bea farber
Born on November 8, 1940 – the youngest of eight siblings - Beatrice “Bea” Farber was already building a steady career as a legal secretary in Michigan when a chance meeting in the late 1960s changed the course of her life - and the history of harness racing. After meeting Standardbred trainer Chuck Farber, the two married just nine months later, and at age 29 Bea left her job in a law office to join her husband on the racetrack. What began as curiosity quickly became passion, and by 1970 she was driving her first horse. Within a year she had her first pari‑mutuel victory, winning at Jackson Raceway on May 1, 1971.
Her rise was swift and groundbreaking. In 1973, Farber became the first woman ever to win a driving title at a major harness track when she topped the standings at Northville Downs. Two years later she captured another title at Bay Meadows in California, and over the next two decades she added championships at racetracks across Michigan, New York, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois and Canada. She was a constant presence in the winner’s circle at Northville, Wolverine Raceway, Hazel Park and beyond, earning the respect of fans, horsemen and competitors alike.
Among her early triumphs was guiding Easy Irv to the first‑ever 2:00 mile at Northville Downs in 1973. She also enjoyed success with horses such as Ho Bo’s Dreamer, Emerald Scar, Frosty Candy, and Proudfoot Laurie. But her greatest long‑term impact came through the Farbers’ unheralded pacer Quick Harry, who blossomed into a prolific sire. His offspring - including Quick Command, Quick Candy, and Quick Charlie - became stars in their own right and helped define the Farber stable for years.
Farber’s competitive spirit extended far beyond her home circuit. In 1976 she participated in numerous “Battle of the Sexes” promotions, including a series of head‑to‑head matchups with Hall of Famer Herve Filion. That same year she was one of four women selected to compete against a team of Italian drivers. In 1978, while battling pneumonia, she won the Women’s World Championship against drivers from eight countries. The following year she became the first woman ever to compete in the World Driving Championship, representing the United States.
Farber’s philosophy as a driver was simple and deeply intuitive. “Strength is one advantage a man has over a woman,” she once said. “But I understand horses, and they understand me. They can’t understand words, but they can understand the tone of your voice.”
Farber’s life and career were celebrated in the award‑winning U. S. Trotting Association short film Queen Bea, which premiered to a standing‑room‑only audience in suburban Detroit. She was also featured in the book Girls Can Be Anything They Want to Be, where an entire chapter was devoted to her achievements.
When Bea Farber retired from driving on July 29, 1995, she did so as the winningest female driver in harness racing history - a distinction she still holds. Her 1,801 victories and $9,094,683 in purse earnings remain unmatched by any woman in the sport. She was inducted into the harness racing halls of fame in Michigan, Illinois and Florida, cementing her status as a pioneer whose accomplishments opened doors for generations of women in the sulky.
After retiring from racing, Farber brought her trademark energy and warmth to a new venture, opening her own restaurant in Naples, Florida, and later helping at another family‑run establishment. She passed away on August 11, 2020 at the age of 79, leaving behind a legacy defined by courage, talent and a relentless belief that women could excel in any arena - including the racetrack.