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Presidential to Hop Sing
January 29, 2006
It took "perfect Pierce piloting" and an explosive stretch surge for Hop Sing to capture the $106,680 Presidential Final on Saturday night at the Meadowlands in the stakes record time of 1:48.3. Hop Sing, who paid $21.40 to win, evaded a breaking Shu Hanover, found room up the pylons and caught R
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DQ takes Complex final
January 29, 2006
Marced Card paid $27 when he won $80,000 Complex Final Saturday night at the Meadowlands through a disqualification. Seeyouinmydreams was first across the wire in 1:51.4, but disqualified to third for drifting out into the path of and hooking wheels near the wire with Fate's Place, who was placed
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Canadian Horse of Year
January 29, 2006
Admirals Express, the gray wonder horse who posted many wins in the top class at Woodbine and Mohawk in 2005, was honored as Canadian Horse of the Year Saturday night at the OBrien Award ceremony held in suburban Toronto. The Canadian Driver of the Year was Mark MacDonald, who gained prominence i
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Two straight for Jag
January 29, 2006
Jag de Bellouet, a 9-year-old stallion, won the Prix d\'Amerique at the Vincennes racecourse in Paris for the second straight year Sunday. Driven as usual by his trainer, Christophe Gallier, Jag de Bellouet has battled lameness during the past month, but he was strong on Prix d\'Amerique day.
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$67,000 top price in Fla.
January 29, 2006
A Conway Hall colt out of the Yankee Glide mare Sister Sammy topped the South Florida Sunshine Sale Sunday afternoon, fetching a bid of $67,000 from Dave McDuffee. The colt, named Battleground State, is the first foal of Sister Sammy, who took a mark of 1:58.3 as a 2 year old and finished third b
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Artbitration wins debut
January 28, 2006
Artbitration, who won two legs of the Cape & Cutter Series last winter at the Meadowlands, prepped for this year\'s edition of the series by winning her 2006 debut in 1:54 Friday night at The Meadows. With Dave Palone driving, Artbitration set the pace in the fillies and mares handicap and won by
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Vysoke Tatry wins easily
January 27, 2006
Vysoke Tatry overcame post nine to win the $48,000 White Ruffles final in 1:53.2 on a windy Thursday night at the Meadowlands. Trained by Erv Miller and driven by his brother, Andy, Vysoke Tatry was in the thick of the action early as Andy Miller sent the mare toward the front of the field at the
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Gov. meets with churches
January 27, 2006
Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher met at the Capitol on Thursday with about 40 Catholic, evangelical and Protestant leaders, who urged him to oppose any expansion of gambling in the state. Fletcher afterward told reporters he is not in favor of casino gambling. \"This is not something that I support a
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More slots in Delaware
January 27, 2006
Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner is getting the bill she wanted allowing more slot machines at the state\'s three racetracks and making some 24-hour operations. On Thursday the Delaware Senate approved a House bill by a 17 to 2 vote, sending the measure to Gov. Minner for her signature. Minner a
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George upsets at 20-1
January 27, 2006
George At Bigs, a 20-1 shot starting from post nine, made a big move at the start and again just before the half to win the $85,000 Clyde Hirt final in 1:50.3 Friday night at the Meadowlands. Driver George Brennan fired George At Bigs away from the gate and had his horse settled second along the
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Mare wins 2nd straight
January 26, 2006
Solveig captured her second straight race Wednesday at Dover Downs, turning in a career-best 1:55 performance in the $24,000 Open Trot. With trainer-driver Jimmy Takter, Solveig was parked until the half but then the 4-year-old mare led the rest of the way. The 2004 Dan Patch Award-winner increas
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Super Bowl winner at Big M
January 26, 2006
Bancroft Hall completed a Super Bowl Series sweep, scoring a two-length victory in the $65,000 final Wednesday night at the Meadowlands. Bancroft Hall trotted the mile in 1:57.2, posting her third straight victory. Driver Cat Manzi moved the 4-year-old daughter of Conway Hall three wide with an e
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Remember the Seahawks
January 26, 2006
Although the 3-year-old gelding pacer Steeler has been receiving plenty of media attention as Super Bowl XL approaches between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks (you can catch an interview involving the horse at www.wtae.com), let's not forget horses named Seahawk--which according to the
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Fire at Tioga Park
January 26, 2006
A building under construction at Tioga Downs in New York was damaged by fire Wednesday.The track, which has not raced a live meet in three decades, is undergoing renovation to open later this year with both live racing and a facility with video lottery terminals. According to reports, a local fir
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Vernon settlement?
