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Batavia opens Monday
July 31, 2006
The pacers and trotters will be back in action at Batavia Downs Gaming on Monday night, when the 60-day summer-fall Meet opens, at 7:35 p.m. (EDT). The feature race will be race four, a $5,400 conditioned pace, in which Mizuno, a well-bred 3-year-old gelding by Dragon Again, owned by John Sixt and J
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Meadows 1st in slots hearing
July 31, 2006
The Meadows will be first up when applicants for casino licenses will be held in September before the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. The first hearing is scheduled for Sept. 11, and joining officials from The Meadows that day will be those from harness tracks Pocono Downs and Chester Downs. A
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Waples hurt in Mohawk spill
July 31, 2006
Monday is no happy birthday for driver Randy Waples, who suffered two broken hands, wrists and elbows in a race accident at Mohawk Racetrack Sunday night. Waples is celebrating his 41st birthday July 31 in a hospital and his wife, Angie, said she expects her husband to be "out for awhile." "The h
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Gural wins Van Lennep
July 31, 2006
Jeff Gural has been named the recipient of the 2006 Frederick L. Van Lennep Memorial Achievement Award, presented since 1987 by the Breeders Crown Committee of the Hambletonian Society. Real estate mogul Gural, whose role in harness racing has expanded from fan, to owner and breeder, is an instrumen
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Meadows host Classics
July 30, 2006
With no cover available, Armbro Davina took matters into her own hands and launched an impressive, first-over move from fifth, which carried her to victory in a division of the $75,799 Keystone Classic for 3-year-old Pennsylvania-bred pacing fillies on Saturday night at the Meadows. The stakes was c
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CBC's held at Mohawk
July 30, 2006
Doonbeg capped a big night for odds-on favorites at the Canadian Breeders Championship finals for 3 year olds with a 1 1/4-length win over Eagle Luck in the Colt Pace event at Mohawk. The Camluck colt paid $3.30 to win for Jody Jamieson, trainer James Dean and local owners Clay Harland Horner and
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Smedshammer sweeps elims
July 29, 2006
Trainer Trond Smedshammer has won five of the last six Trotting Triple Crown races and with his Mr. Pine Chip and Here Comes Herbie both winning their respective $100,000 Hambletonian eliminations on a hot and steamy Saturday at the Meadowlands, he appears poised to win another. Mr. Pine Chip, dr
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Filly glides to Oaks elim win
July 29, 2006
It was no surprise that 2-5 favorite Passionate Glide won the first of two $50,000 Hambletonian Oaks eliminations at the Meadowlands Saturday, but it was definitely a shocker when Emantee, with leading driver Brian Sears in the sulky, rewarded her backers with a $49 payoff in the second split. Pa
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Mystical Sunshine in upset
July 29, 2006
Mystical Sunshine led from gate to wire to spring a 9-1 upset over heavily-favored Peaceful Way in the $250,000 Breeders Crown Older Mare Trot at the Meadowlands Saturday. Driven by Ron Pierce, Mystical Sunshine took the lead early and then rebuffed the first-over challenge of Peaceful Way and drive
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2nd Crown for Burning Point
July 29, 2006
Ron Pierce moved Burning Point to the lead before the quarter and the 6-year-old mare went on to win the $331,500 Breeders Crown for older pacing mares at the Meadowlands Saturday afternoon. It was Burning Point's second Breeders Crown victory, having won the championship event at age three. Afte
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Lis Mara in WR 1:47.3
July 29, 2006
Lis Mara equaled the world record for 4-year-old pacing horses and tied the Meadowlands all-age track record with a 1:47.3 victory in the $500,000 Breeders Crown final for older pacing horses Saturday. Brian Sears maneuvered the son of Cambest into second-over position behind torrid fractions and th
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Sand Vic best in Crown
July 29, 2006
Sand Vic went past the $1 million mark in career earnings with a 1:52.3 victory inthe $800,000 Breeders Crown Open Trot at the Meadowlands Saturday. It was the fifth win of the year for the 5-year-old son of Mr. Vic. Sears rushed Sand Vic to the lead past the opening :27.3 quarter set by 2005 Ham
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Life Guard hero in Am Nat
July 29, 2006
Life Guard On Duty came charging down the Balmoral Park stretch to rush past leaders My Boy David and Jereme's Jet to win the $272,000 American National for 3-year-old colt pacers in 1:48.4 Saturday night. Driven by Sam Widger, Life Guard On Duty set a stakes and track record with his effort. Ear
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Lolique, Charlie in Classics
July 28, 2006
Lolique minded his manners and won his $31,500 division of a Keystone Classic for 3-year-old colt trotters in 1:56.3 Thursday night at The Meadows. Driven to victory by Bill Fahy, Lolique used a quarter-pole move to his advantage to score the easy victory. “He’s gotten a little bit older and a
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Trotter now 18 for 18
July 28, 2006
Three-year-old colt trotter Maple Leaf Noble remained perfect in 18 career starts Thursday night as he captured one of two Atlantic Sire Stakes divisions at Truro Raceway in Nova Scotia. Amazingly, the unbeaten trotter has won all but one of his races by a margin of at least two lengths. The winn
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Graig still going strong
July 28, 2006
Eleven-year-old pacing gelding G TS Graig posted a 1:51 victory Thursday night at the Meadowlands, just three-fifths of a second off the world record for his age group. The win in the $20,000 claimer was his eighth of the year, just one shy of equaling his career-high nine wins in 2000. G TS Grai
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McMaster has positive
July 28, 2006
Trainer Kevin McMaster, currently fourth on the Woodbine Entertainment Group win list and the 2000 O’Brien Award winner as Canada’s Trainer of the Year, has received a $4,000 fine and 25-day suspension for a positive test earlier this month. McMaster, who has 41 wins and $864,515(C) in purse earn
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Bardis in an alliance
July 28, 2006
When Easton Alliance N, the pre-race favorite in Saturday’s Breeders Crown Mare Pace, won the Overbid Series final at the Meadowlands in March, she caught many people by surprise. Katherine Bardis, however, wasn’t one of them. Bardis, the mare’s 18-year-old owner, saw something she liked the pre
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Joe Lighthill dies
July 28, 2006
Longtime horseman Joe Lighthill died Tuesday, July 25, in Bakersfield, Calif. He was 78. Mr. Lighthill drove 2,272 winners in a career that began in the mid 1940s, with $6,980,116 in purse earnings. Based during his career in California, he seldom drove since the early 1990s, with his last mount
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Delaware rule controversy
July 28, 2006
A rule that has been in effect since last February in Delaware concerning vaccination papers precluded 11 horses from starting in the overnight events on the Governor’s Cup card at Harrington Raceway Thursday, July 27, leading to complaints by some horsemen because it didn’t affect horses entered in
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Showdown set for 3FP's
July 28, 2006
My Little Dragon and Bolero Toki each paced to career-best miles in winning their respective eliminations for the Mistletoe Shalee for 3-year-old filly pacers Friday night at the Meadowlands. My Little Dragon rushed past Darlin's Delight in the first $25,000 elim to score in 1:50.2, while Bolero Tok
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Wilder wins 4,000th
July 28, 2006
Mike Wilder, 34, won his 4,000th career race Friday night at The Meadows, reaching the milestone with Out Of The West. Wilder is also nearing the $18 million mark in career purse earnings. Out Of The West is a 4-year-old son of The Panderosa. The win was the second straight for the Kris Hite trai
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Big miles take Wilson elims
July 28, 2006
Artzina and Fox Valley Barzgar paced to 1:51.3 victories in their respective eliminations for the Woodrow Wilson for 2 year olds Friday night at the Meadowlands, the fastest miles posted by freshmen in 2006. Artzina won the first split after a hard-fought stretch battle with Mr. Apples that resul
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Allstar opener at Red Mile
July 28, 2006
Allstar Hall, a $270,000 Walnut Hall Ltd.-bred yearling purchase, won his career debut in impressive fashion Friday night at The Red Mile, capturing a Kentucky Fair Stakes contest by 15 1/2 lengths in 2:01.4. With Annette Lorentzon driving, the Like A Prayer half brother to standout performers Andov
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Ky's Gallagher resigns
July 27, 2006
Kentucky Horse Racing Authority executive director Jim Gallagher has announced his resignation effective Oct. 1. Gallagher was the authority’s first executive director, appointed to the position in September 2004 by Gov. Ernie Fletcher. "As you well know, I left my wife, family and elderly parent
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Meadows changes hands
July 27, 2006
Cannery Casino Resorts, a Las Vegas-based casino company, has completed its purchase of The Meadows from Magna Entertainment for $200 million, $25 million less than was called for in the original acquisition deal. The new owner of The Meadows is officially PA Meadows LLC. Last November PA Meadows
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Stga handles $52G on Stga
July 27, 2006
Bettors at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway were able to wager on the Thoroughbred races at nearby Saratoga Race Course for the very first time when that track opened Wednesday for the 2006 season, and they pushed $52,608 through the windows. Reports say about 500 people went to the harness track, avoidi
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3 year olds invade Buffalo
July 27, 2006
Buffalo Raceway will host a weekend of New York Sire Stakes, worth $271,367, when 3-year-old pacers invade the Hamburg oval on Friday and Saturday, July 28 and 29. The highlight will be the two divisions of colts and geldings on Saturday in which winners of earlier New York Sire Stakes legs will fac
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Holmes prep in Big M qualie?
