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Slots bill heads to governor
April 30, 2007
A measure that would allow slot machines at Hoosier Park and Indiana Downs was endorsed by the Indiana House and Senate late Sunday evening and now heads to Governor Mitch Daniels for consideration. If signed into law, the legislation would allow each track could add up to 2,000 machines after payin
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Cahill new Scioto GM
April 30, 2007
Scioto Downs will raise the curtain on its 49th season of harness racing on Friday, May 4, with a new earlier post time of 6:30 p.m. and a new general manager of racing operations, Stacy Cahill. Scioto races 80 dates in 2007, on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights through Sep
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3YOs qualify at Mohawk
April 30, 2007
Laughing Art, the runner-up in last year's Metro Pace, wired the field from post eight in 1:56.1-- final half in :56.3--in qualifying action at Mohawk Monday morning. Mark MacDonald guided the 3-year-old colt by Artsplace-Laughing Pro to the one-length score. The colt owned by T
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Elims set for Lotteria
April 30, 2007
The fields have been drawn for Italy's Lotteria, which will be raced Saturday, May 6, with a purse of approximately $820,000 on the line. There will be three eliminations and a final. First elimination: 1--Eclisse Domar 2--Deep Feeling LF 3--Improve �s 4--Felix Del Nord 5-
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Special Report point leader
April 29, 2007
If speed kills, lack of it kills anyone trying to come from behind, and such was the case for those going after free-for-all pacesetters Maltese Artist (1:53) and Special Report (1:53.2), as those Levy series stalwarts both benefitted from well-rated routes. The penultimate prep perfor
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Sunday stroll for Muscleman
April 29, 2007
With the Elitlopp less than a month away, Mr. Muscleman showed he was ready for Europe's best as he cruised to an open-lengths victory in 1:53.1 in a leg of the Father Foley Memorial Trot Sunday afternoon at the Meadowlands. With regular driver Ron Piece aboard, Mr. Muscleman left the
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Ind. slots deadline nears
April 28, 2007
Indiana lawmakers are working this weekend on a draft proposal that would allow up to 2,000 slot machines apiece at Hoosier Park and Indiana Downs. However, time is running out to complete a deal, as the General Assembly is slated to adjourn at midnight Sunday. On Friday members of the conference co
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Gambler wins in Chicago
April 28, 2007
Fox Valley Gambler stayed unbeaten in his second season with a very easy 1:54.3 win in Friday night's $20,000 Taser Gun Stakes for 3-year-old Illinois pacing colts and geldings at Maywood Park. It was his fourth consecutive victory and it came in his first career start on a half-mile track. T
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Rare objection at Big M
April 28, 2007
In an unusual occurrence at the Meadowlands, in Friday night's 12th race, driver John Campbell filed an objection againt Ron Pierce, claiming interference at the start, and the judges placed Pierce behind Campbell and his mount, JT Luther, who finished fifth and was elevated to fourth. &n
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Field set for Berry's Creek
April 28, 2007
The Quiet Mon and Wearable Art easily won the two eliminations for the Berry's Creek Saturday night at the Meadowlands and will lead eight others--Cue The Paige, Home Bed Advantage, No Perfect Escape, Pop Z Pop, Spin Rate, Fresh Deck, Isaac Newton and Artist's View--into next Saturday nigh
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Lis Mara jogs in 1:48.2
April 28, 2007
Lis Mara cruised home in :26.2 to win the $42,000 Open Pace in 1:48.2 Saturday night at the Meadowlands. Driver Brian Sears raced him off the pace until just past the half and then put him into the first-over position. Lis Mara steadily picked up ground and with just one slight tap of the w
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Dan Patch to Artistic Fella
April 28, 2007
On a night so windy the flags stayed mostly unfurled, Artistic Fella made winning Hoosier Park's $200,000 Dan Patch Invitational Pace look easy as he scored by open lengths in 1:49.4. Load The Dice, driven by Hoosier Park ace Don Irvine Jr., Y Knot and Shark Gesture left
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Vernon to race in May
April 27, 2007
The New York State Racing and Wagering Board Thursday approved another month of racing for Vernon Downs, according to a story in the Syracuse Post-Standard. Vernon, which was operating on a one-month approval from the Board since opening April 7, had asked for permission to race throug
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Bianconi promoted at Nfld
April 27, 2007
Northfield Park Chief Operating Officer Tom Aldrich today announced the promotion of Dave Bianconi to the newly created position of Executive Vice President of Racing and Simulcasting. Bianconi, 39, a graduate in marketing from the University of Cincinnati, is a 16-year veteran at Northfield.&
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Elitlopp for Peaceful Way?
April 27, 2007
Peaceful Way, the Queen of Canadian racing, qualified in 1:55 at Mohawk Racetrack Friday morning in her first test of the season, and by all accounts she passed with flying colors. With regular driver Trevor Ritchie in tow, the 6-year-old daughter of Angus Hall overpowered her competitio
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Lis Mara ready to roll
April 27, 2007
Lis Mara, the 2006 Older Pacer of the Year, will make his 5-year-old debut in the $42,000 open on Saturday night at the Meadowlands, coming into the race off of a scorching 1:49.1 qualifying mile--the fastest in history--the previous week. Lis Mara is rated as the 9-5 morning line favorite
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1:52.3 by Brunton Tilly
April 27, 2007
Brunton Tilly coasted across the wire in 1:52.3 Friday night at the Meadowlands, picking up his sixth win in nine starts this year, his first season of racing in the U.S. Thje 9-year-old gelding, who is a half brother to world champion Victory Tilly, had previously raced in Sweden. Unlike the previ
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KG Delight tops mares
April 27, 2007
KG Delight rallied late in the Meadowlands stretch to hit the wire first in 1:50.1 and capture the $42,000 Open for mares Friday night at the Meadowlands. She won by one-half length over Easton Alliance N. KG Delight finished sixth in the Strada Memorial in her previous start with Brian Sea
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Two Levy splits at Yonkers
April 26, 2007
Maltese Artist, fresh off his world-record performance in last Saturday night�s $125,000 Battle of Lake Erie, returns to the big city Saturday night for the ongoing saga that is Yonkers Raceway�s George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series. Post time for the 10-race card is 7:40 PM, with the
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EHV prompts scratches
April 26, 2007
An outbreak of equine herpes (EHV-1) at a Balmoral Park barn has prompted some horsemen to scratch their horses from competition, with 13 scratched from Wednesday night�s card, 12 scratched on Tuesday night, and another 25 taken out of qualifiers on Wednesday morning. Balmoral Park took ext
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Artist passes HoP for Levy
April 26, 2007
Although trainer Ronnie Burke of the Mickey Burke Stable had considered sending Battle of Lake Erie winner Maltese Artist to Hoosier Park for Saturday�s Dan Patch, he decided it best to send the new world champion back to Yonkers for the fifth leg of the George Morton Levy Series that same night. &
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Have another Bud Ross
April 26, 2007
Patrick Tortorello's Bud Ross was a repeat winner in the featured $14,000 Junior Open Trot Wednesday at Harrington Raceway in 1:57. The 7-year-old First Action gelding had seen very limited action on a half-mile track until his last two tries on Delaware's half-mile oval, both wins. Dr
