Trainer Jim Campbell showed he has two honed Hambletonian-caliber horses for new Hall of Famer Jules Siegel and his Fashion Farms LLC in Patent Leather and Crystal Fashion, as they posted identical 1:53.3 clockings in winning divisions of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes third preliminary for three-year-old colt trotters Friday afternoon at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

The Campbell duo also defied a trend that manifested itself – Patent Leather was the second choice in his race and Crystal Fashion the favorite in his, and they were the only two of the six 1-2 choices in the three divisions who did not make a break.

Crystal Fashion, unraced since winning the Beal Championship on June 30 and starting from the outside post... more...

Atlanta (Scott Zeron) won the second of two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for sophomore trotting fillies at Vernon Downs on Thursday (July 19).

Repentance (Jim Morrill Jr.) was first to the quarter in 27. Atlanta ($2.10), who is trained by Rick Zeron, stormed to the front just after the quarter and controlled the race the rest of the way (:57, 1:26.4, 1:53.4). Her win in the second division of the NYSS ($61,300) was never in doubt. Lucky Ava (Ake Svanstedt) was second best with Repentance getting third money.

Atlanta is a 3-year-old filly by Chapter Seven and is owned by the team of Rick... more...

The name may just be Joey, but Joey isn’t just some horse. In discussing the purchase at auction of Joey, her now-3-year-old trotting colt, trainer and co-owner Leslie Zendt exclaimed, "I just loved the name! You get all these long, 18-letter names and he comes along and his name is Joey. I fell in love with his name before I fell in love with him.

"At one track they were filling out paperwork on him and they said ‘What’s his name?’ and I said ‘Joey.’ And they’re like ‘No, what’s his full name?’ I said ‘It’s just Joey.’ They don’t believe you if it’s not some long name!"

Despite the moniker’s brevity, Joey is making a name for himself.

Entering... more...

Tim Pinske, well known at racetracks throughout North America and along with his family owner of Southern Oaks Training Center in Florida, has died. He was 71.

Visitation will take place Monday, July 23, from 4-7 pm at Hanover-McBride-Hughes Funeral Home in Glencoe, Minnesota, with the funeral Mass on Tuesday (July 24) at 1:30 pm at Church of St. Pius in Glencoe. Memorial donations may be made to the Harness Horse Youth Foundation 217 E Main Street, Sudersville, MD 21668.

In recent months Mr. Pinske's health declined from the effects of Lewy body dementia but this past winter he was at Southern Oaks, keeping an eye on the horses owned by the Pinske family and the training... more...

Deleston "Del" Cote, 81, of Cream Ridge, NJ, died Thursday, July 19, at his home with family close by.

Born in Limestone, Maine, he was a lifelong horseman who dedicated his life to harness racing. He was introduced to the sport by his father, Louis Cote, who was involved with Presque Isle racetrack.

Mr. Cote began his career in the Maine fair racing circuit at age 16. He graduated Caribou High School and attended Springfield College. He then worked for trainer Ken Russell in Lewiston, Maine. Having success, he was noticed by horseman Frank Safford. He moved on to a position as second trainer/driver to Frank Safford in Pinehurst, NC, where he raced on the Grand Circuit. From there, he moved his wife and family to... more...

On Thursday evening (July 19) the 2-year-old filly pacers raced in the second leg of Buckeye Stallion Series at Eldorado Scioto Downs.

Ambitious Lillian (Big Bad John-Life’s Highway) was the first Buckeye Stallion Series winner of the evening in race one, finishing in 1:56.4 with Aaron Merriman in the sulky. Ambitious Lillian is trained by Bruce Farquhar. Michael Farquhar and Robert Weisgerber own the Big Bad John filly, who was bred by Midland Acres. Following her in second and third were Wine Or Women (Dragon Again-Armbro Wichita) and Bet You Im Rockin (Rockin Amadeus-Zabette).

Atlantic Star (Cheyenne Rei-Atlantic Filly) and driver Ed Hennessey were next to the winner’s circle in race two in 1:56.1. Trained... more...

Trainer Chris Oakes will start Agent Q in Friday night’s (July 20) $44,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace at Yonkers Raceway, but in the daughter of Western Terror’s previous local start, the pair were on less friendly grounds.

Agent Q’s only other races at the Hilltop came in the elimination and final of the Lismore Pace in May 2017. Agent Q captured her elimination and started as the 1-5 betting favorite in the $140,770 final for then conditioner Aaron Lambert. However, Oakes’ filly, Tequila Monday, upset Agent Q with a 4-1 score from post seven.

"That was a good one, I don’t think I was supposed to win that race," Oakes said with a laugh as he recalled the action. "I remember her following Agent Q,... more...

Rich And Miserable kept himself in position for a possible sweep of the Pennsylvania Stallion Series for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Thursday afternoon (July 19) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, running his record to three-for-three in the competition with a 1:54.1 lifetime best.

Tyler Buter kept the Todd Buter trainee in the two-hole as favored pacesetter Max’s Beast and first-over New Plymouth dueled through a :27.3 third quarter, then dipped to the open stretch and went by under confident handling. Rich And Miserable, who had come off a 26-day layoff, returned a generous $8.60 to win. The Explosive Matter gelding is owned by the Gene Oldford Farms LLC, Lynette Buter, and William and Carol Fuhs, the... more...