July 27, 2006
Western Guy won a qualifier in 1:51.2 at the Meadowlands Thursday morning with Brian Sears in the bike for trainer Jake Huff. Along with Western Guy, the next four finishers: Feelin Friskie, Western Cyclone, Mr. Thirty Two and Four Starz Stores are all eligible to the $275,000 Oliver Wendell Holmes,
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Busy times for Twins Kelly
July 27, 2006
Although he retired as manager of the Minnesota Twins following the 2001 season, Tom Kelly is keeping busy with his scouting duties. Although he’s occupied with trying to help the team make this year’s playoffs, he is also busy watching his small stable of Standardbreds race, usually doing so via co
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Joe Lighthill dies
July 27, 2006
Harnessracing.com has learned Joe Lighthill has died in California at the age of 78. Mr. Lighthill, who has not been active in the sport since the mid 1990s, drove 2,272 winners over his career and had $6,980,116 in purse earnings. A native of Ohio, Mr. Lighthill began driving at age 15, the you
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Ledford 5 hearing held
July 27, 2006
An administrative law hearing was held Wednesday in New Jersey with respect to the suspensions of driver Eric Ledford, trainer Seldon Ledford, stable assistants Ryan and Ardena Dailey and veterinarian Dr. John Witmer, and attorneys for the five have publicly stated they expect the penalties to be th
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Cal driver still recovering
July 27, 2006
After one of the worst accidents in recent memory at Cal Expo, driver/trainer Ken Usherson, 51, has been in intensive care at University of California-Davis Medical Center for seven days. Usherson, 51, suffered four broken bones in his left shoulder, a collapsed lung and several broken ribs after
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NY quartet in Hambletonian
July 27, 2006
Four of the 13 horses entered in the Hambletonian eliminations on Saturday, July 29, at the Meadowlands were bred in New York, making it the largest entry of New York-breds since 2000. Three of the four entrants are by Credit Winner, who stands at Blue Chip Farms in Wallkill, N.Y.: Here Comes Herbie
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Gov's day at Harrington
July 27, 2006
Rodney Wyatt's Ireneonthemove (Anthony Morgan, 1:52.3) broke her own track record for 3-year-old pacing fillies in one of four $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) finals on the Governor's Day program during the Delaware State Fair Thursday at Harrington Raceway. The Powerful Toy f
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Make your Jugbarn changes
July 27, 2006
Attention, Little Brown Jug Fantasy players, you may make changes in your stable through Monday night, with the next race being the $275,000 Oliver Wendell Holmes on Saturday, Aug. 5 at the Meadowlands. Feelin Friskie, who won the New Jersey Classic and was second in the North America Cup, was inad
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3 Merrie Annabelle splits
July 27, 2006
The Merrie Annabelle eliminations got underway with plenty of drama as 1-9 betting favorite Possess The Magic broke stride in the first turn, but then rallied to miss winning by a nose Thursday night. The winners were Michelle’s Angel (1:57.4), Gerri’s Joy (1:58.2) and Chez Lucie (1:58). In the f
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Favorites win in Sweetheart
July 27, 2006
The favorites won the two Sweetheart 2-year-old filly pace elims Thursday night at the Meadowlands as Me And My Baby stretched her winning streak to four with her 1:53.1 score and Isabella Blue Chip took the second elim in 1:53.2. The first five finishers in each elim advanced to the final. Me An
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Takter has two hopefuls
July 26, 2006
Hambletonian rules preclude the use of Lasix in the trotting classic, so trainer Jimmy Takter will have to race Capetown Hall—one of his two Hambo hopefuls—off the anti-bleeding drug in this Saturday’s eliminations. Takter doesn’t believe the absence of Lasix will have any affect on the 3-year-old s
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NJ Gov Favors VLTs
July 26, 2006
Gov. Jon S. Corzine on Tuesday said competition from nearby states means New Jersey should at least consider allowing video lottery terminals. The terminals have long been proposed for the Meadowlands and other horse racing tracks, but they've been steadfastly opposed by Atlantic City casinos wa
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Teague for two in Wilson
July 26, 2006
George Teague Jr. has entered two freshman colt pacers in Thursday night’s eliminations for the $410,000 Woodrow Wilson, including two-for-two Mr. Apples and What’s Up Now, whose late break in his last start kept him from being perfect in three outings. Teague purchased Mr. Apples as a yearling f
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P-Forty-Seven ready for BC
July 26, 2006
P-Forty-Seven’s 2006 debut may have been delayed by a few months, but he is quickly catching up to his peers. Last year’s Little Brown Jug winner will make his fourth start of the year in the $500,000 Breeders Crown Open Pace this Saturday at the Meadowlands. Trained by Kelly O’Donnell, P-Forty-S
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Upsets in 2YO series
July 26, 2006
Series finals for 2-year-old pacers were featured at The Meadows Tuesday night and the favorites were defeated as First Fancy won the $18,000 filly pace in 1:56.1 and Idealic Life pulled off a huge upset in the colt pace, winning by a neck in 1:56. First Fancy, a daughter of Arturo, won by 1 ¾ le
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Citation wins big in Sweden
July 26, 2006
The Hugo Åbergs Memorial was held Tuesday night at the Jaegersro track in Malmo, Sweden, and the American-bred Citation, a 5-year-old son of Conway Hall, was the winner in 1:54.1. The wide open event lost some of its drama when Citation took the lead for driver Erik Adielsson and no one challenge
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Happy B'day Frank O'Mara
July 26, 2006
Veteran horseman Frank O'Mara celebrated his 74th birthday with a bang Tuesday night, winning with his own 2-year-old filly trotter Mare O'Mara in a $14,545 Wolverine Futurity division at the Holland fairgrounds in western Michigan. Also, Farragut won the $27,840 Wolverine Futurity for 2-year-old co
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Allstar Hall debuts at Lex
July 26, 2006
Regally-bred 2-year-old colt trotter Allstar Hall will make his career debut at The Red Mile Friday night, as the historic racetrack opens for the 2006 season. Allstar Hall has drawn post five in the 8th race, a $5,000 event on the all-Kentucky fair contest 14-race card. A son of Like A Prayer-Am
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Miller makes a Devil move
July 26, 2006
Trainer Erv Miller told harnessracing.com Wednesday morning that anybody questioning his decision to scratch Western Shore out of Saturday’s $272,000 American National at Balmoral Park and move Devilfish in, should keep their opinions to themselves. With Western Shore out of the contest, that allowe
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Hogan against slaughter
July 26, 2006
Dr. Patty Hogan of the New Jersey Equine Clinic testified Tuesday on Capitol Hill before the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumber Protection in support of a bill prohibiting the slaughter of horses in the United States for human consumption overseas. Hogan, a
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A 163-year-old exacta
July 26, 2006
In what has to be a world record, 91-year-old driver Leo Burns won a race at the Albion, Ill., fair Tuesday night, with 72-year-old Connel Willis finishing second, making it a 163-year-old exacta (there was no wagering on the race). That begs to ask: What was 38-year-old Patrick Melloy Jr. doing dri
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McNamara named at SBOANJ
July 26, 2006
Leo C. McNamara, a third-generation harness horseman who has run breeding farms and managed the stallion careers of some the sport’s top racehorses, has been selected as the new executive administrator of the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey (SBOANJ). Effective Aug. 1,
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Donato Hanover impressive
July 26, 2006
Donato Hanover was the easiest of winners in the first of two Peter Haughton Memorial 2-Year-Old Colt Trot eliminations Wednesday night at the Meadowlands, while Mythical Lindy recovered from a break to win a mistake-filled second split. Driver Ron Pierce tipped the 2-5 favorite Donato Hanover fr
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Rain shuts Windsor
July 26, 2006
Heavy rains that deluged the Windsor area Wednesday night forced the cancellation of Windsor Raceway's program after three races. Horsemen voted to cancel the rest of the card after the heavy rains led to flooding on the track causing soft spots.