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Anti-slaughter bill passes
April 26, 2007
The Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee of the US Senate Wednesday held a mark-up for S. 311, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (AHSPA), voting 15-7 in favor of sending the bill to be considered before the full US Senate. Dispelling arguments from AHSPA oppone
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A bit of Pompano mo jo
April 26, 2007
Fox Valley Mo Jo, the lone mare amongst a field of eight trotters, enjoyed a perfect pocket trip before navigating her way through an opening on the pylons to win the $6,000 featured trot at Pompano Park on Wednesday in 1:59.3. Starting from post one with driver Daryl Bier at the contro
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Billings opens Sat. at PPk
April 26, 2007
The 26th season of the CKG Billings Amateur Driving Classic, often referred to as the �Grand Circuit of Amateur Racing,� commences Saturday night, April 28, at Pompano Park. On tap is a 10-horse field and the event, which will be presented as a non-wagering affair before the first rac
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NE Hall of Fame adds four
April 26, 2007
David McDuffee, Robert Temple and the late Octave Black and Dunbar Bostwick have been named to the New England Harness Writers Hall of Fame. Temple, who is first vice president and secretary-treasurer of the New England Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association (USH
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April 26, 2007
In this week�s edition of Wire To Wire, Andrew Cohen applauds the new penalties in California, which would fine owners, not just trainers, when their horse had a positive drug test, and adds that if one of his horses ever tested positive, he would be �embarrassed and mortified.� His new column also
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Star-studded Big M quals
April 26, 2007
The 2006 Three-Year-Old Filly Trotter of the Year Passionate Glide made her seasonal debut Thursday morning, finished second in one of 12 qualifiers on a star-studded morning at the Meadowlands. Passionate Glide finished second in the qualifier to Wildfire Julie, trotting her own mile in 1:56.2 as s
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Big M Pick 4 carryover
April 26, 2007
The Meadowlands Pick 4 carryover for Thursday night is $20,397, a rare occurrence for one of the track�s more popular wagers. Comprised of races six through nine, the Pick 4 features a 15 percent takeout, one of the lowest in the industry. The average Thursday night Pick 4 pool normally approac
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Scarlet Valley in 1:58.4
April 25, 2007
Erv Miller�s Scarlet Valley was hammered down like she was a good thing in Tuesday night�s $15,000 Fox Valley Flan Stakes for Illinois-bred 3-year-old trotting fillies, and the overwhelming 1-9 favorite didn�t disappoint her many supporters, winning easily with a career-best time of 1:58.4 at B
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Medoland Model A prevails
April 25, 2007
Medoland Model A gamely fought back on the rail to win the final of the 20K late closer series in 1:53 at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs on Tuesday afternoon. The race carried a purse of $40,200. Medoland Model A, owned and trained by Bill Mullin of Plains, Pa., gunned to the outside on the fi
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Sopranos at Batavia
April 25, 2007
Western Regional OTB has announced that actor Joey Gannascoli, most notable for his portrayal of Vito Spatafore on the HBO series The Sopranos, will help Batavia Downs celebrate its national television debut on Sunday, April 29, at 6 p.m. The popular actor will meet fans and sign autographs pri
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Ohio 'simulcast in a box?'
April 25, 2007
The Ohio Senate Finance committee on Tuesday heard testimony in favor of allowing �Instant Racing� machines at the seven racetracks in the state. Four proponents of the recently-introduced bill spoke before the committee; opponents did not testify at the hearing. The �Instant Racing� machin
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NA races part of World Cup
April 25, 2007
Three of North America�s richest and most prestigious events for older trotters have been included in this year�s six-leg World Cup of Trotting, which carries a bonus of $1.3 million ($1 million euros) for the first time. The European races include an event each in Sweden, Italy and Fr
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Express Merett wins in Italy
April 25, 2007
Express Merett, a 4-year-old son of Express It (Supergill-Flory Messenger), won the $153,000 Gran Premio d�Europa at the San Siro track in Milan, Italy, Wednesday afternoon. The d�Europa, a race for 4 year olds, had a field of 12. Express Merett is known as a horse who likes the front and a
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ORC upholds Zhok ruling
April 25, 2007
Veteran Ontario-based trainer Randy Zhok has had his $1,500 fine and 90-day suspension for a positive test for the Class 3 drug Torsemide on his horse Nuke Ouellette at Kawartha Downs in January upheld by an Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) panel. At the hearing held April 12, Zhok stat
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Donato Heads Derby list
April 25, 2007
Despite changing the World Trotting Derby conditions so that it will be contested as a single dash, there are 37 horses eligible to this year's race, down from the 46 nominated for the 2006 edition. Donato Hanover, the 2006 Dan Patch 2-year-old colt trotter of the year, heads the
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2 elims for Berry's Creek
April 25, 2007
After capturing his Meadowlands debut last week, The Quiet Mon looks to make an even bigger splash in Saturday's eliminations for the $225,000 Berry's Creek. Sixteen colts are split between two $25,000 eliminations, races two and three. The top five in each elim will advance to the $225,000 Ber
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Primed for Vernon repeat?
April 25, 2007
Vernon Downs will host two 11 race cards this weekend on Friday, April 27, and Saturday, April 28, both with a post time of 6:45 p.m. (EST). Vernon was still forced to cancel the scheduled Thursday race card due to the shortage of �race ready� horses at Vernon Downs but hopes to fill next Thursday�s
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Dan Patch field set
April 25, 2007
A field which includes Shark Gesture, Artistic Fella, Load The Dice and locally-based Rebelman will contest the $200,000 Dan Patch Invitational, the ninth race on the Saturday night card at Hoosier Park. The race is set as the ninth on the card with a first race post time of 6:45 p.m. Shark
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Broom out in trot series
April 24, 2007
Conway Maid completed the sweep of the Celias Counsel Trotting Series for 3-year-old fillies with an impressive, never-in-doubt victory in the $49,200(C) final Monday night at Woodbine. Paul MacDonell drove the daughter of Conway Hall to the 2 1/4-length win in 1:59 for trainer Mike Keeling and
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Possible to win by a nose
April 24, 2007
The 5-year-old Florida-bred gelding Railee Possible had the lead when it mattered most in Monday�s $10,000 Isle Mile I Trot at Pompano Park, thrusting his nose in front in the final yards to prevail by a nose in 1:56.4. Starting from post four with David Ingraham at the lines, Railee
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A blowout win at Harr
April 24, 2007
Three Point Acres' Blowout Hanover ($6) made a successful debut with Open company with a wire-to-wire 1:52.4 win in the $17,500 Junior Open Monday at Harrington Raceway. Driven by Tony Morgan, the 5-year-old Cam's Card Shark gelding was sent hard for the front with fractions of :27.3, :5
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No Derby on Youbet?