January 25, 2006
A report by Associated Press Wednesday states that Oneida Entertainment and Vernon Downs Acquisition have reached an agreement that could lead to Vernon Downs re-opening. The agreement was announced in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Utica on Tuesday. The agreement calls for Oneida Entertainment to with
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Champion On Ice shocker
January 25, 2006
Miss Gator sprung a 27-1 shocker in the third round of the Champion On Ice Series at Balmoral Park Tuesday night. Overlooked in the wagering in large part because of post position nine and the fact that she had missed nearly a month of action, the daughter of Smokey Legend looked as fresh as a d
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Mr. Thinker wins at RcR
January 25, 2006
Mr. Thinker captured Tuesday night\'s featured pace at Rosecroft with a 1:5 effort. The 6-year-old Glowing Tribute stallion led wire to wire for driver Sean Bier, holding off the late rally of Homeland Hero by three-quarters of a length. Razzle Dazzle Hall finished third for driver Walter Callaha
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Morgan takes Dover Opens
January 25, 2006
Tony Morgan drove Apache Dame to a 1:51.2 victory in the $24,000 Open Pace for fillies and mares at Dover Downs Tuesday. Apache Dame led at every station before kicking home in :28.3 en route to holding off Shake Away, who settled for second, ending her four-race winning streak. Pacific Illusion
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Lucas wins 1st at Nfld
January 25, 2006
Provisional driver Julie Lucas picked up her first career win Tuesday at Northfield, steering her own Jack Honore to victory in the 14th race, a $3,000 claiming pace. Lucas is the first female driver to win a race at Northfield since Barb Lewis picked up a win on Oct. 2, 2005 in the $20,000 Night of
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A win of a lifetime
January 24, 2006
Four-year-old mare The Great Pacific followed Laughing Louder all the way around the track and took full advantage when the odds-on favorite made a mid-stretch miscue to win the $55,500(C) final of the Lifetime Dream Trotting Series in 1:58.4 on Monday night at Woodbine. Trained by Jonas Stutzman
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Dead heat in 2nd leg
January 22, 2006
Mypanmar and Shu Hanover finished in a dead heat for win in 1:50.2 the $50,000 second leg of the Presidential Series on Saturday night at the Meadowlands. It was a half-length back to Casimir Camotion in third. Mypanmar, with John Campbell driving, moved to the lead with an eighth of a mile to g
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Willowdale splits raced
January 22, 2006
I Zee and Coast Highway won their respective $40,000(C) divisions of the Willowdale Series Saturday night at Woodbine. I Zee was a 1:51.2 winner while Coast Highway crossed the wire in 1:52.2. Coast Highway, sent off at odds of 22-1 for driver Randy Waples, rallied from off the pace to win by a h
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Complex final set
January 21, 2006
Seeyouinmydreams, purchased this past Monday, delivered an immediate dividend when he won the second of two $20,000 divisions of the Complex Series on Friday night at the Meadowlands. Seeyouinmydreams, with Eric Ledford driving, held off a fast-charging Pandarin Duck by a head and won in 1:51. C
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Four Hirt splits held
January 21, 2006
In four $18,000 divisions of the Clyde Hirt Series at the Meadowlands Friday night, winning efforts were turned in by Deliver The Goods, George At Bigs, Ideal Lover and He's A Nice Guy. Deliver The Goods, driven by Cat Manzi and trained by Ken Rucker, won by one length over Smoky Bonz in a lifeti
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Bono Bests best in series
January 21, 2006
Bono Bests, a half brother to Presidential Series round-one winner Hop Sing, was an impressive, three-move winner in 1:53.3 on Friday evening at Woodbine Racetrack, where the son of Pro Bono Best tallied a gritty, neck victory over Whitesand Invader in the $46,600 (C) Snowshoe Pacing Series final.
