Hall of Fame

 



ted gewertz

Year of Induction: 
2019
Year of Birth: 
1938
OwnerBreeder: 
Yes
Owner: 
Yes
Election Into Living Hall of Fame: 
2018
Biography: 

Ted Gewertz has had a long and storied presence in the sport of harness racing, enjoying many ownership partnerships over the years and acquiring a reputation for discretion and class as well as graciousness in victory or defeat.

Among Gewertz’s first racehorse purchases more than thirty years ago was pacer Antholena D p,5,1:55.3 ($208,189), who later foaled one of his first “Giant” horses, Giant Defense p,7,1:50.4 ($202,297) and also Sister Tami p,6,1:51.3 ($336,120). Gewertz’s first horse to hit the big time was 1984 Two-Year-Old Trotting Filly of the Year, world champion Davidia Hanover 4,1:56 ($1,108,252). Her trainer, Gary Lewis, remains a friend to this day.

One of Gewertz’s first ownership forays was with Steve and Stan Robins. Since all the partners were avid New York Giants football fans, most of their horses were renamed with the “Giant” prefix. It was Giant Victory 3,1:54.4 ($1,252,243) who gave Gewertz his first taste of the Hambletonian winner’s circle in 1991. Many top performers followed, including 1995 American-National winner Giant Hit 3,1:54.2 ($646,650), New Jersey Sire Stakes star Giant Motion 2,1:58.3 ($128,432) and Breeders Crown winner Giant Chill 3,1:55.4 ($694,113). Owned in partnership with Spar J Stable, Giant Force 4,1:54.2 ($1,144,432) won the 1993 $500,000 International Trot prevailing over Swedish champion Meadow Prophet. Giant Force remained the last American representative to win the race until Resolve in 2016.

Gewertz was back in the Hambletonian winner’s circle in 2004 as co-owner of Hall of Fame Immortal Windsong’s Legacy 3,1:53 ($1,744,644). In the fall of 2004 he experienced the ultimate “Daily Double” at Lexington. In one weekend, Housethatruthbuilt 3,1:52.4 ($1,164,931) (co-owned with Patricia Spinelli) captured the Kentucky Filly Futurity and Gewertz (along with Spinelli and Fredrick Lindegaard) experienced what no owners had for 32 years – the joy of winning a Trotting Triple Crown – when their Windsong’s Legacy captured the Kentucky Futurity in straight heats. The two trotters were the headliners in a stable that would bank in excess of $3 million, and included such names as 2005 Breeders Crown winner Strong Yankee 3,1:50.3 ($1,434,351), Driven To Win p,5,1:49.3 ($985,093), Sure Sign p,4,1:50.2 ($758,025), 2005 Hoosier Cup winner Dawn Ofa New Day p,3,1:50.3s ($474,473), Center Field 3,1:54.1 ($325,788) and world champion Enflammatory 4,1:52.1 ($303,307).

In 2008 a sophomore trotter named Deweycheatumnhowe 3,1:50.4 ($3,155,178) won the Hambletonian for a longstanding group of friends and partners, of which Gewertz and his wife Claire Chappell were enthusiastic components. The defending Dan Patch division champion rolled into the Hambo undefeated for trainer/driver Ray Schnittker and gave Gewertz his third trip to the trotting classic’s victory lane. Hall of Famer “Dewey” wrapped up the year with $2.2 million and the Dan Patch Trotter of the Year title.

In the Breeders Crown series alone, horses raced solely in Gewertz’s name have pulled down $3.6 million, with much more in partnership earnings. His Breeders Crown champions include Deweycheatumnhowe, 2016 Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year and world champion Huntsville p,3,1:47.4 ($1,704,242), 2012 Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year and world champion Somwherovrarainbow p,4,1:48f ($1,342,848), Giant Victory, Housethatruthbuilt, 2009 Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year and world champion Fancy Filly p,3,1:49.4f ($1,080,806), 2015 Three-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year Divine Caroline p,3,1:49.2 ($880,335) and Giant Chill.

Gewertz was named 2004 Owner of the Year by the United States Harness Writers Association. In 2005 he was elected a trustee of the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame and became a director of the Hambletonian Society. In 2014 the Monticello-Goshen Chapter of USHWA bestowed a Lifetime Achievement Award upon the man whose ownership interests have spanned nearly four decades.