April 24, 2007
Youbet announced late Monday that unless TrackNet Media--the new joint venture between Churchill and Magna--drops its requirement that Youbet forego other premier races to carry the 2007 Kentucky Derby and other TrackNet controlled content, customers of the industry's a
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Injured horse wins qual
April 24, 2007
BB Bunny Bell, the Precious Bunny colt who suffered a serious skull injury and nearly died before the efforts of Barb Hartman and her Miracle Farm Horse Rescue raised enough money to save his life, won a qualifier last Friday at Northfield in 1:59.4, in line to Brett Miller. It was just his second t
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Searches held at Pocono
April 24, 2007
Anton Leppler, executive secretary of the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission, has announced that in an effort to further strengthen the Commission's integrity program ensuring a level playing field on the racetrack, several searches were carried out at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs by Commiss
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Willis's barn quarantined
April 24, 2007
Harnessracing.com has learned four of veteran Illinois-based trainer Nelson Willis�s horses have tested for equine herpes (EHV-1) and his barn at Balmoral Park has been quarantined. Willis had two horses scratched last Saturday at Balmoral and another three on Sunday. Willis qualified some
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Change at Tioga, Vernon
April 23, 2007
Reports Monday state Nevada Gold & Casinos will terminate its management agreement with Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs after selling its 22.8 percent ownership interest in American Racing and Entertainment to partners Southern Tier Acquisition II and Onedia Entertainment. Nevada Gold will reported
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Dennis Doyle dies
April 23, 2007
Dennis Doyle, best known for his ownership of the 1999 Older Trotter of the Year Supergrit and free-for-all pacer Silver Almahurst, has died at the age of 68. Mr. Doyle was owner and president of Club Car Inc., a buyer�s service for Pace Warehouses, which he later sold to Kmart Corp. for $1
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Woodbine cancels Sunday
April 23, 2007
The Ontario Racing Commission has granted Woodbine Entertainment Group's request to cancel Standardbred racing on Sunday, April 29, due to the shortage of standardbred horses racing at Woodbine. The first leg of the Princess Pacing Series for three year-old fillies will now be held on Monday, Apr
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Maltese Artist in 1:49.4h
April 22, 2007
The Battle of Lake Erie turned into a family feud between cousins David and Brett Miller, but when the two came to the finish line it was Brett who prevailed with Maltese Artist in a world record 1:49.4 over David and God Dust Beach. Our Lucky Killiean and Peter Wrenn were third. The two Mi
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Marnie Hall wins Strada
April 22, 2007
Marnie Hall ($4.00, $3.00, $2.40) fought off Miss Galvinator ($8.20, $5.20) in the final strides to win the $75,000 Thomas Strada Memorial on Saturday night at the Meadowlands. Fast early fractions set up an ideal cover flow for Marnie Hall and driver Dan Dube. Burning Point pressed
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Jet takes flight in Levy
April 22, 2007
With Tony Morgan driving for trainer Tom Harmer, Jereme's Jet scorched his five rivals in the first of three $50,000 divisions of the fourth leg of the Levy Series at Yonkers Saturday night, wiring the field under wraps in 1:52.1. Pacific Playboy (Stephane Bouchard) was the bridesmaid, beaten a non-
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Search Engine cruises
April 22, 2007
Search Engine had no worries as he won the $12,000 opening leg of the Indiana Sires Stakes for three-year-old colts and geldings Saturday, April 21. With driver Mark O�Mara back in the bike, the duo strolled to the gate-to-wire victory in a new career best in 1:53.4. �The track was really good to u
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Welu's Dreamboat repeats
April 22, 2007
Welu�s Dreamboat visited the winner�s circle for the second straight time after taking the featured $10,000 Isle Mile I Pace at Pompano Park on Saturday in 1:53.1. Starting from post two in the evening�s opening event, driver Anthony Napolitano allowed Welu�s Dreamboat to settle along the
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New handicapping champ
April 22, 2007
Jim Famularo II won the National Harness Handicapping Contest at the Meadowlands Saturday night, finishing with a bankroll of $2,091 to take home first place and the $50,000 prize. He finished with $125 more than the second-place finisher. The Horseman And Fair World's Gordon Waterstone got off to a
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Shark Gesture debuts
April 22, 2007
Breeders Crown champion Shark Gesture made an impressive 4-year-old debut, winning the second of two divisions of the $21,500 Race Time Free For All at Balmoral Park Saturday night in 1:50.3. In the first split, Thisbigdogwillfight was a 1:50.4 winner. Redbud Stable and Michael McNeely�s Thisbigdog
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CR Dream Catcher scores
April 22, 2007
CR Dream Catcher ($7.40, $4.60, $3.60) split horses to take the lead and the victory in the featured $110,700 Su Mac Lad final Sunday afternoon at the Meadowlands. The 6-year-old gelded son of Royal Troubador trotted the mile in 1:53.4, finishing 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Beac
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Mr. Muscleman returns
April 22, 2007
Mr. Muscleman ($3.20, $2.60, $2.40) returned to the track in winning fashion, capturing the $20,000 opening leg of the Father Foley Memorial series on Sunday afternoon at the Meadowlands. Trained by Noel Daley and driven by Ron Pierce, Mr. Muscleman took control of the lead around the
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All five at the wire
April 21, 2007
A five-horse field in the Friday feature from Pompano Park resulted in a five-horse win photo as Montana Moonlite A edged past her rivals to win the $10,000 Fillies and Mares Isle Mile I Pace in 1:53.2. Starting from post five in the evening�s opening event, Montana Moonlite A and driver
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Change in Coleman policy
April 21, 2007
Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG), which last year ordered trainer Casie Coleman to race out of detention barns at Woodbine and Mohawk, has decided to modify its stance, issuing the following: After a significant period of time, and number of starts, Woodbine Entertainment Group today modified its
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Strada Memorial tonight
April 21, 2007
Tonight 10 of the sport's top pacing mares in training will assemble for the $75,000 Thomas Strada Memorial at the Meadowlands, a race that honors a Cantor Fitzgerald employee who lost his life in the 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Among the contenders in the evening's
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Bet Big M on Youbet, again
April 21, 2007
The Big M is back on Youbet.com. Beginning today, Saturday, April 21, the Meadowlands live harness races can be bet through Youbet.com. Meadowlands officials said An agreement between TVG and Youbet.com was finalized earlier this week. The Meadowlands had been missing from the Youbet.c
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$30,000 Big M carryover
April 20, 2007
The Meadowlands Friday night card features a $29,634.60 Pick 6 carryover and the $70,000 Robert J. Suslow Final. The Suslow is the second leg of the Pick 6, which spans races four through nine and requires a $1 minimum bet. Liberated Artist is the 5-2 morning line favorite in the Suslo
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$50,000 grand prize
April 20, 2007
The National Harness Handicapping Contest takes place at the Meadowlands Saturday night, and Gordon Waterstone of The Horseman And Fair World will be playing for the magazine, and reporting on the contest for both the magazine and the TVG network. Gordon caught a plane out of Lexingto
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ISS action at Hoosier Park
April 20, 2007
Wannahuckaloogi was victorious in the first leg of the Indiana Sires Stakes Friday, April 20. Driven to the winner�s circle by trainer-driver Mark O�Mara, the three-year-old filly closed in the lane to score the win in a time of 1:55.3. The mile tied her lifetime best. �I thought she (Wannahuckaloo
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Series finals at Big M
April 20, 2007
Crawdad and Go On BB lengthened their winning streaks as they completed sweeps of their respective stakes series on Thursday night at the Meadowlands, with Crawdad taking the Fox Sports Net final in 1:49.4 and Go On BB snagging the Blossom final in 1:52.2. Crawdad locked up his fifth straig
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Tougher rules in California
April 20, 2007
The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) has approved rule changes which call for owners of horses which test positive to be penalized along with the trainer of the horse. The CHRB unanimously approved the plan at a meeting Thursday. The rule changes will go into effect within 30-60 days, following
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Qualifiers at Pompano
April 20, 2007
Emantee, runner-up in last year�s Hambletonian Oaks, captured a qualifying race at Pompano Park Friday morning with a wire-to-wire effort in 1:58.4. Also scoring in the qualifiers was Elegant Man, who also scored in 1:58.4. Emantee, now owned by trainer Tommy B. Andersson, who drove the Ban
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Dan Patch field taking shape
April 20, 2007
Trainers are already reserving space in the upcoming $200,000 Dan Patch Invitational Pace set for Saturday, April 28. The race will offer 10 spots by invitation only to some of the nation�s top older pacers as it heads into the 14th edition of the event. Heading the list of expected entrants is Sha
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Art Star wins Suslow final
April 20, 2007
Art Star gave driver George Brennan a big 40th birthday present when he snuck through along the rail to win the $70,000 Robert J. Suslow Final on Friday night at the Meadowlands. Brennan sent Art Star to the lead around the first turn, then yielded to TJ�s Ideal and Andy Miller along th