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Ma Ma May I wins in 1:54.2
January 20, 2006
Ma Ma May I snapped Vysoke Tatry's winning streak at four in the first of three $12,500 divisions of the White Ruffles Series Thursday night at the Meadowlands, winning by a neck in 1:54.2. Ma Ma May I, driven by Eric Ledford and trained by Seldon Ledford, caught Vysoke Tatry, in the final stride
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Bolte resigns from Pa. comm.
January 20, 2006
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has reported State Harness Racing Commission member Richard J. Bolte Sr. has resigned. Bolte, who lives in New Jersey, has been under fire during his 13-month term on the commission, especially since the application of Centaur Inc. to build a racetrack called Valley View
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Windsor cancels Sat.
January 20, 2006
Windsor Raceway has announced it is cancelling its Saturday night racing program due to an insufficient number of entries. The track will combine the entries for Saturday and Sunday for a Sunday night program with a post time of 7 p.m.
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Five series splits held
January 19, 2006
Cat Manzi guided a pair of winners in second-round action of the three-week Super Bowl Series, scoring with Bancroft Hall in the third race and Audit in the ninth race on Wednesday night at the Meadowlands. Bancroft Hall battled American Lane through the stretch and prevailed by a neck to captur
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She was hot on ice
January 19, 2006
An overflow field of 11 filly trotters headlined Wednesday night's card at Balmoral Park, where round two action in the Champion on Ice Series received top billing on a 10-race program. With the round one runaway winner, Fall Creek Mist, having elected to skip this week's action, this race figu
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Broke As Usual cashes in
January 19, 2006
Broke As Usual A won the $25,000 Open Handicap Trot at Dover Downs Wednesday with a 1:56.1 effort for driver Tony Morgan. Morgan directed Broke As Usual A up the passing lane to edge Jake's Nordic and Love You Most in a blanket finish. The Australian-bred Broke As Usual A is owned by Paul McDo
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Black is caretaker of year
January 18, 2006
Stephanie Black, a caretaker in the Alvin Miller stable, which races at Hoosier Park and Indiana Downs in Indiana, has been named the Caretaker of the Year by Harness Tracks of America and Hanover Shoe Farms, co-sponsors of the annual competition. Black grew up in harness racing, and handles the
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Easy wins in both splits
January 18, 2006
Two divisions of the second round of the Champion On Ice Series for colt and gelding trotters headlined the Tuesday night program at Balmoral Park. In the first division Van Joe kept his 2006 record perfect as he won in 2:01.1 over a "good" track, while BC's Legend sprung an 11-1 upset in the second
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Pompano bleachers gone
January 18, 2006
Pompano Park took a big step towards getting underway for the construction of the new racino with the demolition of the racetracks outside bleacher area. With seating under canopy for 500 people, the outdoor bleachers were constructed as the final stage that allowed the track to open on Feb. 4, 1
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Woodbine series on tap
January 18, 2006
After two preliminary rounds of pacing action, both the Blizzard and Snowshoe Series are set to wrap up over the next couple of evenings at Woodbine. The $45,200 Blizzard--for 3 and 4-year-old fillies and mares who were non-winners of two races as of Oct. 31, 2005--has been carded as race five on
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Bet hubs OK'd in Ky.
