CLEARFIELD — One of the longstanding features of the Clearfield County Fair starts again today as harness racing takes place starting today in the first of four days of action.

Race enthusiasts will take to the grandstand on Saturday, July 12, at 5:30 p.m., Sunday, July 13, at 1 p.m., Monday, July 14 at 1 p.m. and Tuesday, July 15, at 5:30 p.m. to watch the Standardbreds circle the track.

Jeanne Urban, clerk of the course for the past 45 years, said Standardbred is an American horse breed that’s best known for its ability in harness racing.

“Developed in the United States in the 1700s, the Standardbred is recognized worldwide,” Urban said. “The breed can trace its bloodlines to 18th-century England. Standardbreds are solid, well-built horses with good dispositions. They are considered easy-to-train horses with a willing submissive nature.

“Standardbreds are well-muscled, long-bodied animals, that are slightly heavier than a Thoroughbred, with solid legs and powerful shoulders and hindquarters; able to trot or pace at speed for racing. Standardbreds take their name from the fact that they are able to race at a designated rate or standard. The original standard, established in 1879, was two minutes and 30 seconds. Thanks to improved breeding and better equipment, Standardbreds now race sub-two minute miles — often racing in one minute and 50 seconds.”

The sport itself is governed by the United States Trotting Association and by the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission, Urban said.

“Pennsylvania law provides for a set of Fair Sire Stakes during the operating period of each applying fair in the state for 2 and 3-year old Standardbred race horses,” Urban said. “Races are further divided by sex (fillies and colts/geldings) and by gait (trotters and pacers).

“Standardbreds race either at a trot or pace. In the trot, the horse’s legs move in diagonal pairs; when the right foreleg moves forward, so does the left hind leg, and vice versa. In the pace each foreleg moves in unison with the hind leg on the same side. Pacers are slightly faster than trotters.”

Each race is a part of the Pennsylvania’s Fair Sire Stakes and are divided into “A” and “B” divisions, based on the horses qualifying times. Urban said each entry pays a starting fees of $75 and $50, respectively, that is added to the purses. Each “A” race have base purses of $7,500, $5,000, and $3,750 for one, two, or three-plus divisions. All “B” races start from a base of $2,500.

Urban said the “A”-level horses earn points based on their finishing positions. The top “A” point earners with five fair starts (including both “A” and “B” levels) who enter will race for $25,000 in each of the eight Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes Championships, to be held Monday, Oct. 13 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan.

This week’s harness racing schedule will see 2-year-old trotters kick things off on Saturday, 2-year-old pacers on Sunday, 3-year-old trotters on Monday and 3-year-old pacers finishing things off on Tuesday as “A” and “B” class races will be held each day from the respective divisions.

The driver with the most harness racing victories for the week will earn the fair’s Buster DiSalvo Trophy.

Tuesday’s day of racing will also see the popular Hat Derby Contest take place once again with this year’s event being sponsored by the Clearfield Revitalization Corporation. Contestants wishing to take part there are asked to arrive at 4:30 p.m. next to the bleachers at the grandstand and judging will begin at 5 p.m.