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Upsets in Desperate Lady
April 20, 2007
Upsets were the order of the evening at Maywood Park Friday as Dr Nabrinsky and Mrs Grant Seven captured their respective $15,000 divisions of the Desperate Lady Stakes for Illinois Conceived and Foaled 3-year-old filly pacers. In the first division 3-1 second choice Dr Nabrinsky and Del Ch
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5 wins for Little More Faith
April 19, 2007
The 4-year-old pacer Little More Faith posted his fifth win of the year when he scored at Pompano Park on Wednesday in 1:55.1.Driven from post four by Bruce Ranger, Little More Faith settled in fourth place through the early stages as Time Slips Away (Gaston Lareau) took the field through opening fr
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Dead heat, record at Harr
April 19, 2007
Albert Hanna's Honolulu Hunk (Tony Morgan) set a new track record for 4-year-old trotting horses Wednesday at Harrington Raceway with a dead-heat win shared with Bud Ross in 1:57.3 in the $14,500 Junior Open Trot. Johnny Peanuts (1:58) was the former track record holder. "Hunk," a 4-year-old son of
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Brooms poised at Big M
April 19, 2007
Crawdad and Go On BB bid for series sweeps in their respective finals, the $43,000 Fox Sports Net and $62,000 Blossom, on Thursday night at the Meadowlands.Crawdad guns for his fifth straight win and second Meadowlands series crown in the $43,000 Fox Sports Net, an early non-wagering event that will
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April 19, 2007
Andrew Cohen writes more about publicity and marketing in this week�s Wire To Wire, and he�s looking for your suggestions to help promote harness racing. Also, he says he�ll be trying to put what he preaches in practice by forwarding any story ideas he receives to the appropriate media outlets, and
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3 stolen sulkies recovered
April 19, 2007
The New York State Police recovered three stolen sulkies on Sunday morning, April 18, after an anonymous caller told them that they could be found in the driveway of the home of a horseman. That horseman is not a suspect.The three sulkies�two owned by the Paul Kelley Racing Stable and another owned
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Qualifying record set
April 19, 2007
The 2006 Dan Patch Award winner Lis Mara turned in a scintillating 1:49.1 performance in a qualifier at the Meadowlands Thursday, beating Total Truth by 10 3/4 lengths and setting a record for the fastest qualifying effort in history. With Brian Sears in the sulky, Lis Mara was second in an opening
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Slots to highest bidder?
April 19, 2007
If Indiana�s two pari-mutuel tracks are unwilling to pay the $400 million licensing fee to operate slots, a state senator has suggested the licenses could be auctioned by the state. Republican Luke Kenley, chairman of the Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee, said Thursday that the right to operat
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Art has become a star
April 19, 2007
He may have been ignored at the yearling sale, but Art Star is a standout now. A shrewd purchase by trainer John Marshall, Art Star is rated as the 3-1 second choice in the $70,000 Robert Suslow final on Friday night at the Meadowlands. He will start from post four in the night�s featured fifth race
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ORC issues Hudon ruling
April 19, 2007
The Ontario Racing Commission's (ORC) 10-year suspension and $100,000 fine imposed upon Patrick Hudon was recently overturned. The ORC today issued the following: IN THE MATTER OF THE RACING COMMISSION ACT, S.O. 2000, c.20; AND IN THE MATTER OF THE APPEAL OF STANDARDBRED LICENSEE PATRICK HUDON The D
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Shake Away takes feature
April 18, 2007
Shake Away, a 7-year-old mare by Dream Away who has a 2-year-old son by Western Hanover, circled the field late to win the featured $15,000 Mares Open in 1:54.4 Tuesday at Harrington Raceway. Owned by Joann Looney-King and JEB Enterprises Inc., Shake Away initally pulled second-over approaching t
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Pa. hopefuls in court
April 18, 2007
Representatives of Centaur Incorporated and Bedford Downs appeared before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Tuesday stated their belief is that the licensing process in the state was flawed and that the Pennsylvania State Harness Racing Commission erred when it denied both entities the chance at the
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T-G nominations up at Tioga
April 18, 2007
The Tompkins-Geers has seen its nominations for 2 year olds rise 37 percent from 2006 to 2007. A total of 780 nominations were received, up from 571 in 2006. Every division increased except the 2-year-old trotting fillies, which was down only three entrants. The largest increase saw the 2-year-old f
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Nfld's Battle field set
April 18, 2007
L & L Devisser's Gold Dust Beach drew post four and was named the 5-2 morning line favorite in Saturday�s $125,000 Battle of Lake Erie at Northfield Park. Trainer Joe Holloway has named David Miller to drive the World Champion 5 year old, who rides a two-race winning streak. My Boy David, a doubl
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Home Bed Qualifies
April 18, 2007
Home Bed Advantage, who scratched out of his first start of the year last Saturday at Balmoral after making a qualifying start the day before, qualified again at Balmoral this morning, winning in 1:54.3 for regular driver Ryan Anderson. Home Bed Advantage took the lead after a :29 opening quarter
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Teague's 3YOs qualify
April 18, 2007
Trainer George Teague Jr. took a big step toward the 3-year-old pacing colt season by winning qualifiers with Funny Bones (1:56), Allamerican Karnak (1:57), Whats Up Now (1:55.4) and Mattdultery (1:56.1) Wednesday morning at Rosecroft Raceway. The biggest of Teague�s winners was undoubtedly Whats
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Corleone Kosmos in 1:54.4
April 17, 2007
World record holder Corleone Kosmos, the third-place finisher in last year�s $800,000 Breeders� Crown Open Trot, showed no signs of rust when shaking off a seven-month layoff to win the featured $10,000 Isle Mile I Trot at Pompano Park on Monday in 1:54.4. Driven from post five by trainer Tom Hau
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Clinton the longshot at Harr
April 17, 2007
Marjorie Richards' Clinton Longshot surged by the leaders late to win the featured $17,500 Delaware Special Monday at Harrington Raceway. The Real Gregorie-trained 5-year-old Dauntless Bunny stallion settled off the hot early pace set by Skedaddle Hanover (Tony Morgan) who blitzed to the front wi
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Doug Snyder wins 6,000th
April 17, 2007
Driver Doug Snyder captured his 6,000th career victory on Monday night at The Meadows. His milestone win came in the eighth race when he guided Southwind Utica to victory--and survived an inquiry for possible interference. A native of Fremont, Ohio, who was raised in Painesville, Snyder began his
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Conway Maid scores again
April 17, 2007
Three-year-old trotting fillies were out in full force on Monday evening at Woodbine Racetrack to do battle in round two of the Celias Counsel Trotting Series, which featured a pair of $18,000(C) divisions won by Conway Maid and Moment Of Zen. Conway Maid notched her third consecutive win, and he
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25 weather scratches at PcD
April 17, 2007
The show went on at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs Monday despite a snowstorm that blanketed the area with five to six inches of the white stuff, but Mother Nature took her toll on the card as 25 horses were weather-related scratches. Two races had four horses scratched and another had five taken ou
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3 world champs in Battle
April 17, 2007
Three of the eight horses--My Boy David, Maltese Artist and Gold Dust Beach--in Northfield Park�s $125,000 Battle of Lake Erie on Saturday are world champions, accounting for five world records. Shirley Le Vin�s My Boy David set a 2-year-old gelding, half-mile track standard when he stopped the M
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All American start at Harr
April 16, 2007
Robert Collins' All American Padre started Harrington Raceway's 61st year of live racing with a bang with a wire-to-wire win in 1:57.2 Sunday evening over a "sloppy" track. Heavy downpours drenched the Mid-Atlantic area Sunday, but the Harrington half-mile still managed a 15-race card in the slop
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Corleone debuts Monday
April 16, 2007
Corleone Kosmos, a winner of $217,293 in 2006 with third-place performances in the $800,000 Breeders Crown Open Trot and the $200,000 Titan Cup, makes his 5-year-old debut in the $10,000 Isle Mile I Trot at Pompano Park on Monday. Owned by Arthur Rudolph, Rudolph Stables Inc. and Bernard Owen, Co
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Levy's 3rd round contested
April 16, 2007
Yonkers Raceway's enhanced purse structure has caught the attention of horses and horsemen alike. In Saturday night's third leg of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series the three $50,000 divisions were won by two drivers--one of whom, Greg Grismore, has relocated here permanently, while the
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Upsets in Tie Silk Series
April 16, 2007
Upsets were the order of the night in Sunday night's second leg of the Tie Silk Trotting Series at Woodbine Racetrack. In the first of two $18,000(C) divisions in race one, it was Grogan who used a ground-saving trip to prevail narrowly in 1:58.3. Trainer Lorne House guided the 3-year-old son of
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Kovanen takes Moscow title
April 16, 2007
Finland's Ismo Kovanen won the 24th Moscow International Drivers Championship Saturday, while American representative Corey Braden finished 10th in the 10-driver field. Russian rep Vitaly Tanishin won the first of the two heats with Metropol, with Estonia's Vladimir Mumm second and Kovanen third.