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A royal upset in NYSS
July 25, 2006
Hambletonian-bound RC Royalty made an uncharacteristic break in his New York Sire Stakes division at Monticello Raceway on Monday, July 24, but recovered to finish third—just five days before the Hambletonian eliminations at the Meadowlands and the day before entering the box. The 3-year-old trot
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Maltese Artist heads to BC
July 25, 2006
At first glance the numbers are mind-boggling. As of the last week of July, 69-year-old Mickey Burke, the leading dash-winning trainer in North America, has captured 255 races, nearly 60 more than his nearest competition. That is an average of a win a day, every day! The mind-boggling statistic c
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Crowns, Hambos on OLN
July 25, 2006
The $1.8 million Breeders Crown Open finals and the eliminations for the $1.5 million Hambletonian from the Meadowlands Racetrack will air on OLN (Outdoor Life Network) in a one-hour special, the first of its kind for the network. The show will air Thursday, Aug. 3 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. (ET). OLN,
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Geers finish at Tioga
July 25, 2006
The two-day run of the Tompkins-Geers Stakes came to a conclusion at Tioga Downs on Monday night. Marcus Johansson and Don’t Blink Twice won the second division for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters in a track record time of 1:59.3. The $100,000 yearling purchase is trained by Jimmy Takter and
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Governor's Day on tap
July 25, 2006
An eight race card with purses exceeding $500,000 will be contested Thursday on the Governor's Day program during the 87th Annual Delaware State Fair at Harrington Raceway Thursday. There will be a special 11 a.m. post time. Four $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) finals will be
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Two Hambo elims needed
July 25, 2006
Mr. Pine Chip has drawn post three in one of two $100,000 Hambletonian eliminations at the Meadowlands Saturday, July 29, with the 3-year-old colt trotter the pre-race favorite among the 13 horses entered. Reigning divisional champ Chocolatier, coming off a break in the Dancer final that was won by
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Woodbine racetrack woes
July 25, 2006
Although Woodbine has been using its Standardbred racetrack to contest Thoroughbred races since July 8 due to the renovation of the main track to Polytrack, recent heavy rains have prompted the track to cancel some of those contests. Woodbine canceled its last seven inner-track races last Sunday, an
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Hambo Oaks draws 18
July 25, 2006
There will be two eliminations for this year's $750,000 Hambletonian Oaks Saturday, July 29, at the Meadowlands. Eighteen 3-year-old filly trotters were entered, with the top five in each elim returning for the Aug. 5 final. Here is the draw for the two Hambletonian Oaks eliminations: 1st elim
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Tuff colt in NYSS
July 25, 2006
After a few weeks off, trainer Ray Schnittker told harnessracing.com that Tuffofthetoughest will be in-to-go in a New York Sire Stakes at Buffalo Raceway next week. Tuffofthetoughest, a 3-year-old colt by Bettor’s Delight, finished second to Givemebackmybullets in his last start, a NYSS at Sarato
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Breeders Crown Pace draw
July 25, 2006
The connections of Breeders Crown Pace elimination winners Lis Mara and Holborn Hanover on Tuesday afternoon selected posts one and two, respectively, for Saturday’s $500,000 final at the Meadowlands. Lis Mara, the Canadian Pacing Derby winner, will be driven by Brian Sears while Holborn Hanover
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Breeders Crown Trot draw
July 25, 2006
Breeders Crown Trot prep winner Corleone Kosmos on Tuesday afternoon drew post eight while Titan Cup champ Sand Vic got post five for Saturday’s $800,000 final at the Meadowlands. Corleone Kosmos’ time of 1:51.3 in the Breeders Crown prep last Saturday was a world record for 4-year-old geldings.
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Hambletonian updates
July 24, 2006
WIth less than a week to go before the Hambletonian eliminations at the Meadowlands, Mr. Pine Chip is the likely favorite. The eliminations for the $1.5 million Hambletonian are Saturday, July 29. Mr. Pine Chip romped in 1:52 in the Stanley Dancer Memorial, and will now put his five-for-five seas
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Speed Demon ties Moh mark
July 24, 2006
Speed Demon equaled the Mohawk track record for older horse pacers Saturday night with a 1:48.4 winning effort in a $32,000(C) conditioned pace. Chris Christoforou was in the sulky behind the 4-year-old son of Life Sign, who rallied late with a :26.2 last quarter. Rair Earth had the lead at the :
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Light Headed sets Pa. mark
July 24, 2006
Two-year-old colt trotter Light Headed romped to a 53 ½-length victory—yes, 53 ½ lengths—in a $1,508 contest at the Bloomsburg, Pa., fair Sunday afternoon, setting a state record for freshman with his national season’s best 2:00.3 effort. The mile comes just four days after the son of SJ’s Caviar br
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Daley to start RC Royalty
July 24, 2006
Dan Daley has started four horses in the Hambletonian over his career but has yet to make the final. Daley, 47, is hoping 2005 Valley Victory Trot winner RC Royalty—who many consider the “wild-card horse” because of his high speed--will change all that in this year’s edition of the trotting classic.
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A little R&R for Chocolatier
July 24, 2006
Although Hall of Fame trainer Doug Ackerman was obviously disappointed when Chocolatier made a break down the backstretch and took himself out of contention in the $375,000 Stanley Dancer Memorial final at the Meadowlands July 15, he is optimistic that the 3-year-old colt trotter “will get them this
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Field the pick in LBJ future
July 24, 2006
Bettors in the second Little Brown Jug Future Wager have made “the field” the 4-1 favorite, with North America Cup and Hoosier Cup winner Total Truth second choice at 6-1. Also at 6-1 is defending divisional champion Jereme’s Jet, who won his American National elimination at Balmoral Park last Satur
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Posts drawn for Crowns
July 23, 2006
Defending Breeders Crown Mare Trot winner Peaceful Way drew post six for the July 29 $250,000 final at and was made the 2-5 favorite in the seven-horse field.and Easton Alliance N was made the 2-1 favorite for the $331,500 Mare Pace after drawing post three. Draws for the mare events were hel
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Jet wins Am-Nat elim
July 23, 2006
Jereme's Jet won his elimination for the $250,000 American National final at Balmoral Park Saturday night, scoring in 1:49.4 in a field that included Meadowlands Pace runner-up My Boy David. Thisbigdogwillfight won the other elim with a 1:50.2 effort, beating Devilfish, who broke stride. The top fiv
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NYSS action at Buffalo
July 23, 2006
Hitwiththeladies, a 2-year-old Giant Hit colt, won for the fourth time in a row on Saturday night at Buffalo Raceway, and for the second-straight time in the New York Sire Stakes, and has established himself as the horse to beat in his division of the rich state-bred series. “He’s awesome,” said
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Track mark at Saratoga
July 23, 2006
Quandary Hanover, who was just purchased by his woners, extended his career winning streak to three and set a new track record for 2-year-old pacing geldings when he paced home in 1:55.3 in his New York Sire Stakes division at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway Saturday night. Purchased this past week b
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2YO stakes action at Tioga
July 23, 2006
Tioga Downs hosted the Tompkins-Geers for 2-year-old colt & gelding pacers and 2-year-old trotting fillies Sunday afternoon. The single pacing colt division went to On Your Mach in 1:56.4. Hall of fame driver John Campbell won three divisions of the Tompkins-Geers, two divisions for trotting fill
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Field set for Crown Pace
July 22, 2006
The field for the Breeders Crown Pace is set after two eliminations were held at the Meadowlands Saturday night, with Holborn Hanover (1:48) and Lis Mara (1:48.1) leading the way into the July 29 championship. Holborn Hanover, the 2004 Meadowlands Pace winner, pulled off an upset in the first eli
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Favorites beaten in preps
July 22, 2006
Breeders Crown preps for older male trotters and older female pacers were held at the Meadowlands Saturday night and the winners were Corleone Kosmos in 1:51.3 and the supplemental entry Easton Alliance N in 1:50.4. Corleone Kosmos, a 4-year-old gelding by SJ’s Photo, followed cover during most o
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Stakes action at Scioto
July 22, 2006
Tompkins-Geers action for 3 year olds took place at Scioto Downs Saturday night and the filly pace produced the closest of finishes as Heavenly Beauty won by a neck in 1:54.4 over Fionavar Hanover and Don’t Blame Her, who finished in a dead heat on the wire. Heavenly Beauty, a daughter of Blissfu
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3YO colt pacers at Pocono
July 22, 2006
Tyrant Hanover pulled off an upset win in 1:51.1 to highlight Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action on Saturday afternoon at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. There were three divisions of the stakes races for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers. Tyrant Hanover went off at 13-1, and watched from the middle o
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More Magic in NJSS final
July 21, 2006
Possess the Magic [$2.80, $2.40, $2.10] cruised to a 7 1/4-length victory in the $175,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Championship for 2-year-old trotting fillies on Thursday night at the Meadowlands. Possess the Magic, driven by Mike Lachance, was caught in traffic in the first turn and then took the
