Harness: Profile of trainer Todd Luther

What kind of car do you drive?

Kia Sorrento.

Favorite dinner meal? Snack?

Good steak; I'm a snacker, so anything from milk shakes to cereal, I like it all.

What is your favorite track to race at? Why?

Scioto Downs -- it has always been home to me. I grew up there and loved it when I was little. I just love racing there.

What is your favorite big event in racing?

Coming from Ohio it is the Little Brown Jug. The atmosphere in Delaware is amazing.

How often is racing on your mind?

Since this year started it has been on my mind a lot. There are more stressful and easier days, but I'm always thinking of what we can do to make the horses better. Now that stakes season has started, we are all over the country now.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of racing?

Hang out with my fiancé Toni Dale, our newborn Lainey and my daughter Skyler. Toni is my number-one supporter, that's for sure.

What is your favorite sport to watch? Team?

Baseball. It was always my thing growing up. Before I got into this it was all I did. People laugh at me being from Ohio but the Yankees are probably my favorite team. Paul O'Neill was my favorite player growing up. He went to a school around where I grew up. He started with the Reds and went to the Yankees when I was younger, so I just followed him.

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

I'm big into baseball and turned down a couple of scholarships before I got into horses. My brother's [Greg] grandpa, we are half-brothers, he got sick and ended up passing. Greg was like, 'do you want to give it a go with the horses?' There were like 15 horses or so and I said 'heck, yeah, I'll give it a shot.'

What is one word that describes harness racing for you?

Emotional -- There are a lot of ups and downs. It really is a rollercoaster ride.

How did you get started in the sport?

Greg used to groom and drive, and my dad would always take us to the races. The more I was around it the more I would love it. It is an addiction. Once it is in your blood you can't get it out. Right out of high school I got into it pretty much full-time and never really looked back.

Your training career started in 2005 when you were 21 but your starters have been sporadic with as low as one starter in 2017. Does that mean you were working elsewhere on the side?

Greg and I at one time had a little falling out, so I went to work for Brian Brown that winter and learned a lot from him more on the baby side and not just claimers. I worked there for a couple of years and sat behind some really nice horses like Done Well, Workin Ona Mystery and Air Force Hanover. I learned a lot from Brian.

It's widely known that your brother Greg funded your stable with a multi-million dollar experiment. How happy are both of you with the early returns?

I'm very pleased with where we are at right now. We had to turn out a couple of 2-year-olds that we paid good money for, but they'll make good 3-year-olds. Going into the stakes, Catch The Fire finally got released from stud duties, so he'll go out on the big stage now. With Captain Kirk and everbody, I'm very happy with the money we've spent. We've won some Sire Stakes. We won our first Grand Circuit event the other night, the Roll With Joe, so hopefully the success continues for us as we roll into the stakes season.

I recall watching the Meadowlands Winter Mixed Sale in January and wondering, who are these guys buying all the horses?

COVID was really good to my brother with all the marketing he does. It started with let's buy a million dollars' worth of babies and when the Meadowlands Sale came out he said 'let's get us some aged horses.' I said 'Captain Kirk and Chief Mate are nice.' He said, 'which one do you want?' I said 'Captain Kirk is faster but everyone likes Chief Mate.' He said 'how about we buy them both.'

It must be nice to have a brother who is willing to spend a lot of money and support you?

To put the faith in me is something very special. It is new to both of us. It was even crazier when he called me to say he bought half of Catch The Fire and his brother.

When did Catch The Fire finish breeding?

July 3 was his last day. I think they bred him to around 80 mares. He's been training all along and so far it really hasn't hurt him. Two weeks ago he went 1:47 and change at Scioto.

You had a career high in starters (465) and money won ($482,013) in the Pandemic-shortened 2020 season and you've already reached $846,844 this year. Have your numbers met expectations?

This year will be my career high for starters. I think I'm only 80 starts away from last year's high. The way we branched out it is going to be a little hectic, but this will be a career year for me. I'm looking forward to it.

Has it been much harder for you with horses racing outside of just Ohio?

It is hectic but I have a great team behind me in New York at Mark Ford's place. I also have a great team in Ohio. It is definitely new because I've never had this caliber of horses. Greg and I used to have 10 and 20 claimers. Getting these horses prepped for big races and making sure they can stay sound and healthy all year has been a good challenge.

How many horses do you currently have in your barn?

45 in Ohio and 5 in New York.

Do you see those numbers continuing to grow?

Greg is always looking to buy horses. We have a great team, so if we did get more horses we won't burst. The Meadowlands sale is coming up and we plan on going out there to see what is available. As long as he is willing to spend it, my team can handle it.

Do you see a horse like Allywag Hanover (HIP 42 -- Meadowlands Summer Mixed Sale) in your future?

Some people say he is for sale and others say no. If he is for sale, there is probably a pretty good chance we'll be taking him home.

Toni Dale Hollar is part of a pretty rich harness racing family that includes the "larger than life" Amy Hollar and perhaps racing's nicest man in Brian Brown. Have you enjoyed the extended family?