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Scarborough cancels Mon.
April 16, 2007
In anticipation of the major northeaster that has taken aim on the East Coast states, Scarborough Downs has canceled Monday afternoon�s harness racing card that was scheduled to go to post at 3:45 p.m. (EDT). �The safety of our fans, horsemen and equine participants is our paramount concern,� sai
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Cleveland's fastest field
April 16, 2007
Director of racing Gregg Keidel has finalized the field for Saturday�s $125,000 Battle of Lake Erie at Northfield, and despite the comparatively early date, he has assembled the fastest field in the history of the race, with an average best win time of 1:49.4. The eight scheduled starters have combi
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New post for Joe Morris
April 16, 2007
Mark Simon, president of Thoroughbred Times Company, which publishes an array of widely-read periodicals for Thoroughbred racing and breeding professionals and enthusiasts, announced today that Joe Morris, who grew up on a Standardbred farm in Maine, has been named publisher of the Lexington-based c
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Palone to head home Tues.
April 16, 2007
Dave Palone was still in a Pittsburgh-area hospital Monday recovering from surgery to repair the multiple fractures of his upper right femur suffered in a race accident last week at The Meadows, but his wife Bethann said she expects her husband to go home on Tuesday. �He is getting a blood transf
[read more]

Isle Mile won in 1:53.1
April 15, 2007
The 5-year-old pacer Eleven AM scored his fourth win from seven starts this year when taking the featured $10,000 Isle Mile I Pace at Pompano Park on Saturday in 1:53.1. Driven from post one by Daryl Bier, Eleven AM settled along the pylons in third place while Bronson Hall (Anthony Napolitano)
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Gold strikes at Big M
April 15, 2007
Fresh off his world-record 1:49 win at Dover Downs April 2, Gold Dust Beach won the $42,000 Open Pace at the Meadowlands Saturday night with a 1:49.4 effort. Driven by David Miller, Gold Dust Beach left for the lead and then re-took the top at the :26.4 quarter, going on to a :53.3 half and 1:21.3 t
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Quillen nominations due
April 15, 2007
Nominations for the inaugural Bobby Quillen Open Pace must be postmarked by midnight Tuesday, April 17, while sustaining payments for races serviced by the Hambletonian Society that are due April 15 must be postmarked by 12 midnight on Tuesday, April 17 (as per USTA Rule 12:, sec. 4): "� Wheneve
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David's song at Balmoral
April 15, 2007
Shirley Le Vin�s state-bred pacing star My Boy David continued his dominance of the Illinois-bred set with a very impressive wire to wire score in Saturday�s $20,000 Song Cycle Stake at Balmoral Park. Confidently handled by driver Ryan Anderson, the gelded son of Sportsmaster shot right to the t
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Sam Remo upsets in open
April 14, 2007
Driver Brian Sears racked up his fourth win on the Meadowlands� Friday night card with Liberated Artist in the $22,500 second leg of the Robert J. Suslow Series. Liberated Artist stormed home to a 1 1/2-length victory over the pylon-skimming Kansas Wildcat in 1:53.2. Yankee Stardom kicked off cover
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A sir and angel win at YR
April 14, 2007
There were no black cats, walk-under ladders or broken mirrors during Yonkers Raceway's 10-race Friday the 13th festivities. There were, however, a pair of $35,000 co-features--an Open for trotters and an Open Handicap for distaff pacers--that each resulted in classy winners. Sentbytheangels an
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Irons still hot at Woodbine
April 14, 2007
In the Irons established himself as one of Woodbine's top 3 year olds with a tremendous 2 3/4-length victory in the $59,800(C) final of the Youthful Pacing Series Friday night. Phil Hudon drove the son of Mach Three to a lifetime-best 1:51.2 win for trainer Randy Hill, who also owns a piece of the b
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Record smooth as velvet
April 14, 2007
Velvet Eileen, who visited the winner�s circle for the third straight time on Friday, set a Pompano Park track record for a 4-year-old pacing mare when taking the $10,000 Fillies and Mares Isle Mile I Pace in 1:52. Driven from post five by Wally Hennessey, Velvet Eileen emerged from a brief thre
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Sha Daisy stars at Hoosier
April 14, 2007
Sha Daisy Sunset, with Don Irvine Jr. at the controls, upset the field on Friday in the featured $22,000 Invitational Pace at Hoosier Park. The pair benefited from weak early fractions and good field position throughout the one-mile trip. The 6-year-old mare excelled late, closing in :26.2, and beat
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Meadowlands cancels Sun.
April 14, 2007
Due to the winter storm predicted to hit the Northeast on Sunday, the Meadowlands has canceled its afternoon live program and will also be closed for simulcasting. The Su Mac Lad final has been rescheduled for Sunday, April 22.
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Gingras takes Blossom leg
April 13, 2007
Go On BB scored her seventh straight victory in the $22,500 second leg of the Blossom Series on Thursday night at the Meadowlands. Guided by Yannick Gingras, she stamped herself as the one to beat in next week�s $62,000 final for 3-year-old pacing fillies with a career-best 1:53.3 effort. The Isl
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Upsets prevail in DSBF
April 13, 2007
Both upset winners of the $110,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) 3-year-old trotting championships are owned by Nanticoke Racing and partners on an upset-filled closing night of the Dover Downs meet on Thursday. The leading trainer award ended in a tie between defending champion Josh Gr
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Six mares square off at PPk
April 13, 2007
Velvet Eileen and Hypnotize, separated by a half length in their most recent encounter, headline a field of six pacers that will assemble for the featured $10,000 Fillies and Mares Isle Mile I Pace at Pompano Park on Friday. Velvet Eileen, owned by Rod Lorenzo, Ciro Gentile, and Pomtambo Stable,
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No Pocono drive for Ledford
April 13, 2007
Although Eric Ledford was listed to drive a horse at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs next Monday, Pennsylvania State Harness Racing Commission executive secretary Anton Leppler says that it won�t happen. Leppler told harnessracing.com that the naming of Ledford by trainer Eric Mollor on the horse Mo�s L
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Luken named Ohio chair
April 13, 2007
Ohio Governor Ted Strickland appointed Charlie Luken chairman of the Ohio State Racing Commission on April 11. Chairman Luken stated, "Horse racing in Ohio is at a critical juncture. Surrounding states have slots at their tracks, and we are challenged to find new ways to increase our customer base.