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Almost a Teague sweep
July 21, 2006
Trainer George Teague almost swept the three divisions of the Niatross at the Meadowlands Thursday night with Mattultery (1:53.1), Mr. Apples (1:51.4) and Whats Up Now. Only a miscue by the Western Hanover colt What’s Up Now kept him from the feat. Mattdultery, a 2-year-old colt by Real Desire dr
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Katriona aims for Crown
July 21, 2006
Casie Coleman had expected to race in next week's Breeders Crown at the Meadowlands with American Ideal until an injury forced him into an early retirement last month. Ironically, just as the decision to retire her marquee pacer was announced, Coleman got the call to train another Breeders Crown eli
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Charlie moved to first
July 21, 2006
Although he crossed the wire in second, Charlie Lavec was elevated to first by the stewards at Mohawk Racetrack Thursday night in the $130,000(C) Ontario Sire Stakes Gold final for 2-year-old colt trotters. Winner Good Knight and driver Keith Oliver was initially first, but their number was taken do
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No Hambo for Sylvester
July 21, 2006
Four-time Hambletonian winning trainer Chuck Sylvester told harnessracing.com Friday morning that he will be watching this year’s trotting classic from the sidelines and that his Hambo-eligible colt Muscles To Spare is not ready enough to tackle the division heavyweights. Muscles To Spare finishe
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PA licenses set for Sept. 27
July 21, 2006
Pennsylvania state regulators have set Thursday, Sept. 27, as a near certain date for six state racetracks to be awarded licenses to open slots parlors, according to a story today in the Uniontown Herald-Standard. Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Chairman Tad Decker said at a bimonthly board meeti
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My Little Dragon wins in Hap
July 21, 2006
My Little Dragon returned to the Meadowlands in familiar fashion, winning the featured $57,000 Tarport Hap division for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Friday night. Making her first start at the Meadowlands since winning the 2005 Breeders Crown, My Little Dragon was stride-for-stride with leader Ar
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1:53.1 prep for Glidemaster
July 21, 2006
Glidemaster geared up for the Hambletonian eliminations next week with a lifetime-best 1:53.1 victory in a $15,000 Hambo prep Friday night at the Meadowlands. Driven by John Campbell for trainer Blair Burgess, Glidemaster drew off in the stretch to win by 5 1/2 lengths. Berto Primo (Ron Pierce) w
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Tioga Downs maze
July 20, 2006
Stoughton Farm in Newark Valley, N.Y., which is located about 10 minutes from Tioga Downs, has an annual corn maze, and this year the farm's maze has been done in conjunction with a promotion for Tioga Downs. As can be seen in the photo, the maze includes a harness horse and driver and the spelling
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Tweedle Dum wins 14th
July 20, 2006
Tweedle Dum is now tied as the winningest horse in North America this year, scoring his 14th win of the season with a two-length triumph in the Preferred-Handicap Trot at Pompano Park Wednesday. Walter Ross Jr. drove him to victory. A 6-year-old gelded son of Star Challenge, owned by Diane Norris
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ISS at Indiana Downs
July 20, 2006
Freshman filly trotters and pacers took center stage at Indiana Downs Wednesday, July 19. Two divisions of trotters and five pacing splits competed in the second round of Indiana Sire Stakes competition at the Shelbyville oval, with each race carrying an $8,000 purse. Several first leg winners dupli
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Vandervort in 1:52.1
July 20, 2006
Leah Vandervort, 27, who was the fourth fastest female driver in history by virtue of a 1:53.4 win at Harrington Raceway in 2004, moved up to second place on the all-woman list Wednesday afternoon at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs with a 1:52.4 victory with her 3-year-old filly pacer Miss Tally Ho.
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Big M OK'd for 2 more dates
July 20, 2006
The New Jersey Racing Commission has approved the Meadowlands’ request to add two dates in August--the 11th and 12th, the Friday and Saturday nights after the Hambletonian--to make up some of missed racing opportunities lost earlier this month when the state government shutdown caused the cancellati
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Q win for Darlin's Delight
July 20, 2006
The 3-year-old pacers Artstanding (1:53) and Darlin’s Delight (1:53.1) won qualifiers at the Meadowlands Thursday morning. Artstanding, who was sidelined by illness after the North America Cup elims, tuned up for the Oliver Wendell Holmes with his three-quarter length score over Mr. Thirty Two. A
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Croghan has 5 Crown hopes
July 20, 2006
Veteran trainer Ross Croghan is planning a massive assault on the upcoming Breeders Crown events for older horses at the Meadowlands, with five starters in three of the four events. Coming into this season, Croghan, who turned 53 on July 3, was fourth in all-time wins and fifth in earnings at the Me
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Burns, 91, to drive at home
July 20, 2006
Leo Burns, the 91-year-old harness driver and trainer, will compete in front of his hometown crowd Tuesday, July 25. Burns will guide his 2-year-old trotting filly Winsome Wyoming in the Egyptian Colt Stakes. A native of Marshalltown, Iowa, Burns has been a resident of Albion, Ill. since 1970. N
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Florida ready for sunshine
July 19, 2006
The Sunshine Stakes for Florida-bred 2 and 3-year-old trotters and pacers gets underway Wednesday at Pompano Park. Total purses for the six-week series are in excess of $400,000. The trotters are in the limelight Wednesday with last year’s top 2-year-old trotting colt, Admiral Nemo, heading the t
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Jack Hankins dies
July 19, 2006
Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association (IHHA) Hall of Fame member Jack Hankins, also a founding director of the IHHA, died Monday, July 17, after a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 80. Mr. Hankins, along with his wife, Joyce, was inducted in the Illinois Hall of Fame in 1989, becom
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Regal ready for Crown?
July 19, 2006
Trainer Bob McIntosh already knows that Ponder is capable of competing against the upper echelon of this year’s older pacing class, and he says he is now ready to find out if Stonebridge Regal, one of last year’s top 3 year olds, will also fit in. The two McIntosh trainees will vie in separate Breed
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No Hap for Darlin's Delight
July 19, 2006
World champion Darlin’s Delight has been deemed ineligible to compete in Friday night’s Tarport Hap at the Meadowlands because she did not pass the qualifying standard. After June 1, the qualifying standard at the Meadowlands for 3 year olds is 1:57, with a one-second allowance for racing on a ha
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Loyal Opposition resting
July 19, 2006
Breeders Crown champion Loyal Opposition will not be defending her title in this year’s $331,500 Mare Pace, which will be raced Saturday evening, July 29, at the Meadowlands. Ervin Miller, trainer of the $2.7 million-winning daughter of Cole Muffler has decided she needs some time off. “She just
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Near The Limit sets record
July 19, 2006
Jim Taggart Jr. drove Near The Limit to a 1:54.2 track record for 4-year-old trotting geldings Wednesday afternoon at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. The previous Pocono record was 1:55, shared by Bloodstock’s Sam and Ripped. The son of Yankee Glide sat off the pace early, then started his move seco
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Countess Adios at Big M
July 19, 2006
The Artiscape-sired fillies Lady Mattgalane and Me And My Baby took the two $69,100 Countess Adios divisions at the Meadowlands Wednesday night, turning in 1:53 and 1:54.2 miles, respectively. Lady Mattgalane upset the first division field, paying $42.40 to win with her three-length score. Han
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Colt hails from top family
July 19, 2006
Post position eight couldn’t stop the precocious young trotting colt Penn Noble Rocky from turning in a 1:57 mile to win the $175,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final for 2 year olds at the Meadowlands Wednesday night. Bred by Louis Peachy of Pennsylvania, Penn Noble Rocky went through the Blooded Ho
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Lolique sets mark at Rcr
July 18, 2006
Pamela Wagner and Scott Woogen’s Lolique set a track record for 3-year-old trotting geldings at Rosecroft Raceway on Monday evening, winning a conditioned event easily in 1:54.1. Sired by Tagliabue and out of Crystal Vic, Lolique left the gate from post five under the guidance of driver John Wagn
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Kisses will be back at Big M
July 18, 2006
Stonebridge Kisses, a winner of $598,362, has overcome a career-threatening injury and will be stepping back on the Meadowlands stage for the Breeders Crown Mare Pace. Back on Feb. 17, while competing in a leg of the Cape & Cutter Series at the Meadowlands, the 6-year-old daughter of Artiscape fe
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Fields set for older Crowns
July 18, 2006
A compact group of North America’s richest and fastest pacers and trotters will contest the $1.9 million Breeders Crown Open events scheduled for Saturday, July 29, at the Meadowlands. The $500,000 Breeders Crown Pace drew 13 entries, enough to split into two $45,000 eliminations that will be raced
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Det. barns canceled at Big M
July 18, 2006
The Meadowlands has announced that due to extreme temperatures Tuesday evening's stakes detention barns have been cancelled. Horses racing Wednesday night in the Countess Adios and the New Jersey Sire Stakes final are no longer required to report on Tuesday night.
