey Arnold is a really nice horse. I'm trying not to kill him at 4 but he's won three Opens in a row from the 8-hole at Saratoga. That's pretty tough to do. What do you have planned for Racine Bell after the April 25 Blue Chip Matchmaker final? She has a big workload but I'm just going one week at a time. I'm hoping she gets a little break but I doubt it.  Do you know what her next stake race is? I'm not really sure because I've been so busy. Today [April 18] I took three to Saratoga by myself to race in the second, third and fourth [races]. Usually four people go but the help doesn't really like to work anymore. That's the way it goes.  Is Racine Bell the best horse you've ever trained? She's up there. Dewey Arnold is no slouch. I have an old horse that I won't get rid of named JK Panache. He set track records everywhere and still owns some.  [EDITOR'S NOTE: JK Panache set his lifetime mark of 1:47 3/5 at Vernon Downs in 2015 and still co-owns the track record.] You have your own farm in Clinton, New York. Do you breed horses or just stable there? I just stable. I buy young horses, but I'm getting too old to do that anymore. I'm 55 now. Is 55 really old? Well, my wife just retired and it's tough when she wants to do things and I'm still working.  What is the best advice you've ever gotten or given about harness racing? Like the Amish, all of their kids work hard and in groups. I never make a horse work by themselves.  What was your best moment in harness racing? We've won Sire Stakes and stuff. Probably winning the Kissin In The Sand at The Meadowlands with Racine Bell because she set a world record. [EDITOR'S NOTE: The 1:48 1/5 time equaled the world record for 4-year-old pacing mares formerly held alone by My Little Dragon (2007).] If you had the power to change one thing in the sport, what would it be? All the bad P.R. we get. Nobody says anything good, just bad. There are a lot of good people [in the sport] and I don't think the people [outside the sport] really know how much hard work goes into taking care of these horses. How do you view the future of harness racing? It doesn't look good. Another track closed last night. The owners of the casinos aren't horse people. It's just the way it is. If you weren't involved in harness racing, what would you be doing? A lot of my brothers are involved in construction so I'm sure I would have went that way. It's good money but hard work with heavy equipment. Time for the stretch drive... Best Horse you ever saw: I saw Niatross but I really believe Muscle Hill because he overcame so much. Best Driver Ever: Brian Sears and John Campbell. Lasix -- Yes or No?: Yes. Favorite TV Show?: Chicago Wednesdays [Chicago P.D., Chicago Fire, Chicago Med] on NBC. Trotters or Pacers?: Trotters.