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Competition set for Big M
April 13, 2007
Only one week remains to register for the 2007 National Harness Handicapping Championship (NHHC), the only tournament for harness players to feature a $50,000 guaranteed first prize, on Saturday, April 21, at the Meadowlands. Players who did not earn an entry into the 2007 NHHC through a qualifyi
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Handicapping with Gordon
April 13, 2007
The Horseman And Fair World�s Gordon Waterstone is hoping the third time is a charm as he gets ready for his third try in the National Harness Handicapping Championship at the Meadowlands Saturday, April 21. Waterstone wants to write his own headline: �Gordon Waterstone Takes Handicapping Title.�
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Muscleman romps in qualifier
April 13, 2007
Three-time millionaire Mr. Muscleman won a qualifier at the Meadowlands Friday morning, with the 2005 Trotter of the Year romping to a 9 1/2-length decision over runner-up Limbo Glide in 1:55.1 for driver Ron Pierce. The effort followed up a winning qualifier at Spring Garden Ranch in Florida March
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Bunny Lake foals colt
April 13, 2007
Bunny Lake p,2,1:54, 3,1:51, 1:49 ($2,843,476) foaled her first colt, a foal by Rocknroll Hanover this morning April 13 at 4:40 am at Hanover Shoe Farms. The 2001 Horse Of The Year, Bunny Lake, was purchased by Hanover Shoe Farms for $400,000 at last fall�s Harrisburg sale. This colt is her second
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Big Q for Shark Gesture
April 13, 2007
Last year's Breeders Crown champion Shark Gesture drew off by almost 20 lengths in his 1:53.3 qualifier at Balmoral Park Friday morning. Driver Brent Holland took him to the front end of a :27.4 first quarter, backed the sophomore pacer off to slow middle quarters of :29 flat (56.4 half) and :30.3,
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PPk slots open Saturday
April 13, 2007
Pompano Park has passed state inspection and announced late Friday it will open its slots area Saturday morning. In a release issued by owner Isle of Capri Casinos Inc., it stated the parlor will open at 10 a.m. �It has been a long time coming, and we are so excited to greet our guests with smil
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Ohio driver joins elite
April 12, 2007
Brett Miller etched his name in Northfield Park's and harness racing's all-time record book with 10-winning drives on the 13-race program Wednesday night, with the 10-bagger tying the all-time record for driving victories on a single racing program at a commercial racetrack. The feat was accomplishe
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Muscles shown at Dover
April 12, 2007
Musclesextrodinair showed his class romping to a 1:54.3 victory in the $27,500 Open Handicap Trot on the final Wednesday card while Tim Tetrick won seven races and Tony Morgan three at Dover Downs. Sean Bier waited until the half to make his move and Musclesextrodinair, a 5-year-old son of Muscle
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Soph snuffs out 3rd win
April 12, 2007
The 3-year-old gelded pacer Medoland Snuffy visited the winner�s circle for the third straight time on Wednesday when taking the featured $4,800 third-race pace at Pompano Park in a lifetime-best 1:54.2. Driven from post one by Pompano Park�s leading driver Bruce Ranger, Medoland Snuffy was quick
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New racino in Maine?
April 12, 2007
The Passamaquoddy Indian Tribe earlier proposed building a new harness track in eastern Maine and it has now received approval of the Maine House of Representatives to install slot machines at the site. The House approved the measure by a vote of 82-60, with the bill now going to the Senate and at l
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Another positive for Burke
April 12, 2007
Trainer Mickey Burke has received his second positive test in the past four months for Lidocaine at the Meadowlands, the latest coming on his horse Smashingpringipisa following a March 22 victory. Burke, voted the U.S. Harness Writers Association 2006 Trainer of the Year, also received a Lidocaine p
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Rags to riches at Tioga
April 12, 2007
Tioga Downs will try a new concept in the series department this summer with the Rags to Riches, designed to mirror the single elimination format of the recently concluded NCAA basketball tourney. The idea for the format evolved from the fervor throughout the country for the �March Madness� that Tio
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**NEW**Wire To Wire
April 12, 2007
In this week's Wire To Wire column, Andrew Cohen praises the Matching Funds Grant program overseen by Jamie Rucker at the USTA, but on the other hand wonders why efforts like that aren't done on a wider scale across the industry. Cohen remembers the effort put forth by the old North American Harness
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Dave Palone injured
April 11, 2007
Top reinsman Dave Palone suffered multiple fractures of the upper right femur, more commonly known as the thighbone, when he was thrown from his sulky while driving in the last race at The Meadows Tuesday night. Palone, 45, was taken directly to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. Palone's
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Ultimate Bet Pays Off
April 11, 2007
Ultimate Bet lived up to her name, wining the $27,500 Mares Open Handicap pace on Tuesday at Dover Downs, while Pacific Illusion took the secondary feature $24,000 Mares Jr. Open. Tim Tetrick drove five winners. In the feature, Ron Pierce drove Ultimate Bet for Three Point Acres of Broomall, Pa.,
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Maywood GM leaving
April 11, 2007
Ken Kiehn, 35, has been named as vice president of sales, marketing and guest services at Arlington Park and thus is leaving his post as general manager at Maywood Park. Kiehn worked at Arlington prior to taking the Maywood position. According to an Arlington Park press release, at Maywood Kiehn
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Daughter born to Nisongers
April 11, 2007
Driver Jeff Nisonger, 26, became a father Tuesday afternoon when his wife, Stacey, gave birth to their daughter, who was named Alexa Nicole. Jeff, who plans to drive regularly at Hoosier Park this season, was at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton for the delivery.
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$1 million to PA stakes
April 11, 2007
Both the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and the Pennsylvania Standardbred Breeders Development Fund each have received over $1 million this year in funding from the newly-introduced slot machine games in the state. The $1 million (actual count after Sunday: $1,000,115) was reached in each category despite
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Mr Muscleman to qualify
April 11, 2007
Mr Muscleman, the richest Standardbred racehorse in training and the 2005 Trotter of the Year, is set to make his 2007 debut in Friday morning's qualifying races at the Meadowlands. The 7-year-old trotter, who has a career bankroll of $3.3 million, will race in the morning's ninth qualifier for trai
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VLTs at all Florida sites?