January 18, 2006
The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority adopted regulations Jan. 17 to govern multi-jurisdictional wagering hubs in the state, almost two years after legislation was first passed for its approval. The regulations allow racetracks and account-wagering services to apply for a wager-processing hub in K
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Jan. Mixed grosses $5.5M
January 17, 2006
The Tattersalls January Mixed Sale at the Meadowlands grossed $5.5-million and averaged $16,455 for the 338 horses sold on Monday. The sale was highlighted by seven $100,000-plus racehorses and broodmares, led by a $195,000 bid on Quality Western. He was consigned by Preferred Equine Marketing as ag
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Hop Sing 1:51.2 winner
January 15, 2006
Hop Sing captured the $50,000 opening leg of the Presidential Series Saturday night at the Meadowlands, overcoming rain, wind and sloppy conditions for a 1:51.2 victory over Shu Hanover. Ron Pierce sat second on the pylons with Hop Sing, following the pace-setting Shu Hanover and David Miller thr
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Willowdale Series opens
January 15, 2006
I Zee and Blue Burner posted 1:53.2 and 1:52.3 wins, respectively, in opening round splits of the Willowdale Pacing Series for 4 year olds Saturday night at Woodbine. I Zee went wire to wire for driver Rick Zeron, cutting fractions of :27.4, :57.1 and 1:23.3 en route to a 2 3/4-length victory ove
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Sears, Campbell Score
January 14, 2006
Smoky Bonz and He's A Nice Guy, both driven by Brian Sears, accounted for victories in two of the five $18,000 opening round divisions of the Clyde Hirt Series Friday night at the Meadowlands. John Campbell also guided a pair of Hirt winners, Ideal Lover and Southwind Apex. Smoky Bonz, sent off
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1:51.4 miles in Snowshoe
January 14, 2006
Conjugal Visit and Whitesand Invader captured their respective $18,000 divisions of the Snowshoe Series second leg with identical 1:51.4 miles at Woodbine Friday night. The clockings are lifetime marks for both 4-year-old geldings and a second series victory for Conjugal Visit. Conjugal Visit, a so
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Vysoke Tatry wins again
January 13, 2006
Vysoke Tatry, who swept the three-week Snow Angel Series in December, returned from a brief vacation to win the first of three $12,500 divisions of the White Ruffles Series on Thursday night at the Meadowlands. Vysoke Tatry extended her winning streak to four with a 2 1/4-length victory over Shee
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Widger wins 2,000th
January 13, 2006
Sam Widger nailed down career win number 2,000 in his second drive on opening night of Maywood Park's 60th consecutive year Thursday night, when he guided Kennans Chris to her maiden-breaking victory. The 42-year-old Monee, Ill. resident hustled Kennans Chris away from the number two post positio
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Super Bowl Series starts
January 12, 2006
Series action got underway at the Meadowlands on a rainy Wednesday night with five divisions of the Super Bowl for 4-year-old trotters. The fastest winners of the first leg were Bancroft Hall and Elvis Cole, who both clocked in at 1:56.4. Elvis Cole, a gelded son of Lindy Lane, won by a head over
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You're Next--again
January 12, 2006
You're Next scored his fifth straight victory at Pompano Park Wednesday night, leading from start to finish in the second race trot. Driven by Wally Hennessey, You're Next started from post six and left right out of the gate, beating out Claytons Valleylad (Wayne Henry) to the opening quarter mil
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Solveig wins at Dover
January 12, 2006
Solveig was the 2004 Dan Patch Award-winning 2-year-old filly trotter for trainer Jimmy Takter, but the daughter of Yankee Glide struggled through sickness her sophomore season in 2005, winning just once in 14 starts. Now four, Solveig got her 2006 campaign off on the right note when she captured a
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Ky. tax bill introduced
January 12, 2006
A bill has been introduced in the Kentucky legislature that would eliminate the sales tax on horses purchased in the state. The bill, introduced by a pair of Kentucky legislators, calls for the elimination of the six percent tax on horses claimed at Kentucky racetracks, as well as the tax on horses
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Trail ride operator honored
January 12, 2006
The Standardbred Retirement Foundation has announced Janice Kay Lea, owner of Wilderness Village Trail Rides in Alberta, Canada, as the winner of its 2006 Humanity Award. The 30-year-old Lea currently cares for 26 retired Standardbreds that she nursed back to health and trained to second careers
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Chicago half-miler opens
January 11, 2006
After a one-week delay due to the horsemen's strike, Maywood Park begins its 60th consecutive season Thursday night. Since 1946 Maywood Park has conducted a live racing meet, the longest in the State of Illinois Standardbred history. Post time at Maywood has been moved up to 7:20 p.m. (CST) each
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Mom Shake Away wins
January 11, 2006
Shake Away, who was away from the races for nearly two years as she was bred and subsequently delivered a foal, put away seven rivals to win the $24,000 Open Handicap Pace for mares at Dover Downs Tuesday in a career-best 1:51. The hiatus from racing has not not proved to be a deterrent to Shake
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Maine vote falls short
January 11, 2006
Maine's House on Tuesday failed to override Governor John Baldacci's veto of a bill that would have called for a statewide referendum on a new racino in the state, the Associated Press reported. The vote, 77-63, was well short of the two-thirds majority needed to send the matter to the Senate.