It's great. Toni is the best. She rubs, she is the barn manager and she makes sure everything stays in line. Brian is an idol to me. If I have any questions I never hesitate to call him because he's already been there and I haven't. He can point me in the right direction if I have any questions. Amy is something else. She and I love teasing each other. She thinks I'm serious with half the stuff I say but I just love getting under her skin and getting her blood boiling.

How are you juggling the larger racing operation and family life?

It is new. Toni came to the barn the other day but I don't know if she is going to rub much anymore. I think she is going to handle the "mom" duties at home and be the barn manager. Skyler is a big help at home and she plans on doing a lot of road trips with me now since we are going to be doing more travelling during the summer.

Have you made a lot of trips to New York?

I was but as the due date got closer I've been staying home more. I'm going to head back out next Tuesday [July 13] with Catch The Fire and make sure all of the boys out there are ready to go. We'll have four in on Meadowlands Pace night -- Captain Kirk, Catch The Fire, Chief Mate and A Fancy Face.

At 36, what are your career goals?

I'd love to win a Meadowlands Pace and all the big races. I want to compete. I don't want to go to the big races and be embarrassed. Greg and I went out and bought the horses we did because we want to be a brother combination that is on the map as competitive as best we can in all the big races.

What is the best advice you've ever gotten about harness racing?

Never quit learning. When you quit learning in this business you might as well get out.

What was your favorite moment in harness racing?

Just the other day, even though I wasn't there, winning the Roll With Joe with Captain Kirk. That is something you dream about as a kid, winning a big race at The Meadowlands. That's where everyone wants to be competitive and to get a race like that under our belt was huge.

Which is the best horse you've ever trained?

Before these guys we had a few Open pacers here and there. With the horses Greg has recently bought, it is tough to separate them. They all hold a special place and hopefully we can have a great summer with all of them.

Which horse is/was your favorite that you've trained?

A handful of years ago I had a cheap claimer I loved to death named Midwest Hanover. Just last year we bought one off of Ron Burke named Fanatic. He's a trotter and he's really the barn pet right now.

Burke actually has a good one in the sale with The Greek Freak (HIP 39). Any interest there?

Everybody always says to us, 'why do you buy off Ron Burke, he's the best in the business?' But there is a reason why they are the best. They have the best horses. Greg and Mark [Weaver] have formed a good little friendship. They are both businessmen, so it works out.

If you could choose any horse in history to train, which horse would it be and why?

Probably Somebeachsomewhere because he was a freak of nature. To sit behind a horse of that caliber would be something else.

If you weren't involved in harness racing, what would you be doing?

I would probably be on the real estate side with my brother learning about selling houses and marketing.

You mentioned wanting to win the Meadowlands Pace. Why didn't you enter Captain's Place?

He just really hasn't broke loose yet. I changed his bridle and he was a little better than other day at The Meadows. He's just big and dumb. I don't think he is that caliber. I'm trying to save him. He is Kentucky bred and I think a big track will really help him. Once he gets up to speed he can really keep going. He is not a big sprinter, he's a grinder.

Scott Zeron seems to be your regular driver out east and Megan Scran is taking care of your horses in that part of the country. How did that connection happen?

A couple of people out east said she was great at what she does. I went out there and she has a great operation. We are in contact every day. She's perfect and loves the horses more than most people. Each one is like her kid. She knows my training schedule well and I don't have any worries if I can't make it out there.

Scott has been really important as well. Sometimes horses can get a little used to a driver, but Scott has done a great job. He's had horses in great spots. It's also an advantage with him because he knows if a horse doesn't feel right that week he won't push them.

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

The biggest thing recently now that I have more horses, I would like to see the same medication rules across states. I think that would really help everyone. Right now you can use Cortizone here, you can't use Bute there, you can use Banamine here. It is very hard to keep up with.

How do you view the future of harness racing?

I think it is going to get stronger, especially in the state of Ohio. We are breeding so many horses out here. The purse money keeps getting better and I hear the casinos are doing great. I think there is a chance that Ohio can even get sports betting and that would just push everything over the top.

What's the one horse from your barn that no one has heard of yet but six months from now we'll be talking about?

I'm hoping around September it will be my 2-year-old trotting colt named Hustlenomics [Full Count-Glisten Hanover]. He's got a lot of potential and hopefully he'll make a name for himself.

Time for the stretch drive:

Best Horse You Ever Saw: The best looking is Captain Kirk. He's picture-perfect. He's big, strong and really great-looking.

Lasix -- Yes or No?: I prefer it if the horse needs it. Some people don't like it, but with the amount of speed we have to go now it really benefits a horse.

Favorite TV Show?: Big Bang Theory.

Trotters or Pacers?: It used to be pacers. Now that I have some really nice trotters...if you get a good trotter there is nothing like it. A Fancy Face is perfect in every way. She is great-gaited, she has a great mouth. She is one-of-a-kind. She may not be like Atlanta and able to go with them, but she gives 100% every time.