April 10, 2007
A Florida Senate committee on Monday approved a bill that will allow video lottery games to be installed at all existing pari-mutuel facilities. Voters in Broward County approved a constitutional amendment to allow slot machines at sites in that county, including Pompano Park which is in the final s
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Wdb final loaded with youth
April 10, 2007
Woodbine Racetrack will host its deepest stakes final of the young stakes season this Friday night as 10 talented 3-year-old colt pacers will line up for the $59,800(C) final of the Youthful Series. The event, which was open to non-winners of three races or $15,000 lifetime, showcased five divisi
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Trotters star at Pompano
April 10, 2007
With one swift move at the start of Monday�s $10,000 Isle Mile I Trot at Pompano Park, Battleshoe Victor took command of the race and never looked back, scoring his fourth victory of the year while covering the mile in 1:55.4. Also on the night, Chucaro Ahijuna won his seasonal debut. As for Batt
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Kimelman finds the matzoh
April 10, 2007
In what turned out to be the best finish in the nine years of presenting a race for Jewish drivers, Mike Kimelman hustled Hill Billy Honey to a nose victory over Tamango Hall and driver Mark Liebowitz in Monticello Raceway�s annual �Race For The Matzohs� on Monday, the next-to-last day before the P
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Lydia Brown dies
April 09, 2007
Lydia Brown, the wife of former Blue Chip Farms general manager and Living Hall of Fame member William S. Brown, died Saturday, April 7, in Kingston, N.Y. She was 78. Mrs. Brown's daughter, Grace "Jean," is the senior vice president of operations for Blue Chip Farms in Wallkill, N.Y., and her son
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Sulkies, harness taken
April 09, 2007
Six race sulkies, a jog cart, numerous sets of harness and other equipment were stolen from trainers based at the farm of Bob Rosenheim near Saratoga Springs, NY, early Monday morning, and horsemen should be aware of anyone trying to sell used equipment that could be the stolen goods. Trainer Pau
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Dragon's Lair dies at 25
April 09, 2007
Dragon's Lair, whose upset victory over Nihilator in the initial year of the Breeders Crown in 1984 is still considered one of the most memorable Crown races in history, died Monday morning at Lindwood Farm in Greensburg, Pa., at the age of 25. "He is going to be missed here at Linwood Farm, I'll
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A battle for gold at Nfld
April 09, 2007
Trainer Joe Holloway has told Northfield Park's director of racing Gregg Keidel that the sport�s newest world champion, Gold Dust Beach, is being pointed toward the $125,000 Battle of Lake Erie at Northfield on Saturday, April 21. The son of Jenna�s Beach Boy-Good As Gold posted a 1:49 win at Dov
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Artistic Fella wins '07 debut
April 09, 2007
The 2007 Classic Series got underway at Dover Downs Monday night and Artistic Fella got back on the winning track as well, coasting to a clear victory in 1:50.3 with Cat Manzi aboard. Other Classic division winners were JM Van Gogh (1:54.3) in the Classic Trot, who dominated after the scratch of Viv
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Stormaway shocks at WEG
April 07, 2007
Seemingly out of contention at the top of the stretch, Stormaway blazed a path down the lane late to pull a major shocker in the $88,000 Spring Pacing Championship Saturday night at Woodbine. The time of the mile was 1:52.2. Mark Megens drove the Northern Luck horse to the neck victory over Secre
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Jenna's Choice upsets
April 07, 2007
Jenna's Choice pulled off an upset victory to win the $40,000 Open Pace at the Meadowlands Saturday night, using a :26.4 final quarter to seize a 1:50.3 victory. He paid $14.60 to win. It was the second score in nine starts this year for Jenna's Choice, a 5-year-old gelding by Jenna's Beach Boy.
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Levy action at Yonkers
April 07, 2007
The George Morton Levy Series continued at Yonkers Raceway Saturday night with four $50,000 splits won by Tarver Hanover (1:54.1), Cheyenne Hollywood (1:56.1), Special Report (1:52.2) and Mister Big (1:53). Tarver Hanover, driven by Patrick Berry, edged Eyes On Kassa by a nose in the first split.
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Tight finish in Jersey Girls
April 06, 2007
Faith Leigh stuck her nose out the furthest at the finish line, earning her the victory over Riley Rose in the $67,000 Jersey Girls final Thursday night at the Meadowlands. Fionavar Hanover finished just a neck behind in third. The lone 3-year-old filly in the field, Faith Leigh picked up her f
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Youthful continues at Wdb
April 06, 2007
The Youthful Pacing Series for 3-year-old pacing colts continues with two $20,000(C) divisions Friday evening at Woodbine. The dashes have been carded as races four (8:40 p.m.) and eight (10 p.m.) on the 11-race program. The $59,800(C) final is set for next Friday, April 12. The first division fe
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Eileen returns as PPk fave
April 06, 2007
Female pacers take center stage at Pompano Park Friday evening as the spotlight event at the South Florida oval is the $10,000 Fillies and Mares Isle Mile I Pace, which has attracted a field six and will go as the first race on the program. Drawing the outside post for Friday�s Isle Mile I is Hyp
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A Ms., a mist & a miss
April 06, 2007
As expected, Ms. Virginia, Twilight Mist and Devilish Miss scored impressive victories in the three $20,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) 3-year-old filly trot preliminaries, on cold and windy Thursday at at Dover Downs. Ms. Virginia raced the entire mile on the outside and still pu
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Let the Billings begin
April 06, 2007
Twenty-six years ago a group of men with vision convened at the Standarbred Horse Sales at Harrisburg and emerged with an idea to resurrect amateur racing which, during harness racings� infancy, was a viable part of the sport. Led by Hall of Fame horseman Delvin Miller and Phil Pines, who at that ti
[read more]

Dick Williams II obituary
April 06, 2007
Popular horseman Dick Williams II died at his home in Richmond, Ind., on Thursday, April 5, after a long battle with cancer. He was 66. Mr. Williams was best known for developing and racing Charlie Ten Hitch, winner of the 1990 Peter Haughton Memorial. He also raced such outstanding performers as
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5,000 wins for Brennan
April 06, 2007
Although he had nine chances on the card, George Brennan wasted no time in locking up his 5,000th career win on Friday night at the Meadowlands. Brennan steered Carolina Raider to a 1:55.4 score in the first race, reaching the 5,000-win plateau just two weeks shy of his 40th birthday. Brennan now
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Hoosier Park opens meet
April 06, 2007
Calyvona Bluegrass fought off extreme cold weather in the stretch drive to take the 2007 season opener on Friday at Hoosier Park. Piloted to victory by driver Ricky Macomber Jr., the 3-year-old won her sophomore debut in 1:59.4, scoring by 6 1/2 lengths. Calyvona Bluegrass returned $7.20, $3.40,
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4 wins for Chrebet's
April 06, 2007
Valley Sport gave owner Wayne Chrebet's Double Down Stable a fourth victory in just six starts when he scored in a lifetime best of 1:53.4 Friday night at the Meadowlands. Chrebet bought Valley Sport, a 4-year-old gelding by Valley Victor, on Feb. 14 and watched the horse win three straight races be
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A true blue victory
April 05, 2007
The Hambletonian-eligible trotter True Blue Lindy recovered from an early break to score his third consecutive victory of the season when defeating a field of older rivals in the ninth race at Pompano Park on Wednesday in 2:00.3. Driven from post two by Bruce Ranger, True Blue Lindy went offstrid
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Pompano changes conditions
April 05, 2007
After meetings and discussions with horsemen and the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association (FSBOA), Pompano Park is altering the conditions of its races, effective Friday, April 6. "Our race secretary, Greg DeFrank, and his assistant, Anthony Clark, have done a great job in redesig
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Timothy pays dividends
April 05, 2007
Armbro Timothy won the week's top trot, the $27,500 Open Handicap on Wednesday at Dover Downs while Tony Morgan drove four winners. Swissonian and Outreatgeous won $20,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) soph trot prelims. After being idle from mid May until early this year, Armbro
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NJ impact study presented
April 05, 2007
A new study released by the Rutgers University Equine Science Center says the New Jersey equine industry is valued at more than $3.5 billion and generates $1.1 billion annually in positive impact on the New Jersey economy, with $502 million of that amount coming from the racetracks alone. the data w
[read more]

TCS openers set for Dover
April 05, 2007
The first of three preliminary legs of The Classic Series (TCS) will be raced at Dover Downs on Monday, with all four 2006 TCS final winners will compete on the card. The first of two Classic Oaks divisions kicks off the action in race two, led by last year�s TCS final and Breeders Crown winner M
[read more]

ORC on Waxman case
April 05, 2007
The Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) has confirmed that owner Daniel Waxman, who has raced such prominent horses as the pacing mare Loyal Opposition, could be facing a five-year suspension, $100,000 fine, and disqualification of horses that raced under his ownership. A spokesperson for the ORC has
[read more]

Scioto loses $4.4 mil in '06
April 05, 2007
The Columbus Dispatch is reporting Scioto Downs filed documents that reported it spent $3.1 million last year in its unsuccessful quest to pass a referendum that would have allowed slot machines at the track, resulting in total losses of $4.4 million in 2006. The documents were filed with the Sec
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Glass Pack qualifies
April 05, 2007
Glass Pack, the 3-year-old Cole Muffler gelding purchased by R. Peter Heffering and Jerry Silva in January, qualified at the Meadowlands Thursday morning, finishing second for David Miller by 2 1/2 lengths to Pop Z Pop--a 3-year-old Riverboat King colt--and Andy Miller in a 1:55.1 mile.