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Morrill shuffles to Buffalo
January 11, 2006
Jim Morrill Jr. has told the Buffalo News that rumors of his return to the Meadowlands after dominating the driving ranks at Batavia Downs are unfounded, and that he plans to stay in New York and also compete at Buffalo Raceway. After making the move last year to Batavia, Morrill won 128 times in
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Oosting sweep on ice
January 11, 2006
Trotters took center stage on Tuesday night at Balmoral Park as 15 went postward in a pair of divisions in the first leg of the Champion On Ice Series. In the opening split Busto made it look easy as he trotted to a 2 ¼-length victory in 2:00.4 over a track rated as "good." Driven by Mike Oostin
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Car accident for D'Altruis
January 11, 2006
A story in Wednesday's Courier News in New Jersey reports that Standardbred owner Thomas D'Altrui Sr., 86, apparently had his foot slip off the brake and hit the gas pedal as he was parking his car in front of his DI Farm's office in Hillsborough Jan. 5, sending it crashing through the wall and trap
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Holton into Ohio Hall
January 11, 2006
Terry Holton has been selected as the 32nd inductee into the Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame in balloting of the Ohio Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association. Holton's selection will be announced at the Ohio Harness Horsemen/U.S. Trotting Association District One banquet on Saturda
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Foxy Maneuver pays $60.60
January 07, 2006
Longshot Foxy Maneuver rallied for a 1:50 victory and lit up the toteboard with a victory in the $35,000 pacing feature at the Meadowlands Saturday night. The 7-year-old gelding by Armbro Maneuver won by 2 1/4 lengths over Rare Jewel. He returned $60.60, $13.00 and $4.80 in his 2006 debut. On De
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1:50.4 by Anvilanunoit N
January 07, 2006
Anvilanunoit N, a 7-year-old son of Jaguar Spur bred in New Zealand, paced to a lifetime mark of 1:50.4 at Woodbine Saturday night for owner Sam Bowie. Last year Anvilanunoit N won three of 17 starts and paced to a mark of 1:52.3 at Balmoral Park. His Woodbine victory came in a non-winners of $17
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Illinois racing to resume
January 06, 2006
The 2006 contract between Maywood and Balmoral Park and the Illinois Harness Horsemen's Association has been finalized. The IHHA Board of Directors voted 15-0 to endorse the 2006 contract, which sees 70 percent of recapture deferred to new legislation with a seven-year sunset clause, while the racet
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Willmot wins Messenger
January 06, 2006
David Willmot, chairman and chief executive officer of Woodbine Entertainment Group, is the winner of Harness Tracks of America's Messenger Award, the highest honor bestowed by the association of 41 U.S. and Canadian harness tracks. A brilliantly articulate and far-seeing racing executive, Willmo
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Manzi HTA's top driver
January 06, 2006
Cat Manzi, recently voted 2005 Driver of the Year by directors of the U.S. Harness Writers Association, has also been named Harness Tracks of America's Driver of the Year. To win HTA's award a driver must rank in the top 25 in North America in three categories: wins, money won and driving percent
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Vyingforthecrown wins
January 06, 2006
Vyingforthecrown, a stakes contender at three, won her 4-year-old debut in a $12,500 condition trot, Thursday night's seventh race at the Meadowlands. Sent off at odds of 17-1, Vyingforthecrown trotted a lifetime best of 1:55.3, finishing a half-length ahead of Lawman. CR Dream Catcher was third
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HHI names award winners
January 06, 2006
Harness Horsemen International has announced the winners of its major awards for 2005. Jim Whelan, the president of the Ontario Harness Horse Association was named the winner of the Man of the Year Award; the Appreciation Award will go to Tom Winebrener, president of the Cloverleaf Standardbred O
