Two time defending champion, Be Good Johnny, was today scratched from next weeks $500,000 SEW-Eurodrive Miracle Mile. Trainer -driver John McCarthy rang NSW Harness Racing Chief Executive John Dumesny to tell him of the agonising decision.
It’s a feature race in its own right, but tomorrow night’s MHRC Classic could also be known as the Cranbourne Cup Preview. The $20,000 Moonee Valley event is shaping as the best pointer yet towards the following weekend’s $60,000 Group 2 race at Cranbourne.
New Zealand’s latest harness racing star, Auckland Reactor, has been withdrawn from next Friday’s $500,000 Miracle Mile due to quarantine restrictions both in Australia and on his return to New Zealand.
As David Medhurst ambled his way through the latter years of college he had his sights set on a career that had been close to his heart from an early age. While his classmates at St Virgil’s College’s Austins Ferry campus were contemplating the next steps in their education process, Medhurst was planning a move that he hoped would open the doors to the world of harness racing.
Shepparton in the Goulburn Valley raced on Thursday afternoon November 20, on a lightning fast track despite rain overnight. Locals played a big part during the day, with no less than five winners on the eight event card from the Goulburn Valley and beyond.
One of Tasmania’s greatest ever race mares Jane Ellen died this week at age 22. Jane Ellen succumbed to chronic arthritis and had to be euthanized at Neil and Beth Richmond’s property in Victoria on Monday. Jane Ellen was bred by Karen Dornauf who also raced the mare and later managed her broodmare career.
Drouin trainer Debbie Quinlan scored a terrific victory with the 5-Y-0 D M Dilinger/Lauraville mare Miss Deville in the Mach Three@Stallion Station Pace for C0 class over 2105 metres at the Cranbourne fixture on Wednesday November 19.
Young trainer,driver Garrett Newton will compete in his first group one race on Friday night when his five year old mare Dymondee competes in the Cordina Chicken Farms Ladyship Mile. The daughter of D M Dilinger has raced through her grades in the past twelve months and graduated into metropolitan company and Newton couldn’t hide his excitement after she was invited to compete in the event.
The leading trainer in New South Wales, Paul Fitzpatrick knows that Friday night’s Cordina Quicken Chicken Sprint is the last chance for his horse, Make Me Smile, to impress the Harold Park directors in a bid to secure a start in the Miracle Mile on the last Friday in November.
Those Aussie harness racing drivers must surely have some of the strongest breaths in all of Australasia. . . Just ask prominent New Zealand standardbred agent, John Curtin of JC International, who got pulled up for drinking and driving in Auckland last night (Nov 18) when in fact the breathalyzer was picking up alcohol fumes from prominent Victorian reinsman, Damian Wilson - who was sitting in the backseat of Curtin’s red Kia Magentis.
This Saturday night’s SEW-Eurodrive Miracle Mile barrier draw will feature on SKY Channel with live crosses throughout the night. The barrier draw will be conducted at approximately 9:30pm with all the breaking news concerning where each horse has drawn, to be broadcast via live crosses in between the scheduled race coverage.
Australia’s TAB Sportsbet is giving harness racing fans the chance to snare some juicy odds on their favourite Miracle Mile runners. While the race isn’t conducted until Friday week, TAB Sportsbet earlier this week announced that they will open a market available for Fixed Odds betting on Saturday morning.
Highly-promising New Zealand-bred four-year-old Can Return Fire has overcome a worrying injury and is poised to return to his winning ways when he contests the XXXX Gold Golden Nugget prelude at Gloucester Park on Friday night. Chris Lewis will resume from suspension to drive the brilliant gelding who has drawn perfectly at barrier one in the 2130m prelude.
The Bendigo Club staged a daytime fixture at Lord’s Raceway on Monday November 17, with the squaregaiters taking pride of place on the program. The very exciting youngster Conaroyal made it two from two in the Intergrating Technology 3-Y-0 Trotters Handicap.
Lance Justice, trainer-driver of Smoken Up, Australasia’s fastest horse who boasts a lifetime mark of 1:51.9, has relieved the pressure on Directors of the NSW Harness Racing Club after advising the Club that his pacer would not be available for the Miracle Mile.
Australia’s premier sprint race will be run without Australasia’s fastest pacer following today’s shock news that Lance Justice has aborted plans to contest the Miracle Mile with Smoken Up. The Melton trainer-driver confirmed that the six-year-old was still suffering from an injury that had hindered his entire campaign and even if he was offered one of the remaining two invites for $500,000 Grand Circuit feature he wouldn’t be taking it up.
The recent retirement of Safari, yet another one of those monsters sired by Fake Left, was unfortunate and disappointing in more one ways than one. At one time, Safari was heading to New Zealand well in advance to be prepared by Premier Stables for a possible third consecutive success in the New Zealand Cup, a venture which would have surely added a whole new excitement dimension to that race if not the FFA and week as well.
