Ted "Teddy" Bowman

Florida Amateur Driving Club

Stats: 60 Wins
Earnings: $146,000

Pictures

My harness career starting in the early 70’s when my Dad, Veral Bowman, took a horse in on trade at his car lot. For a while he took the horse to the local fairgrounds in Sutton, Ontario, Canada. He then gave the horse, “Ichabod Boy” to an older horseman, Wilf Mawson, who taught Dad and me the business. Dad got his license in the mid-70’s when he was thirty-something years old and I started paddocking horses for him with my brother, Mike. I got my license in the early 80’s working for Burt Bond at the Jockey Club. I then went out West with my best friend, Paul Megens, and won my first race on Slim Yankee working for Sten Erickson. I spent a summer in Saskatchewan at Marquis Downs and finished the meet third in driver standings.
I went back to help Dad at Windsor Raceway during the winter season and at Vernon Downs in the summers until the mid-80’s, when we came to Pompano. Luckily for me I was then introduced by our good friend, Joyce, to my beautiful and wonderfully patient wife, Sara, who was a pari-mutuel teller, working the $50 window on the 4th Floor of the Grandstand Clubhouse.
During my break from Harness driving, Sara and I were blessed with two wonderful children, Clarke and Melissa, who both work and go to college. I have been self-employed for 12 years with my pin-striping business. In addition to my love for Harness Racing, I love to fish for dolphin with my son, Clarke, and good friend Bryan. I also love riding my Harley with my buddies.
There have been many people in my harness career that have influenced my life, but the people that stick out the most are Doug Brown, Burt Bond, Paul Megens, Sten Erickson, Al Bowman and Jim McDonald, but most of all my Dad and best friend, Veral Bowman, who today at the age of 74 has the work ethic and spirit of a 40 year old.
My Dad is the world record holder of the fastest mile by a horseman over 70-years old on any size track, 151.4, on D’Artagnan in the Open at Pompano Park. I also am the only driver in the history of Pompano Park to win both a harness race and a demolition derby race at the Broward County Fair held at Pompano Park.
I enjoy being in the FADC, not only because we donate to charity, but I truly enjoy the camaraderie amongst the FADC members! I enjoy racing with my friends in the FADC because we all take care of each other out there.
One of my most memorable moments when donating to charity was our recent donation to Charlee House; to see the look on the housefather’s face when we presented him with the FADC check was heartwarming to know that our group truly does make a difference in people’s lives!