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Restive Hanover wins
January 06, 2006
Restive Hanover, a Breeders Crown champion at age 2 and the winner of the Matron final last December at 3, stepped up and beat the older mare Stonebridge Kisses in 1:52.4 at the Meadowlands Friday night. With Eric Ledford driving, Restive Hanover started from the rail but eventually yielded to St
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Another boycott settled
January 06, 2006
According to reports, the Ontario Harness Horse Association and Western Fair Raceway have signed a new racing contract that will allow racing to resume Monday, Jan. 9. The contract calls for the traditional 50/50 split of revenues from pari-mutuel racing. Management at one point had held firm on
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Camelot Hall qualifies
January 06, 2006
Camelot Hall, who was bred to one mare in 2005 and never lined up behind the starting gate, is back on the track at age 5. He won a qualifier at Mohawk Friday morning in 1:57.1. At age 2 Camelot Hall, a son of Blissfull Hall, won the $830,798 Metro and finished second in the $640,000 Woodrow Wils
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Bullet Bob leaves Saratoga
January 05, 2006
Veteran race track announcer Bob Meyer recently announced his retirement from Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, and has turned the mike over to Mike Sardella, who served as his back-up announcer for the last four years. Sardella, a Scotia, N.Y. native, is also known to racing fans as Saratoga's in-hou
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You're Next wins again
January 05, 2006
You're Next remained unbeaten in four career starts on Wednesday when he won the first race, $3,200 trot, at Pompano Park. Driven by Wally Hennessey, the 1-9 favored You're Next led from start to finish and won by 5 1/2 lengths in 1:58.4. The pocket-sitting Possibility (George Napolitano Jr.) fi
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Rucker's stay extended
January 04, 2006
Trainer Ken Rucker has received an extension of his stay regarding an aggregate suspension of 180 days and fines totaling $3,000 after having six positives on six different horses for indomethacin in his home state of Illinois. Rucker's stay began Nov. 30 and was to have expired Dec. 30, but it is s
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Woodbine cancels Monday
January 03, 2006
Due to unsafe track conditions near the three-eighths pole, Monday evening's card of Standardbred racing from Woodbine was cancelled. Along with an array of horsemen, racing officials from the Woodbine Entertainment Group inspected the conditions before the announcement was made. The opening l
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Mark Grismore killed
January 03, 2006
Ohio-based horseman Mark Grismore, 61, the father of Greg Grismore, was accidentally killed while working at his farm in Pandora on Monday. According to reports, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office reported that Mr. Grismore was attempting to unload a silage wagon filled with sawdust when he bec
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First-time winner at 55
January 01, 2006
Despite being pitched a shutout on the Meadowlands' New Years Eve matinee program, Cat Manzi secured his first-ever national dash championship with 727 winner's circle trips in 2005. At age 55, Manzi became the oldest first-time winner of the title. He finished 27 wins ahead of runner-up Tony Mor
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All wet in Midnight Mile
January 01, 2006
Sweeping three wide from eighth place after the half-mile pole, driver Anthony Napolitano was able to guide Weathers Wet to a 1 3/4-length victory in the Midnight Mile at Pompano Park on Saturday night. The time of 1:57.1 tied the race record set by Docs Able and Napolitano's older brother, Geo
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Sears wins Big M title
January 01, 2006
With five wins on the New Year's Eve matinee program at the Meadowlands, Brian Sears captured the dash championship during the fall meet. His win binge brought him to 29, one more than David Milller and Ron Pierce. Sears also added $44,660 to his purse-winning total in 2005, during which he drove
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