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2nd Jug pool set to open
July 18, 2006
Total Truth, Feelin Friskie and Jereme’s Jet are the morning line favorites for the second Little Brown Jug future wagering pool which will get underway at noon, Thursday, July 20, at racetracks and internet sites throughout North America and Europe. North America Cup and Hoosier Cup winner Tota
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Sports Creek delayed a week
July 18, 2006
A request by Sports Creek Raceway to delay its live racing meet scheduled to open Saturday, Aug. 12, one week until Aug. 19 has been approved by the Office of Michigan Racing Commissioner. The seven day, three race program delay had been supported by the Michigan Harness Horsemen’s Association (MHHA
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$95,000 tops at Tattersalls
July 17, 2006
The Tattersalls July Mixed Meadowlands Sale was held in the race paddock at the East Rutherford, N.J., track Sunday, July 16, with 102 horses generating sales of $1,290,100 on the steamy afternoon. Last year’s sale included the 2004 Two-Year-Old Filly Pacer of the Year Restive Hanover, who went thro
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Rita J, Darlin aim for Hap
July 17, 2006
Rita J paced to a new track record for her age and gait after Stephane Bouchard guided her to a one length, 1:54:3 victory in their $41,686 NYSS split at Monticello Raceway Sunday, July 16. That clocking erased the former standard of 1:55:4 which was set by I’m Yours in 1999. The daughter of Bett
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Only one Crown supplement
July 17, 2006
Katherine Bardis’ Easton Alliance N was the only supplement to any of the four Breeders Crown events to be raced Saturday, July 29, at the Meadowlands. Horses eligible to the Breeders Crown events must enter by 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 18, also at the Meadowlands race office. Eliminations, if necess
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Tim Wilson Sr. dies
July 16, 2006
Tim Wilson Sr., 60, who along with wife Diana owned and operated the Tim Wilson Farm in Martinsville, Illi., for many years and was a lifelong breeder, owner, trainer and driver of Standardbred horses, died Friday, July 14, after being hospitalized. Wilson was born Timothy David Wilson on January
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Mr Pine Chip wins by neck
July 15, 2006
A trio of Trond Smedshammer trainees, led by Mr Pine Chip's 1:52 score, swept the $375,000 Stanley Dancer Memorial for 3-year-old colt trotters Saturday night at the Meadowlands. Mr Pine Chip [$2.60, $2.20, $2.10], with driver Brian Sears in tow, took the lion’s share of the purse, while stablema
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1:50.4 score by Queen
July 15, 2006
The Queen Of Trash paced to a 1:50.4 triumph over Bolero Toki in the $200,000 American National for 3-year-old pacing fillies Saturday night at Balmoral Park. Driven by Hall of Famer Dave Magee, The Queen Of Trash had been edged by a neck in her American National elimination the previous week, bu
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An X Ample in Haughton final
July 15, 2006
Leading X Ample [$8.80, $4.40, $3.00] capitalized on a third-over trip and closed fastest of all to win the $650,000 William R. Haughton Memoria for free-for-all pacers in 1:48.2 Saturday night at the Meadowlands. Driven by David Miller, Leading X Ample tipped off the back of 2-1 favorite Ponder
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9 in a row for Artistic Fella
July 15, 2006
Artistic Fella ($4.00) lived up his his status as the even-money favorite in the $1 million Meadowlands Pace, winning by 1 ¼ lengths over My Boy David and Armbro Deuce in 1:48.4. Cat Manzi drove Artistic Fella to the colt’s ninth straight victory this season. Steve Elliott trains the winner for o
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Jet wins Pace consolation
July 15, 2006
Tony Morgan drove Jereme’s Jet, the 2005 2-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year, to a 1:50.4 score in the $100,000 Meadowlands Pace consolation Saturday night, but they only won by a neck over Fox Valley Appeal. Morgan put Jereme’s Jet on the front end—a familiar spot for the Western Hanover colt—and
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7,500 wins for Ouellette
July 14, 2006
Luc Ouellette drove his 7,500th winner Thursday night at Mohawk Racetrack when he steered Firiel Hanover to a 1:55.4 score in the fifth race on the card. Ouellette, 40, the nephew of Hall of Famer Mike Lachance, began his racing career in Quebec before heading to the U.S. He became a top driver a
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Quick Credit wins in NYSS
July 14, 2006
Quick Credit won the fastest of six New York Sire Stakes splits for 3-year-old trotting fillies at Monticello Raceway Thursday afternoon with a 1:59.3 clocking. A filly by Credit Winner, Quick Credit and driver Brian Mattison were hung out by Stardust (Gaetan Brunet) until deep in the stretch. St
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Alborano put trust in Elliott
July 14, 2006
As a highly successful business consultant, Joe Alborano is used to handling things on his own. To trust others with important matters in his life was just not Alborano’s way. But when he purchased Artistic Fella as a yearling, the New Egypt, New Jersey, resident knew that he would have to entrust h
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NYSS at Buffalo this wkd.
July 14, 2006
Buffalo Raceway will host a New York Sire Stakes weekend worth $235,091 on Friday and Saturday when the 2-year-old pacers make their Sire Stakes debut. Each of the 109 young performers appearing in Sire Stakes action over the two days are still relatively inexperienced and will be proving their skil
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Freshmen fillies debut
July 14, 2006
Fabulous Kemp, a $220,000 yearling purchase last fall, made her lifetime debut a success, winning the first of three New Jersey Sire Stakes divisions for 2-year-old filly trotters in 1:59.3 Thursday night at the Meadowlands. With trainer Jimmy Takter in the bike, Fabulous Kemp went wire to wire,
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Reynolds action at Pocono
July 14, 2006
Driver Dave Palone ran roughshod over the competition on Friday afternoon at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, as he won five divisions of the W.N. Reynolds Stakes. There were three divisions held for3-year-old colt and gelding trotters and seven divisions for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers. Palon
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Passionate Glide wins Miller
July 14, 2006
Trond Smedshammer tried to steal the $375,000 Del Miller Memorial Trot with Queen Serene, opening up a 10-length lead down the backstretch, but betting favorite Passionate Glide was ready to strike when her foe tired and won handily in 1:52.4. Passionate Glide, last year’s Breeders Crown 2-year-o
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Peaceful Way in Matchmaker
July 14, 2006
Peaceful Way [$2.20, $2.10] powered to a 1:52.4 victory in the $100,000 Perretti Farms Matchmaker Trot for older mares Friday night at the Meadowlands. Driven by Trevor Ritchie, Peaceful Way made the lead before the half and took advantage of a third-quarter breather before pulling away to a 4 1/2-
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:51.2, 1:19 sets records
July 14, 2006
Although he only needed a final quarter of :30 to seal the victory, Devonshire Hanover earned himself a spot in the record books as he posted half-mile and three-quarter clockings of :51.2 and 1:19, respectively, en route to a career-best 1:49 victory Friday night at the Meadowlands. Driver Georg
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Peaceful Way to Nat Ray
July 14, 2006
Peaceful Way's trainer and co-owner Dave Tingley said shortly after the 5-year-old mare won the $100,000 Perretti Farms Matchmaker Trot Friday night at the Meadowlands that following a start against her divisional rivals in the Breeders Crown, she will take on male competition in the Nat Ray Trot.