Multiple premier trainer-driver Barrie Rattray has waited a long time for well-bred mare Mi Mademoiselle to live up to her breeding. In Launceston on Sunday night she finally delivered the good’s by producing a powerful finish to defeat one of last season’s best two-year-old fillies Karalta Crown in the PDF Nationwide Tamar Valley Pace over 1680m.
Six down, two to go! That’s the story surrounding the 2008 SEW-Eurodrive Miracle Mile field. To be conducted on Friday week, Australasia’s premier sprint promises to be a race for the ages,
with triple Inter Dominion winner Blacks A Fake, Melpark Major, the unbeaten Auckland Reactor, Changeover and Special Albert already in the field.
Connections of New Zealand Cup winner Changeover have confirmed their invitation to contest the 2008 SEW-Eurodrive Miracle Mile. Debate had raged as to whether or not trainer Geoff Small and the Auckland Trotting Club Syndicate would head to Australia, with tight quarantine restrictions preventing them from returning to New Zealand in the short term.
Much to the chagrin of the SBOANJ, the New Jersey Racing Commission on Wednesday, November 19 granted Freehold Raceway 192 racing dates for 2009. The SBOANJ had requested that the NJRC withhold action on Freehold’s ‘09 date request until …
1) Both Deweycheatmnhowe and Somebeachsomewhere were undefeated at two, and both named Freshman Of The Year. This year, they are-together-about to do something NOT done in 21 years! Back to back divisional honors-SAME two male horses-The last time was 1986-87 when Jate Lobell and Mack Lobell did this.
Horse owners will be able to determine the risk of their animals catching an infectious disease and gather information about infection control thanks to two new online initiatives from the University of Guelph.
The Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) has launched a new Outreach Program that will result in many local racing issues being resolved by those individuals and/or organizations that are directly involved in them. The objective behind this new project is to identify local solutions to local issues by way of a formal process that puts those affected into decision making roles. “We know from past experiences that this approach works,” said ORC Chair, Rod Seiling.
Two divisions of Trillium -2 Year Old Filly, pacers are going post ward at Flamboro Downs Nov. 21. Post time for the Friday night card is 06:00 P.M. Eastern. The added money events take place in the 3rd and 5th races, on the 12 race card, each carrying a purse worth $41,000. plus.
With New Brunswick on the verge of a possible resurgence in 2009 under Harness Racing New Brunswick, the industry is starting to already show signs of growth with many public stables and owners getting new racing stock.
This Saturday at Exhibition Park Raceway will mark the return of a number of prominent New Brunswick horsemen from their yearly campaign to the state of Maine. With a new feel of optimism in the industry the goal will be to try and keep the horsemen home for the 2009 campaign.
A trio of Trillium Series divisions are on the menu at Western Fair Raceway on Saturday evening, featuring 18 talented two-year-old trotting fillies. William Hutchison trainee Fiesta will make her Trillium debut from Post 6 in the first $23,378 contest, and the Dorchesterresident is hoping his Amigo Hall daughter can hold her own in the field of six.
Greg “Gunner” Bailey is making a rare appearance this Saturday at Exhibition Park Raceway as part of 13-dash card commencing at 1:00 P.M. Bailey, one of the best young drivers in the Maritimes, will catch-drive for the Chris Davies stable and is likely to pick up some more drives from E.P.R trainers.
Earl Fram has had many successful years as a trainer in the Maritimes. Known for his keen ability with young horses, Fram has bolstered his stables line-up to include a number of top-notch overnight pacers.
Less than two days after a spectacular night of racing at Woodbine, where we witnessed the season finale of the Ontario Sires Stakes program, a $2.4 million dollar night, the sports kingpin racetrack is throwing out another 100,000 bucks for two Free For All races, trot and pace alike, Monday night the 17th of Nov.
Today on Harness Racing Blog we feature the 10 most viewed harness racing videos on YouTube, the largest video sharing website. It’s not a list of the greatest races, drives or anything like that, but it is interesting to see what videos are the most watched online.
One of the most popular party games for North American harness racing fans this summer has been Somebeachsomewhere versus (insert other history-making horse here). Speculating on whether the three-year-old pacing colt is the best horse ever to set foot on a racetrack, and pondering what elusive quality he possesses that makes such speculation possible, has entertained more than one gathering of race-goers since The Beach broke his first world record in the Metro Pace Final last August.
Terrible fall weather conditions greeted the masses of people as they arrived early last night at Woodbine racetrack for the Hot Sires Stake action. As Hot as the carded field of contenders where, their owners and trainers could only grin and bare the rain, sleet and wind while competing on a track listed three seconds off by the judges.
Here from Standardbred Canada’s Trot Insider is the text of a good piece by Bob Carson in which he interviews Walter Case. It is a MUST READ for all of us who are debating his fate.
