Theresa Wasielak McInnis

Theresa "Terri" Wasielak was one of the first licensed female harness race drivers in New England. She was a harness racing driver, trainer, and owner.

Terri was born in New Britain, Connecticut, and later lived in Middlefield. She was the daughter of Stephen J. "Smitty" Wasielak. She graduated from Berlin High School in 1960.

Stephen Wasielak bought his first standardbred horse around 1955. After high school, Terri began training horses with her father, then with other trainers, such as Homer Harp, with whom she was an assistant trainer. In April 1971, she made her debut as a harness racing driver at the Green Mountain Race Track in Pownal, Vermont, racing with her 9 year old trotter Jewell Tag. She finished sixth in a field of nine.

Her primary residence was in Connecticut, but she traveled from track to track across the East Coast from Maine to Florida until 1973. In 1973, she moved to Florida. In 1978, she married J. Thomas McInnis (d. 1990), another driver-trainer-owner, and the couple moved to Delaware. After her husband's death, Terri moved back to Florida with their daughter, and she retired from harness horse racing.

Sources:

Girl to drive in horse race. (1971, Aug 14). The Hartford Courant (1923-) Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/girl-drive-horse-race/docview/550901502/se-2

Terry wasielak makes green mountain debut. (1971, Apr 11). The Hartford Courant (1923-) Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/terry-wasielak-makes-green-mountain-debut/docview/550791042/se-2

Winters, B. (1971, Apr 16). Grist from the sports mill. The Hartford Courant (1923-) Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/grist-sports-mill/docview/550787488/se-2