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Big M seeks 2 more days
July 13, 2006
The Meadowlands Racetrack has requested to make up two of the programs lost to the state government shutdown with the addition to the 2006 racing schedule of Friday, August 11 and Saturday, August 12. The amended dates request will be considered by the New Jersey Racing Commission at its July 19 mee
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Fielding ponders big weekend
July 13, 2006
It could be a big weekend at the Meadowlands for horse owner John Fielding. In addition to Took Hanover, who is gunning for the lion’s share of the $1 million Meadowlands Pace, Fielding will send out Ponder in the $650,000 William R. Haughton Memorial and Capetown Hall and Global Glide in the $375,0
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Season's mark tied in Reynolds
July 13, 2006
Omen Hanover and driver Daniel Dube turned in the fastest of five W.N. Reynolds Memorial Stakes splits for 2-year-old pacing fillies with a 1:55.3 mile at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs Wednesday afternoon, tying the season’s mark. A daughter of Western Hanover out of the millionaire Ooh’s ‘N Aah’s
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Longshot hope for Pontone
July 13, 2006
Tom Pontone of Kearny, New Jersey, came close to winning the $1 million Meadowlands Pace in 2002 when McArdle, a horse he co-owned, finished second. This year, he and his partners hope that Shark Gesture can take them all the way to the winner’s circle in the Meadowlands’ signature event Saturday ni
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Crawford gets 3,000th win
July 13, 2006
Keith Crawford reached the 3,000th driving win milestone in the Michigan Colt Stakes Blue Circuit races at Big Rapids, Mich., on Wednesday evening. Crawford picked up two wins on the 15-race card, driving Keystone Raider full sisters Ellaraider in the 2-year-old filly pace and Gina Raider in the
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Sulky breaks at Big M
July 13, 2006
Driver Ron Pierce escaped injury when his sulky collapsed at the Meadowlands Wednesday night during the 12th and final race on the program. Pierce, who was riding in an AdvantEdge sulky he owned, took a seat on the sloppy track when the bike gave way at about the eighth pole in the stretch drive.
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NYSS winners aim for Hambo
July 13, 2006
Tom McTygue, the Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Public Works, and trainer John Stark Jr had one very special guest in the winner’s circle-- New York State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno--when their Hambletonian-bound Algiers Hall won his New York Sire Stakes division at Saratoga Gaming and Ra
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Tattersalls set for Sunday
July 13, 2006
The Tattersalls July Mixed Sale, slated to begin at 1 p.m. on Sunday, caps off an exciting weekend of stakes action at the Meadowlands that features the track’s signature event, the $1-million Meadowlands Pace on Saturday night. With 105 lots for sale and an 18-horse supplement, the annual mixed
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Harness on RDF-TV
July 13, 2006
Inside The Heart Of Harness Racing, a 23-minute documentary providing insights into several aspects of the standardbred sport, will air on cable/satellite network RFD-TV starting in July. RFD-TV is on channel 9409 on DISH Network and on channel 379 on DirecTV. Inside The Heart of Harness Racing w
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Illinois to discuss problems
July 13, 2006
The Illinois Racing Board (IRB) has scheduled three days of hearings to address the difficulties and challenges confronting horse racing in Illinois. The hearings, chaired by IRB Commissioner John Simon, will be held on Tuesday, July 18, and Wednesday, July 19, on the 16th floor, room 503, of the Ja
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PPK race being investigated
July 13, 2006
The Florida Department of Business Regulation and officials at Pompano Park are investigating the results of a July 5 race that resulted in a suspiciously low exacta payoff after a 130-1 shot finished second in the race. In the 10th race on July 5 at Pompano, the 3-1 second choice, Rip Rock And R
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Fillies tune up in qualifier
July 13, 2006
My Little Dragon, last year’s Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Pace champion, and Lonesome Day, last year’s Sweetheart winner, tuned up for the Mistletoe Shalee in a 1:54.1 qualifier Wednesday morning at the Meadowlands. My Little Dragon, driven by Brian Sears, won the qualifier, pacing her last q
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Jugbarn draft open now!
July 13, 2006
Starting at 12 a.m. Sunday, July 16, the first draft period for the Little Brown Jug Fantasy Contest begins. The draft period is limited to Sunday, July 16, Monday, July 17, and ends at midnight (12 a.m.) Tuesday, July 18 when the lock down also begins due to the closing of entries for the next even
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Artzina wins final in 1:52.3
July 13, 2006
Artzina charged down the stretch and repelled all challengers en route to victory in the $175,000 New Jersey Sires Stakes Final for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings Thursday night at the Meadowlands. Driven by John Campbell and trained by Dylan Davis, Artzina used a first-over attack past the
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Apecs debuts in 1:57.4
July 12, 2006
Apecs trotted to a 1:57.4 victory in the second of two $28,000 Hanover divisions for 2-year-old fillies Tuesday night at Balmoral Park, while Fox Valley Deja captured the first split in 1:59.2. Patiently handled in her career debut by driver Andy Miller, Apecs, a daughter of Muscles Yankee, settled
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NYSS colts at Stga Wed.
July 12, 2006
Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Public Works Tom McTygue will suffer through a nervous Wednesday as he waits out the hours until his colt Algiers Hall competes at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway in the third race. The 3-year-old Conway Hall colt he owns with Carlyle and David Smith and trainer John Sta
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Paragon sets Georgian mark
July 12, 2006
Four-year-old pacer Paragon set a Georgian Downs all-age track record Tuesday night, capturing a $17,000(C) conditioned pace in 1:51.2. Driven by Jody Jamieson, Paragon lowered the previous mark of Armbo Balmoral by one-fifth of a second; it also lowered the mark for older pacers by two-fifths.,
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HRTV to show Big M Pace
July 12, 2006
HorseRacing TV will carry exclusive live coverage of one of harness racing greatest nights when it presents the $1 million Meadowlands Pace, and a tremendous supporting card, from the Meadowlands this Saturday night. The Meadowlands Pace is the premier race for 3-year-old pacers, and likely fea
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Tompkins-Geers Tioga party
July 12, 2006
Tioga Downs is inviting all owners, trainers, grooms and drivers involved with the Tompkins Geers races to enjoy fun and festivities July 23 and 24 courtesy of sponsors Allerage Farm, American Racing and Entertainment, Brittany Farms, Fashion Farms, Hanover Shoe Farm, Perretti Farms, the Standardbre
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Lord a harness evangelist
July 12, 2006
A young harness horse owner based at Vernon Downs is looking to share his love of working with Standardbreds with disabled children. Chase Lord, who lives in Corfu, N.Y., is currently traveling throughout New York State to introduce people to his Mossy Creek Foundation, a program he is developing wh
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11,000 wins for Palone
July 12, 2006
Driver Dave Palone drove the 11,000th winner of his career Wednesday afternoon at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. Palone hit the milestone by driving Gel Mibson, a 2-year-old trotting colt making his debut, to a 2:02:3 score in Reynolds Stakes division. There were five Reynolds divisions for 2-year-
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Big filly winner for Nickells
July 12, 2006
Trainer Bruce Nickells is back with another big pacing filly winner; his latest star is Me And My Baby, who rolled to an impressive 5 1/4-length victory in the $175,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Championship for 2-year-old filly pacers on Wednesday night at the Meadowlands. Driven by John Campbell,
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Plan for NJSS 2YO purses
July 11, 2006
The New Jersey Sire Stakes will make an equitable distribution of purse money to the owners of 103 horses entered in 12 two-year-old races canceled at the Meadowlands on July 5 and 6, due to the budget impasse that shut down state government and forced the racetrack to be closed. The NJSS Board of T
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Online casinos attacked
July 11, 2006
Gamblers who prefer their laptops to blackjack tables won't like what Congress is doing. On Tuesday, the House plans to vote on a bill that would ban credit cards for paying online bets and could padlock gambling Web sites. The legislation would clarify existing law to spell out that it is illega
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Posts for $1 million race
July 11, 2006
Simply stating post three “just seems like a good place” to start, trainer Steve Elliott chose that starting position for 7-5 morning-line favorite Artistic Fella during Tuesday afternoon’s press conference for Saturday’s $1 million Meadowlands Pace at the Meadowlands. Following Elliott’s choice, fe
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On-line gaming bill passes
July 11, 2006
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 317-93 Tuesday in favor of legislation that would prevent gamblers from using credit cards to bet online, but contains exceptions for horse racing and state-run lotteries. The bill—which now goes to the Senate--would also allow authorities to work with Interne
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Macaria wins in Reynolds
July 11, 2006
Macaria Hanover looks like she’s back to her winning ways. The Lindy Lane filly captured the $17,808 first division of the W.N. Reynolds Memorial Stakes for 3-year-old filly trotters Tuesday afternoon at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, winning in 1:56.3. There were three divisions held for both 3-ye
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Top fields set in Europe
July 10, 2006
The St. Michel track in Finland is is regarded as the fastest oval in Europe, and may in fact be the fastest five-eighths mile in the world. A field led by Passionate Kemp, Mara Bourbon and Norvelous Hanover will take to the racing strip Sunday, July 16, for a $78,000 race at a distance of one mile.
