Abstract: A hitching device for connecting the shafts of a racing sulky to a harness saddle which includes a harness pin affixed to and extending outwardly from the saddle and a normally locked, spring loaded retractable ball bearing locking devive on the harness pin. A connector assembly is attached to a shaft and retains a rotatable ball provided with an central aperture through the ball and a collar surrounding the central aperture on both sides of the ball. When in the unlocked position the connector assembly slides over the locking device and when in the locked position the connector assembly is positively locked on the harness pin. A spacer is positioned on the harnes pin to maintain the connector assembly at least a preselected distance from the saddle.

Abstract: A coupling assembly is provided for detachably securing the thills or shafts of a two-shaft racing sulky to the harness saddle which accommodates adjustable lengthwise and vertical positioning of the shaft relative to the saddle while accommodating a limited range of free pivotal movement of the shaft about a point which is fixed relative to the saddle. The assembly provides for precise tracking control of the sulky while affording reasonable freedom for relative motion between shaft and saddle to accommodate twisting and minor linear motion of the saddle by body movements of the horse in stride and turns.

Abstract: An improved sulky and harness is disclosed. The improvement includes a pair of ball joints joining the shafts of the sulky to the harness of the horse. The ball joints avoid unnecessary restraint upon the running horse by allowing only pulling forces to be applied through the shafts to the sulky. The driver's seat is positioned up higher than the conventional sulky and forward of the wheel axles to reduce or eliminate the upward lift of the shafts during acceleration at the start of a race.