MONTICELLO, NY — The horsewomen of the Mighty M—the nickname of the legendary Monticello Raceway—are an integral factor in keeping the sport of harness racing alive well into the 21st century.

They are owners, drivers, trainers and grooms. These are a few of their stories.

Monica Eriksen has been involved in harness racing at Monticello Raceway for 25-30 years.

“I have my own horses, and I train and groom them, everything,” she said of the work involved in fielding eight Standardbreds.

Asked what it’s like to follow her passion for harness racing with the goal of making it to the winner’s circle and picking up a purse, she replied, “It’s OK. You’re not going to light the world on fire, but you make money.”

Eriksen got into the sport from her father, Tor Eriksen, while growing up in Norway; later she came to the United States. “I’ve been involved since I was very young, and I came here when I was 20 to train horses with Trund Smedshammer and then Tom Malibcsica and Bob Siegelman.”

What’s it like at Monticello Raceway? “I like being stabled here. They help you out if you need something, and I would never go back to a farm again... We don’t go for a lot of money, but it’s kind of a laid-back atmosphere.”

As to the ever-increasing presence of women in the sport, Ericksen said, “I think it’s more and more. When I first started driving, it was like three or four girls driving. Now there are a lot more good [female] drivers and trainers.”

She holds a driver’s license for harness racing, but these days chooses to spend time training. “I did it, and feel like I could do it again, but chose not to.”

Her take on the evolution of the sport?

“I don’t know, but it seems like everybody is working against us, trying to take away the purses, and closing some tracks… The casinos have taken over from the horses. A lot of people don’t even know the track is here, and maybe we should try to do something to get people in the grandstands.”

Christina Klein was born and raised in nearby Liberty and owns CR Dudley, which on a recent afternoon was driven in a 1-mile pace by Rick Hard.

An ex-boyfriend got her into the sport, and today she focuses on grooming and training. Over the years, she has owned several horses, but now has only one, which is stabled at Monticello, her home track for the past 15 years.

Asked her take on the always distinctive names tagged to Standardbreds, Klein replied, “Usually by the time we get them, they are not babies and are already named, and we can’t change their names.”

Reflecting on the old maritime “rule of the sea” that it’s an ill omen to change the name of a yacht—could that relate to harness racing?—she said, “I’ve never been on a ship, and I don’t like going out on big water!

“It’s a great bunch of people here; we all look out for each other,” Klein said. Of the Mighty M and the sport, “Hopefully it will be around for a long time, and we’re getting more young people involved.”

And of women in the sport, she said, “We’ve got a good part in it, and people don’t realize how many women are involved in the sport.”

Ruth Ingham got into harness racing with her late husband Clarence, and for the past 13 years has worked as a groom with a trainer’s license.

“I groom the horses, clean the stalls, brush ‘em up, and take care of them,” said the owner of five harness racing horses. Ingham noted that over the years, she has worked with such noted trainers as Art Green and Frank Yanoti.

Her view of the sport?

“It’s a dying sport, but I think we need to bring it back. We need to get younger people involved, and the horses are athletes that need to be treated that way… The horses are wonderful; everybody likes horses.”

And in closing, she related a tale from the paddock.

“I love the horses; they don’t talk back to you, but they can kick you. One kicked me not too long ago, did a number on me, but I survived.”

A good reminder for a sports scribbler wandering around a paddock. Figure out which end of a horse is which, so as not to get kicked!