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Am Nat elims at Balmoral
July 09, 2006
Caviart Sydney and Bolero Toki upset favorites in the closing strides of their respective divisions and won eliminations Saturday night at Balmoral Park for next week’s $200,000 American National for 3-year-old filly pacers. In the first elim Bolero Toki and Brent Holland overcame the favored Ki
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10 Sire Stakes at Scioto
July 09, 2006
Freshman colt and gelding trotters and pacers were featured at Scioto Downs Saturday night in five divisions of each of the Ohio Sire Stakes. The top performance by the trotters was turned in by Trottin Troy, with Del S. Miller in the bike. The gelded son of Chip Chip Hooray went wire to wire, wi
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Freshmen pacers at RcR
July 09, 2006
Freshman pacers of both sexes raced in two divisions each of the Maryland Sire Stakes at Rosecroft Raceway Saturday night with two sons of Allie’s Western proving to be the quickest. In the first colt and gelding split General Nelson was a neck winner for driver John Wagner over Western Sizzler a
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NJ Gov signs order
July 08, 2006
Racing resumes at both the Meadowlands and Monmouth Park today. With the passage of a 2007 fiscal year budget, New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine signed Executive Order 19 at approximately 6 a.m., ending the shutdown of state government that resulted in the furloughing of thousands of state employee
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Nine OHSS at Northfield
July 08, 2006
Funtime Filly made a break while taking the lead at the half, but recovered quickly, took the lead and went on to post a 3 3/4-length victory in 1:57.3 in one of five Ohio Sire Stakes divisions for 2-year-old filly pacers at Northfield Park Friday night. The evening’s 15-race card also included four
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Favs win Dancer elims
July 08, 2006
Harness racing returned to the Meadowlands early Saturday evening with three eliminations for next week’s $375,000 Stanley Dancer Memorial 3-year-old colt and gelding trot. There were no surprises as Here Comes Herbie, Mr. Pine Chip and Chocolatier scored convincing victories. The elims were orig
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Passionate Glide scores
July 08, 2006
Two divisions of 3-year-old filly trotters met in $25,000 non-wagering eliminations Friday night for next week’s $375,000 Delvin Miller Memorial. Last year’s Dan Patch winner, Passionate Glide, stretched her winning streak to five with a commanding 1:54.2 victory and Queen Serene also drew off for a
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Grand Circuit at Pocono
July 08, 2006
Two-year-old trotting fillies and three-year-old pacing colts and geldings took center stage at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs Saturday afternoon, as they competed in the W.N. Reynolds Memorial Stakes to kick off Grand Circuit week at the track. Pocono-based driver Mike Simons managed a win in bo
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Haughton final set
July 08, 2006
Defending William R. Haughton Memorial champion Dr. No and Ponder captured their respective $50,000 Haughton eliminations Saturday night at the Meadowlands in 1:48.4 and 1:48.2, respectively. In the first elim Dr. No and Cat Manzi took the early lead with a :26.4 opening quarter, then relinquishe
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Sand Vic sets record
July 08, 2006
Sand Vic continued his hot streak with a stakes record 1:51.2 victory in the $200,000 Titan Cup at the Meadowlands Saturday night over Elegant Man with Corleone Kosmos third. The time for the mile was a lifetime mark for the winner and was just one-fifth of a second off Varenne’s world mark. He’s
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Artistic Fella in 1:48.4
July 08, 2006
Artistic Fella found the competition a little tougher in the second $50,000 Meadowlands Pace elimination Saturday night, but the son of Pacific Fella responded brilliantly with a career-best 1:48.4 victory, which equals the fastest Pace elimination record. In the first elim Perfect Union went wire t
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Mighty M sets $$ record
July 07, 2006
New Jersey's loss is apparently Monticello Raceway's gain as the upstate New York racetrack set an all-time handle high on Thursday afternoon. Wagering on the 13-race progam was $1,229,807, breaking the old mark of $1,192,895 set on Dec. 12, 2001. Both the Meadowlands and Monmouth Park Thoroughbr
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Muscles Yankee sis qualifies
July 07, 2006
Down Goes Debbie, a 2-year-old filly by Andover Hall and half sister to Muscles Yankee, highlighted a group of qualifiers at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs with a 2:02.2 effort. Driven by Ray Schnittker for trainer Paul Doherty, Down Goes Debbie took command by the half and drew off by 13 1/2 lengths i
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Will Jet fly in Big M Pace?
July 07, 2006
Although he is still looking for her first win of 2006, it would be hard not to have high expectations for Jereme’s Jet in the first of two $50,000 Meadowlands Pace elimination races Saturday night at the Meadowlands. At two the son of Western Hanover-Ohyouprettything had six wins in seven starts an
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Richard Bolte Sr. dies
July 07, 2006
Richard J. Bolte Sr., a former Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commissioner, died earlier this week due to a lingering illness. He was 72. Mr. Bolte joined the Commission in December of 2004 and served with distinction until his resignation in early 2006. He always asked thoughtful, probing question
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Tioga bars Engler
July 07, 2006
Tioga Downs has announced that Ellen Engler of Middletown, N.Y. who has been listed as the trainer of record for horses owned by Sidney Korn, Alvin Jacobs, David Schneider and the VIP Internet Stable, has been informed that her racing privileges have been rescinded. Tim Case who previously has been
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Allstar Hall romps in quali
July 07, 2006
Allstar Hall, a 2-year-old colt from the first crop by Like A Prayer and out of the top producing mare Amour Angus, made his first qualifying start at Scioto Downs Friday morning and won wire to wire by 10 lengths in 2:02.1 with a last quarter in :29.3. Allstar Hall was a $270,000 yearling purcha
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2YO trotter in 1:58.2 mark
July 06, 2006
The Meadows held its third straight day of Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Wednesday night. Five divisions of 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters were in the spotlight. Mythical Lindy, owned by Thomas York and Joe Sbrocco, set a stakes record of 1:58.2 in the fourth division. Trained by Jim Arledge Jr
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Brian Zendt back in bike
July 06, 2006
Brian Zendt, who was released from the hospital earlier in the morning following an accident Monday, reached the winner’s circle Wednesday night at The Meadows, driving Penn Monie Mosie to a 2:00.3 score in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes division for 2-year-old colt trotters. “I feel great,” Zendt sa
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Mohegans restate concerns
July 06, 2006
Plans for a new $135 million casino complex at the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs have been dealt a setback, according to a published report in the New London, Conn., newspaper The Day. According to the story Pennsylvania officials have issued rules the company said will force it to pay higher-than-ant
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Guy upsets Tweedle Dum
July 06, 2006
Guy Gets Girl put an abrupt halt to Tweedle Dum’s seven-race winning streak, collaring that one in the final yards to score a half-length victory in Pompano’s $10,000 Preferred I Handicap trotting feature on Wednesday night in 1:55.2. Driven by Bruce Ranger for owner Paul Ministrelli of Brighton,
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Morgan wins three at Rcr
July 06, 2006
Tony Morgan, racing’s winningest driver this year with 554 wins, visited Rosecroft Raceway Tuesday, July 4. Morgan, slated to drive in eight of ten races on the evening, made it to the winner's circle on three occasions. Major Danger N wired the field in the third race for trainer Manley Brown Jr
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Do you know My Boy David?
July 06, 2006
My Boy David, who had been cruising the Illinois tracks for most of his career, slips into the Meadowlands this week to bid for a spot in the $1 million Meadowlands Pace on July 15. He drew the rail in the eighth race, the second of the two elims. Until a couple of weeks ago, My Boy David had to
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Passionate Glide to Hambo?
