Record-setting harness horse has ties to Richland

The horse Rebuff is shown here competing in a race. The harness horse is co-owned by Kjell Anderson of Norway, who once spent a summer becoming acquainted with the harness horse racing business by living with the Hinshaw family in Richland. (Photo courtesy of Chris Tully)

RICHLAND — One of the top owners in the world of harness horse racing got his start in Richland, Iowa.

Kjell Anderson is a Norwegian man who co-owns a horse named Rebuff, which is favored to win the $1 million Hambletonian race Saturday at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.

When Anderson was a young man, he gained an interest in harness racing in his native country, and sought to learn more about it in the United States. At that time, the Hinshaw family in Richland was immersed in horse racing. Kermit Hinshaw got into the harness racing business in 1952, and by the late 1960s was a major exporter of horses through his breeding farm.

According to Kermit’s son Korwin, a man named Alf Moe was an agent from Norway who found horses in the United States for owners back in Norway. Moe became acquainted with Hinshaw’s horse breeding business. When Moe was at a racetrack in Norway, he met the young man Kjell Anderson, who wanted someone to show him the ropes in the states. Moe connected Anderson to Hinshaw, who invited Anderson to spend a summer in Richland, which he did.

“Kjell helped in all aspects of the horse operation,” Korwin recalled.

Anderson returned to Norway, but he stayed close with the Hinshaw family. Korwin said Anderson maintained his interest in horses, too, and a couple of years ago, purchased a yearling for $200,000 at a sale in Lexington, Kentucky. That horse, named Rebuff, is now considered the fastest harness horse in the nation. Just a few weeks ago at the Stanley Dancer Memorial race, Rebuff tied the Meadowlands’ track record for a 3-year-old trotter, according to the website drf.com.

Korwin said it’s been fun to follow Rebuff as the horse sets new records, knowing that its owner has ties to Richland.

“This colt is the best in the world right now, is tied for the world record and they think he’ll break it at the Hambletonian,” Korwin said.

Korwin said he’s leaving Thursday to see the Hambletonian in person, and hopes to see Anderson in the winner circle. The event will be broadcast on CBS Sports from 5-6 p.m. Saturday.

Kjell Anderson, third from right, is co-owner of the horse Rebuff, a record-setting horse in the world of harness horse racing. (Photo courtesy of Korwin Hinshaw)

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com