Trainers from Down Under and Sweden have certainly made their marks in Harness Racing in North America. Robert Cleary is clearly succeeding at getting his native Ireland on the map as he set a new career high in wins in 2023 with 72 and broke the million-dollar mark for just the second time since coming to America. Cleary has started off 2024 nicely with 14 wins in 41 starts and rains potential top 3-year-old Maxim Hanover. During some downtime, the 41-year-old discussed his journey in the sport and what the future holds for the now New Jersey resident. How did you get started in harness racing? I grew up in it. My dad was a trainer and driver back home in Ireland. Was there ever a doubt you would be involved in the sport? I don’t think so. I was horse-crazy since I was very young. How good of a trainer/driver was your father Patrick? He did a good job back home. It is a hobby back home but he was competitive in that standard of racing. What made you leave Ireland for North America? I just wanted to be able to work with horses full-time and make a good living at it. You started in North America under Anthony Haughan in Canada, right? Correct. He was from Ireland as well and our dads have been friends for a number of years. How did you end up in the United States and where are you stabled now? I moved to New Jersey to work for Tony O’Sullivan as a second trainer. I’m stabled at Gaitway Farms. How many horses are in your barn?  25. That is right around as many as I’ve had before. According to USTA records you drove in North America before you officially moved here. Did you drive often in Ireland? Why didn’t you pursue that here? Correct – I was more successful driving in Ireland. I felt there were more opportunity here for trainers rather than drivers or trainer-drivers. What is your favorite track to race at? Why? The Meadowlands. They have the best horses and best drivers. What is your favorite thing to do outside of harness racing? Watch sports. I like to watch Soccer and my favorite club is Glasgow Celtic. What is one thing about you most fans/bettors don’t know? I played a lot of soccer when I was younger and I played for the Irish college team. What is one word that describes harness racing for you? Passion. What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten or given about harness racing? Work hard, take care of your animals and hope for the best. What was your best moment in harness racing? It may’ve been winning the Matron at Dover last year [Maxim Hanover]. Speaking of Maxim Hanover, how is that 3-year-old pacing colt coming along? Very good. I’m pleased with him. We are about a month away. Will we see him first in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes? It’s possible but we are going to qualify him first at The Meadowlands and take it week to week. Do you have a target stakes race for him in 2024? My owners are Ohio people and we would love to be able to take him to the [Little Brown] Jug in September. Which is the best horse you’ve ever trained? Rodeo Rock. Do you go back to Ireland often? I’ve been busy but I try to spend a week at Christmas time every year. What is racing like in Ireland? It is a small community but the racing is pretty competitive and they have a lot of fun when they are racing. Any other horses you are excited to race this year? Flash Move [The Stallion Stakes final winner in 2023] and Oakwood Ardan [Ir] are horses I think can have a good year. If you had the power to change one thing in the sport, what would it be? I just wish the racetracks and officials were more on board with the horses and horse people. I feel like sometimes they can make a horseperson’s life a bit awkward to take care of their animal the way they want. I’m not sure the racetracks understand the care and attention that our horses need. How do you view the future of harness racing? I try to be optimistic about everything. There are some great horse people and great horses so hopefully there will be great races for some time to come. What does a day in the life of Robert Cleary look like? An early start, spend the day at the barn. I’ll work my horses in the morning and communicate with owners in the afternoon. Then I try to get home and relax or go to the races. Time for the stretch drive. Best Horse you ever saw:  Somebeachsomewhere. Lasix – Yes or No: Yes. It is most important. Lasix isn’t allowed in Ireland, correct?: It is not allowed. They don’t go big speed and they don’t have fast tracks over there. If you are racing miles in 1:58 and 2:00 it is much easier to do it without Lasix. When you are looking to go 1:48 to 1:50, with that speed I think it is important that horses get treated with Lasix. Trotters or Pacers:  Pacers. I grew up with them.