July 06, 2006
Might Passionate Glide take on the colts in the Hambletonian? Here's what trainer Jimmy Takter has to say about the filly's talent: "It depends how the Stanley Dancer goes, but right now I have no doubt she could go with anything [in the colt division]," said Takter. "She reminds me of Moni Maker i
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NJ Budget not finalized
July 06, 2006
With no state budget in place in time, the Meadowlands is canceling live racing as well as night simulcasting for Thursday, July 6. “While there has been progress on the budget issue, nothing has been finalized in time to allow us to move forward with racing on Thursday night,” said Meadowlands Vice
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Report says NJ deal struck
July 06, 2006
Governor Jon Corzine and New Jersey’s Assembly Speaker have struck a tentative budget deal, signaling an end to the government shutdown that furloughed tens of thousands of state workers, closed state courts, parks and racetracks, and halted gambling at Atlantic City casinos, four sources with knowl
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PASS 2YO Filly Pace action
July 05, 2006
The Meadows held six divisions of the Pennsylvania Sir Stakes for 2-year-old filly pacers Tuesday night. Fiore Hanover, trained by George Teague Jr., won the first division with driver Dave Palone in 1:55.4. The $16,000 yearling purchase sat third throughout most of the mile, behind Jayne’s Charact
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Lights go out at Rosecroft
July 05, 2006
Rosecroft Raceway was forced to cancel its final four races on Tuesday night, including it's $11,300 Preferred Pace, due to the outage of a portion of racetrack lighting. Violent electrical storms have peppered the Washington D.C. area over the past few days, and have caused numerous power outages.
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Brian Zendt injured
July 05, 2006
Brian Zendt, 30, was injured during the 11th race Monday night, at The Meadows when his horse Tag After tax became entangled with Mike Wilder and his horse, Mama Sand Tenor. Zendt was flown to a Pittsburgh area hospital. While no serious injuries were immediately known, he was hospitalized for evalu
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Meadowlands closed Wed.
July 05, 2006
With the New Jersey legislature still at an impasse over its budget, the Meadowlands has canceled its live racing program for Wednesday, July 5. “Given the hour-to-hour nature of the negotiations, we will take each program day-by-day,” said vice president for racing operations Chris McErlean. “W
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Tioga slots open
July 05, 2006
Tioga Downs finally opened its 750-machine video gaming parlor Tuesday, July 4, and an overflow crowd filled the site to capacity throughout the day. Nearly 400 people were reportedly in line when the racino opened at 10 a.m., an opening delayed three times the past week due to flooding in the area.
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Top trotters race Friday
July 05, 2006
While 3-year-old pacers are the focus on Saturday night in the Meadowlands Pace eliminations, the Friday card will showcase the sport’s top sophomore trotters as the fields are decided for the $375,000 Stanley Dancer Memorial and $375,000 Delvin Miller Memorial at the Meadowlands. Twenty-two co
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Harness racing on RFD
July 05, 2006
Inside The Heart Of Harness Racing, a 23-minute documentary providing insights into several aspects of the standardbred sport, will air on cable/satellite network RFD-TV starting in July. RFD-TV is on channel 9409 on DISH Network and on channel 379 on DirecTV. Inside The Heart of Harness Racing w
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Black Book '06 roster online
July 05, 2006
The roster of yearlings for this year's Harrisburg sale is now available on Standardbred Horse Sales Company's web site. www.theblackbook.com. The group consists of an all-time modern era total of 1,086--557 pacers and 429 trotters. The pacing contingent is led by perennial leader Western Hanover
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Tioga resumes racing
July 04, 2006
Tioga Downs resumed live racing action on Monday night, in front of more than 5,000 spectators, after having been closed due to flooding in the area this past week. Twelve races were contested, which included three early-closing series finals, those for the Tioga County Pacing Series, the Southern T
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Meadowlands Pace draws 17
July 04, 2006
In the world of 3-year-old pacing, the fireworks are not on the Fourth of July but rather on Saturday, July 8 in pair of $50,000 elimination races for the $1 million Meadowlands Pace. Seventeen colts and geldings were in the entry box Tuesday morning for the elimination races on Saturday night, card
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Wednesday card uncertain
July 04, 2006
The Meadowlands is still planning to be open for live racing on Wednesday night, but the status of that racing will depend on a resolution of the impasse over the state budget. A decision, regarding Wednesday night's races, will be made early in the afternoon on Wednesday. Wednesday morning baby ra
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Parker wins 9,000th
July 04, 2006
When Billy Parker Jr. reined Never Look Back to a 2:01:3 victory Monday at Monticello Raceway, it marked his 9,000th career driving victory. He joins a very elite group of just nine drivers who have won 9,000 or more races in their careers. Parker, a Maine native and a Monticello, N.Y., resident
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Titan Cup, Haughton moved
July 03, 2006
The $200,000 Titan Cup for free for all trotters and a pair of elimination races for the $650,000 William R. Haughton Memorial for free for all pacers have been rescheduled for Saturday, July 8 at the Meadowlands. The final for the $650,000 Haughton has been moved to July 15 and will share the spo
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No supplements for Pace
July 03, 2006
There will be no supplementary entries to the $1 million Meadowlands on July 15. The deadline for supplements, which required a fee of $100,000, passed at 12 noon on Monday without anyone being entered. The draw for Saturday's Meadowlands Pace eliminations will take place on Tuesday.
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Special session in NJ?
July 03, 2006
According to reports, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine plans to call a special session of the legislature Wednesday in an attempt to end the state’s budget crisis. Assemblyman Joseph Cryan said the governor plans to lay out his arguments for a sales tax increase as necessary to close a $4.5 billion b
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PASS at The Meadows
July 03, 2006
Rusty’s For Real, a colt by Real Artist-Cam’s Exotic, was the fastest Pennsylvania Sire Stakes 2-year-old pacing colt winner at The Meadows Monday night, scoring in 1:54.3. Other division winners were Pacific Hoss (1:56), Art Star (1:55.4), Hot Rod Mindale (1:56), The Double Dion (1:55.2) and Pardon
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New world mark at Rock
July 02, 2006
Our First Falcon N, who was driven superbly by Ron Cushing, established a new world record for the unorthodox harness racing distance of fifteen-sixteenths of a mile at Rockingham Park on Saturday. The 6-year-old gelded New Zealand-bred crossed under the wire in 1:44.1 on a fast track in the $12
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Favorites dominate MDSS
July 02, 2006
Four divisions of the Maryland Sire Stakes were contested at Rosecroft Raceway on Saturday evening, and the odds-on favorite in each race proved victorious. The third race of the evening, worth $46,350, brought Mandas Mistyclover to the winner’s circle. The 3-year-old trotting filly wired the fi
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Holton trainee wins PASS split
July 02, 2006
Muckross won a division of a $116,965 Pennsylvania Sires Stake for 2-year-old trotting fillies at The Meadows on Saturday, giving trainer Terry Holton his first stakes victory since his most recent cancer surgery. The stake, known as the Meadow Gladys, was contested in five divisions, with Real H
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Big M re-opens
July 02, 2006
Monmouth Park and the Meadowlands will be open for live and simulcast racing through the last live Thoroughbred race at Monmouth on Tuesday, July 4. "We will keep our horsemen, guests and employees apprised of the status of live and simulcast racing at both racetracks beyond the July 4th holiday
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Stardust equals Goshen mark
July 02, 2006
It hasn’t been an easy road back to the sophomore season for Stardust, who was crowned the New York Sire Stakes 2-Year-Old Trotting Filly champion last year. But the Conway Hall lass put herself back in the spotlight with a track-record equaling 1:59.1 performance in the New York Sire Stakes at Gosh
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Pocono staff aid flood victims
July 01, 2006
Ten Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs's employees volunteered their services this past Wednesday and helped prepare about 800 meals for Wyoming Valley. Penn. residents who had to evacuate when their homes were threatened by the swollen waters of the Susquehanna River. The threat of a major flood in Wyom
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Armbro Dancer wins PASS split
July 01, 2006
Five fields of fillies raced for $115,000 in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action Friday afternoon at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. Armbro Dancer won the fastest $20,442 split in 1:52.2. Armbro Dancer and driver Dave Palone won by one half-length. The 3-year-old filly by Blissfull Hall is owned by Loui
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Racing canceled at Big M
July 01, 2006
Because the state of New Jersey failed to pass a budget Friday night, the Saturday night card at the Meadowlands was canceled and the track shut down at 6 p.m. that night. The Titan Cup for free-for-all trotters will not be rescheduled. The purse was distributed to all finalists. The Haughton elimin
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Burning Point wins at Mohawk
July 01, 2006
Burning Point and driver Ron Pierce proved to be much the best Saturday night during the $387,250 final of the Roses Are Red Stakes for pacing fillies and mares, as they tallied an open-length victory in 1:52-flat. Racing over a course somewhat off due to rain showers, Pierce left from post three
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Peaceful Way takes Flight
July 01, 2006
Peaceful Way, Canada’s trotting queen, successfully defended her Armbro Flight Stakes title Saturday evening at Mohawk, as the dominant daughter of Angus Hall showed the field her heels in the late stages of the $347,250 event and powered off to a six-length score for driver Trevor Ritchie in 1:54.
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