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Glite Dictionary
harness race

harness race

6.3
A horse race where a driver rides a small two-wheeled cart pulled by horses that trot or pace
  • noun
  • /ˈhɑrnɪs reɪs/
  • Jargon
translation icon : carrera de sulkys
  • The harness race was thrilling to watch.

Examples

  • Unlike standard horse racing, a harness race requires the driver to ride in a sulky.

  • He trained for months before entering his first harness race.

  • The annual harness race drew crowds from all over the state.

  • Did you see the harness races last weekend?

  • Last weekend, we went to watch the harness race at the county fair, where horses and drivers competed in sulkies.

  • She placed a bet on her favorite horse in the harness race, hoping it would win the prize.

  • During the harness race, the drivers skillfully maneuvered their sulkies while the horses trotted around the track.

Synonyms

race
vsharness race
∞ 1.0

A contest to see who is fastest or finishes first

is a type limited to horses pulling carts and using trotting or pacing
horse race
vsharness race
23 1.6

An event where people ride or drive horses to see which is fastest

is a specific form with drivers in small carts and trotting or pacing gaits

Surface Forms

harness race singular
harness races plural

Morphology

harness + race

The phrase combines 'harness' (straps used on animals) and 'race' (a contest of speed), so a learner who knows both words can infer it denotes a race involving harnessed animals. Specific technical details (sulkies, trotting/pacing) are specialized but do not prevent a B1 learner from understanding the overall meaning.

Etymology

Harness race comes from the simple image of horses wearing a harness that connects them to a small two-wheeled cart called a 'sulky', with a driver sitting behind the horse. So it means a race where horses pull a cart and the driver rides in the cart instead of on the horse.