Take a look and then let me know what you all think– whether your views of Case have changed as a result of his comments. Here’s one back-and-forth from the Carson interview:
Carson: Did you ever believe your career was done?
Case: To be honest, I thought my career was done as far as driving a horse. …
Courtesy of First Over Friend Bob Asher, here is an article from yesterday’s Cleveland Plain Dealer which offers details about Plainridge Racecourse’s decision to allow Walter Case to drive tomorrow.
Here below is the relevant parts of the piece.
“President and CEO Gary Piontkowski of Plainridge Racecourse, who has known Case since he was a youngster, went to bat for the beleaguered horseman after Case was released last month from an Ohio prison. Case served four years for hitting and…
Here, shamelessly, is a link to a story that had me laughing at my desk. Gotta love it when the word “implodes” is used in the same sentence as your best and favorite horse!
Haven’t talked about Share The Delight in a while because he hasn’t merited any mention. This Saturday he’s in the BC elimination against Shadow Play, Mystery Chase and many other top sophomore pacing colts. I have no idea how we’ll do. Perhaps those of you who follow the trends more closely– hello there, Dean– can …
nbsp;Harnessracing.com is now reporting that Walter Case’s application to race at Plainridge has been approved by stewards at the Massachusetts track. However, there doesn’t appear to be any sort of an explanation from those officials as to the reasons why he is being allowed back or or whether there are any conditions placed upon him.
I certainly hope that explanation occurs– and is made public.
Carol Hodes this morning emailed me with a story that I think is interesting and worthy of discussion here.
Here is a story and letter which chronicle a request by local legislators to convene a Blue Ribbon Panel in New Jersey to discuss the future of horse racing there. Very cool idea. I have a few people in mind who regularly post on this site who would make excellent members of that Commission. What do you all think? Read the link first though and let me know if you think they are doi…
Thoroughbred owner Gary Tanaka has been found guilty (Nov. 19) on three of 12 counts relating to securities fraud while he headed Amerindo Investment Advisors. A Manhattan federal jury was hung or acquitted Tanaka on the remaining charges. Tanaka’s partner in Amerindo, noted New York philanthropist Alberto Vilar, was convicted on all 12 counts.
A stable fire at Riverside Downs, a former harness track that is being used as a thoroughbred training and boarding facility in northern Henderson County, Kentucky, broke out on the morning of Nov. 20. Twenty seven horses were killed. Chief of the Baskett volunteer fire department, Bill Shaw, said emergency dispatchers were called to the scene at around 4:30 a.m. EST. Though no cause or origin of the fire has been determined, he said arson was not suspected.
I’m Justa Lady worked out comfortable fractions on the lead and cruised to victory - her 56thcareer win - in the $25,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap trot Thursday at The Meadows. Tony Hall sent I’m Justa Lady through a 58.3 first half over a track rated good.
With the completion of the regular season of the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Driving Series last Monday the competitors in both the eastern and midwestern regions are now set to battle in the regional finals and consolation finals.
With the recent injury issues in thoroughbred racing, the issue of whips and whipping has come to the forefront again in both thoroughbred and harness racing. There are a few key issues in play here:
1) Both Deweycheatmnhowe and Somebeachsomewhere were undefeated at two, and both named Freshman Of The Year. This year, they are-together-about to do something NOT done in 21 years! Back to back divisional honors-SAME two male horses-The last time was 1986-87 when Jate Lobell and Mack Lobell did this.
The winner of the $700,000 Breeders Crown for 2-year-old male trotters on November 29 at the Meadowlands Racetrack could end up being the favorite for next year’s Hambletonian. After all, the last two Hambletonian champs, Deweycheatumnhowe and Donato Hanover, also won the Breeders Crown the previous year.
Trainer Linda Toscano hopes Share The Delight feels at home racing at the Meadowlands the next couple of weeks in the Breeders Crown. Share The Delight has won twice this year at the Big M, including an elimination race for the Meadowlands Pace. He was third in the final, behind Somebeachsomewhere and Art Official.
This weekend will see the 3-year-old trotting and pacing stars in Sire Stakes action, with the fillies holding center stage on Friday (November 21) and the males getting the top billing on Saturday’s (November 22) program.
Fivedollarsforsox and DI Blast, first and second last week, lead eight in the $15,000 feature trot Thursday, Nov. 20 at Dover Downs. A $20,000 Delaware Claiming pace heads the undercard. Post time is 4:30 p.m. George Dennis drove Fivedollarsforsox to his fourth win of the season last week coming from behind to score a 1:58 win.
Sauce Two K win $26,000 Open/Handicap trot at Dover Downs on Wednesday, Nov. 19. It was one of four winners for meet leading driver Corey Callahan. Sauce Two K became the first three-time winning trotter this meet as Corey Callahan piloted the Valley Victory-Colors Of The Wind gelding to his 12th win of the year for trainer Richard Johnson who conditions the four-year-old, now a winner of $173,391 this season.
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