Harness Wire

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 …

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 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. …

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.

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.

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.

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…

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

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.

Breeders Crown qualifiers will be the focus of this weekend’s Holiday Harness Meet opening at the Meadowlands Racetrack, Rutherford, NJ. With 132 horses jamming the entry box, eliminations were needed in every division but the sophomore colt trotters, for the $4.9 million Breeders Crown Nov. 29 finals.

Longshot Dover Dolly won the $22,000 Filly and Mare Winners-Over pace while Ladyfield and Emma Rose Ben cop sub-feature events at Dover Downs on Tuesday, Nov. 18. Victor Kirby moved Dover Dolly three wide on the far turn and then proceeded to overtake the leaders in the stretch to get up at the wire in 1:54.4 at 27-1 odds.

Nevertroubletroubl, a 4 year-old pacing gelding by Pro Bono Best, scored his 12th seasonal triumph on Tuesday, November 18 at Monticello Raceway when Mike Merton drove him to a 1:58:3 victory, albeit by just a head over Bettor Watch Him who was driven by Mike’s brother, Greg Merton.

Today the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey threw the purse supplement matter back in Freehold Raceway’s lap. ‘I’m tired of fighting everybody and going in circles,’ said SBOANJ President Tom Luchento. ‘Freehold’s fate is in its own hands.

Jason Bartlett defeated Jordan Stratton in Monticello Raceways Battle of the Rising Stars on Wednesday afternoon, November 19. In the driving competition which encompassed 12 of the 13 races on the card Bartlett finished with 106 points which was 21 points better than Stratton’s total of 85.

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.

Cool weather has been hanging around the Sunshine State but driver Andy Santeramo and EW Royal Pain turned up the heat in tonight’s $12,500 claiming trot for a purse of $7,300 to win in 1:59.4 with a payoff of $42.40.

Scott A. Smith, 49, the brother of Standardbred breeders Senena Esty and Stephanie Smith-Rothaug, died Nov. 16, 2008, at his residence.

Trainer Linda Toscano hopes Share The Delight feels at home racing at the Meadowlands the next couple of weeks in the Breeders Crown.

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.

Jason Bartlett defeated Jordan Stratton in Monticello Raceway’s Battle of the Rising Stars on Wednesday afternoon.

Wednesday’s (November 19) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Dover Downs and Pompano Park.

This weekend at Cal-Expo will see the 3-year-old trotting and pacing stars in Sire Stakes action.

The Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey has thrown the purse supplement matter back in Freehold Raceway’s lap.

A fire in a transformer in front of the Northfield Village Police Department knocked out power to most of Northfield Park on Wednesday.

The Northwest Ohio Colt Racing Association will induct four individuals and one horse into its Hall of Fame.

Twelve of the top pacing colts in the nation entered the $500,000 Breeders Crown event for their division, forcing a single ten-horse elimination.

Dave Palone broke his own record for wins at The Meadows in a season when he piloted Fox Valley Thor to victory in the ninth race on Tuesday’s card.

Tuesday’s (November 18) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Dover Downs and Monticello Raceway.

Last night was the twentieth anniversary of the March of Dimes Trot, surely one of the greatest harness races in recent decades.

Anderson resident Pat Wood was presented with the 2008 Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC) Chairman’s Award Thursday, Nov. 20. IHRC Chairman Sarah McNaught made the presentation to Wood at the beginning of the monthly racing meeting in the Government Center in downtown Indianapolis.

Breeze Hill Will, the oldest horse in a field of eight geldings scored a 1:56.4 victory to win the $15,000 feature trot on a chilly Thursday, November at Dover Downs. An 11-year-old by the ill fated King Conch from B Cor Willshedo, Breeze Hill Will and Tony Morgan wore down front-trotting Myrhythmofthenight (Vic Kirby) in deep stretch to win the feature trot.

Western Ace takes on last week’s winner Thin Blue Line in a select six horse field in the $32,500 Delaware Special, the top pace on a strong Monday, Nov. 17 card at Dover Downs. A pair of $23,000 Winners-Over paces are sub-feature races. Post time is 4:30 p.m.

Good Wednesday morning. Last night I received a “comment” from Peter Gerry, the renown harness horsemen, owner, breeder, and amateur driver, who had some very interesting and important things to say about the current dispute between the SBOANJ and Pennwood. I posted them last night as a comment to one of my past entries but believe they warrant their own entry.

Here are Peter’s words:

“Today, as a member, I attended the meeting of the membership of the SBOANJ and listened to the lead…

Here is the text of a new statement issued Wednesday afternoon by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey. I believe it answers some of the questions raised here and elsewhere. Here is the statement:

“There has been much conjecture about the dispute between the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey and Freehold Raceway’s ownership over their unwillingness to accept funds from the purse supplement secured from New Jersey’s casinos this year.
…

So who among us is going to call Ron Gurfein and tell him that he has to sit still for six hours every year to learn about advancements and improvements to his craft? Not me. And not you, either, I bet. And is Mickey Burke going to bring that Bluetooth with him when he sits in class? Geez, you could almost assemble a cast of miscreant students here that would rival the kids from “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.”

Still, I think it’s cool that the Association of Racing Commissioners Internati…

This past spring, when I called out Kimberly Baron, the so-called “marketing” chief at the most poorly-marketed big-city sports venue in history, Yonkers Raceway, I was roundly criticized by some industry leaders. Baron sent me a few indignant emails and swore that I had simply missed her significant contributions to the promotion of harness racing at the blessed track.

And then she vanished. Gone. Poof. Hadn’t heard from her in six months. Tonight, I found out why. She reportedly left Yo…

I wasn’t at Woodbine Saturdary– wasn’t there to experience the cold and the wind and the rain and the snow. I had to watch the race via satellite. So as amazed as I am about Somebeachsomewhere’s latest, great magnificant effort I am sure the fans who got to see his 150.3 mile are even more impressed. He made two VERY good horses, Trade Editor and Keystone Horatio, look like walking ponies. And he gave his home and native land one final thrill before he heads down to the Meadowlands for the B…

It was a night for favorites in the four lucrative Matron Series Finals at Dover Downs on Saturday, Nov. 15. Both filly finals - Honorable Daughter in 1:55.1 and Hawaiian Drink in 1:51.3 resulted in world record while both colt events - Explosive Matter (1:55.3) and If I Can Dream (1:51.1) were close to, but just off, last week’s world records.

Teenaged whiz kid Harry Landy proved that he can race with the big boys as he grabbed his first victory as a member of the American Harness Drivers Club, scoring with Jet Escape in the fourth leg of the 2008 Fall Pacing Series on a soggy Saturday, November 15th at Freehold Raceway.

ISOBA Super Sale Stake action continued on Saturday night with a field of eight two-year-old pacing colts going postward for a purse of $25,000. With most of the division leaders sitting it out for the remainder of the 2008 season this test figured to be a wide open affair from start to finish.

In the Columbus Dispatch today an article written by Dana Wilson says it all - Harness Racing is in big trouble in Ohio, in fact it is slowly but surely closing down. The closing of Success Acres illustrates the struggles of the standardbred horse industry, said Sam Zonak, executive director of the Ohio State Racing Commission.

Freshmen boys on both gaits were featured at Cal-Expo on Saturday night (November 15) in a pair of $15,000 California Sires Stakes, on which Credit Score and Glad To Be Back were victorious.

Janet Herdegen’s Year of the Dragon made his return back to Western New York a winning one when he took the featured $9,000 Open Handicap Saturday night at Batavia Downs Gaming.