From Swedish Harness Racing to the U.S. Scene – Sara Fagerberg
Harness racing has always been a natural part of 24-year-old Sara Fagerberg’s life. Raised in a racing family, she grew up surrounded by horses. Her father worked as a trainer, while her mother specialized in horse rehabilitation and water therapy.
After attending racing school, competing in pony racing, and working for several trainers, most recently spending three years with Joakim Lövgren, Sara decided to take the leap to the United States in the fall of 2025.
Today, she works for Marcus Melander, caring for five horses and experiencing American harness racing from the inside.
What’s it like working for Marcus Melander?
It’s an incredible opportunity to work with such talented horses and to experience harness racing in the U.S. firsthand. The culture is very different from what I was used to back home in Sweden.
What does a typical workday look like?
Most days start between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m. We’re usually jogging horses or training sets as the sun comes up. Horses tend to do more jogging here than they do in Sweden, which goes hand in hand with the fact that they spend less time in turnout because of the heat. After lunch, it’s all about barn work, cleaning stalls, and getting everything ready for the following day.
What is something people rarely see behind the scenes?
Probably the amount of logistics involved. On race days, it takes a lot of people working together to make sure the horses, equipment, and everything else arrive where they need to be at exactly the right time.
What is race day like for you as a groom?
Race days actually feel more relaxed than they do in Sweden. Most of the time, you’re focused on just one horse, which allows you to give it your full attention. We have trainers working directly under Marcus who oversee the day-to-day race operations and make sure everything runs smoothly. My responsibility is the horse itself, so I don’t have to worry about warming up the horse, pulling shoes, or preparing the bike like I would back home. As a groom, that’s something I really appreciate.
What advice would you give someone considering making the move to the U.S.?
Go for it. If you’re even a little curious about it, I think you should give it a try. You can always go home if it’s not for you, but you might regret it if you never take the chance.
For Sara, the next few years are all about continuing to grow, learning as much as possible, and hopefully experiencing big races and exciting travels together with the horses in her care.