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Robert Fahy dies
April 05, 2007
Robert Fahy, a veteran horseman and the father of trainer-driver Billy Fahy, died Wednesday at a care facility in McMurray, Pa., not far from The Meadows racetrack, where he had raced horses over the years. Fahy, who was 75, had been battling cancer. A native of western New York, Fahy also raced
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Ledfords receive probation
April 05, 2007
Driver Eric Ledford has been sentenced to one-year probation and $15,000 fine by a New Jersey county judge after pleading guilty to one count of possession of a controlled substance. Ledford, his father, Seldon, and three others were arrested March 31, 2006, after a raid on their stable at Showplace
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April 05, 2007
How much should government be involved in the business of horse racing? In his latest Wire To Wire, Andrew Cohen refers to a recent speech by Bennett Liebman, coordinator of the Racing and Wagering Law Program at Albany Law School, about that subject. Cohen wants your thoughts about government�s inv
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Net pool pricing at Vernon
April 05, 2007
Vernon Downs, announced today that it will accept wagers from Canada through Net Pool Pricing beginning with the opening of the meet on Saturday, April 7. In a letter dated Monday, April 2nd the New York State Racing and Wagering Board gives Vernon Downs permission to export its signal for the pu
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Dick Williams II dies
April 05, 2007
Dick Williams II, who trained such notables as the $677,398 earning trotter Charlie Ten Hitch, died today at his home in Indiana after a battle with cancer. He was 66. A complete obituary will appear as soon as it is available.
[read more]

Invites highlight opener
April 04, 2007
The 14th season of Standardbred racing gets underway at Hoosier Park Friday with 14 races. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. with the first race heading to post at 6:45 p.m. A pair of $22,000 Invitationals will highlight the card. Female pacers grab the spotlight in the 10th race. Nells Bells, driven by Ri
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Dilinger gunning for SPC
April 04, 2007
John Dilinger�s win in last weekend�s second round of the Spring Pacing Championship at Woodbine Racetrack may have come as a surprise to many, but not to his conditioner Gaetan Hebert. In fact, the biggest surprise for Hebert came after he entered the 4-year-old son of DM Dilinger-Jens Beach Toy in
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Tough customer at MR
April 04, 2007
Tough Customer proved to be just that after driver Eric Goodell took advantage of a speedy first half to pace around the leaders and then rebuff all challenges en route to a stunning 1:54.2 triumph over a fast-closing Starfire (Greg Merton) to win Monticello Raceway's $14,300 Preferred Pace Tuesd
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More wagering choices
April 04, 2007
When the doors at Vernon Downs swing open for live racing Saturday, April 7, patrons will be greeted with a new wagering format. The additions to the wagering format will include dime superfectas, an additional pick three for a total of three pick three�s throughout the evening, along with an early,
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New Big M purse structure
April 04, 2007
The Meadowlands will offer two significant changes beginning with the draw for the Thursday, April 12, program: an across-the-board purse increase and a bonus program for New Jersey-sired horses. "We have been working with the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey to entice t
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Hambo on NBC this year
April 04, 2007
The $1.7 million Hambletonian, the richest trotting race in North America, will be televised live on NBC this year, ending a 13-year run on CBS. The broadcast time for the Hambletonian and the filly companion event, the $850,000 Hambletonian Oaks, has been moved up in the afternoon broadcast schedul
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Times In Chicago
April 04, 2007
Timesareachanging edged The Quiet Mon in a qualifier at Balmoral Park Wednesday morning, scoring in 1:57.2. With the temperature hovering near the freezing mark, Timesareachanging cut fractions of :28.4, :58.3 and 1:30 before finishing his mile with a :27.1 final panel for driver Brent Holland. The
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Vernon suspends Thursdays
April 04, 2007
Vernon Downs will open on Saturday with a post time of 6:45 p.m. (EDT), but Vernon Downs will not race on Thursday, April 12, as previously scheduled and will conduct a double draw on Tuesday, April 10, for the Friday, April 13, and Saturday, April 14, race cards. Thursday racing will be suspended u
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Gold Dust Beach sets mark
April 03, 2007
Gold Dust Beach broke one of the longest in duration world records on Monday in the $27,500 Preferred Pace at Dover Downs when David Miller took the 5-year-old Jenna's Beach Boy horse right to the front and never looked back in a 1:49 victory, breaking the former record for an older male pacer by on
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Railee shows its possible
April 03, 2007
After grinding out an extended first-over trip, the 5-year-old Florida-bred gelding Railee Possible rolled down the stretch to score his third win of the year in Monday�s $10,000 Open Handicap Trot at Pompano Park. Driven from post four by David Ingraham, Railee Possible quickly settled in fifth
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Meadows adds Wednesday
April 03, 2007
Wednesday, April 18, will be the first night of Wednesday racing at The Meadows. The Wednesday night card will go to post at 6 p.m. This will replace Friday night racing as April 13 marks the last Friday for Meadows racing until further notice. Special racing note: Adios week (August 6-11) will s
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Vernon can open Friday
April 03, 2007
The New York State Racing and Wagering Board has received proof that Vernon Downs officials have repaid $6 million in loans and it has given the track permission to open its 2007 live racing meet on Friday. Currently Vernon's license takes it through April 28 (11 days of racing); the Board is schedu
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PPk hopes for slots April 11
April 03, 2007
Word from Florida is that Pompano Park, now known as Isle Casino & Racing at Pompano Park, will open its slots parlor Wednesday, April 11, pending a state inspection this Wednesday. Pompano's slots area will have 1,500 machines, restaurants and two video bars.
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Tbeds heading to Cal Expo?
April 03, 2007
Tuesday's Sacramento Bee is reporting that harness racing may be on its way out at Cal Expo and Thoroughbred racing in after the current harness lease expires in July 2008. With Bay Meadows Thoroughbred racetrack recently announcing it was closing in November after a request for a two-year delay in
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Miller Horses Qualify
April 03, 2007
Lisa Mara, the Older Male Pacer of the Year for 2006, and Breeders Crown champion Shark Gesture won qualifiers this morning at Spring Garden Ranch with Brent Holland in the bike for trainer Erv Miller. Lis Mara scored in 1:54.2 while Shark Gesture set fractions of :29, :59.3 and 1:27 en route to a 1
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Vernon delayed til Saturday
April 03, 2007
Vernon Downs has announced that its opening day scheduled for Friday has been pushed back to Saturday due to a horse shortage. The track repaid $6 million in loans and was granted a license by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board to open its live meet and race through April 28, when another
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Do a double flip at Dover
April 02, 2007
Blue Swimmer A and Menno Boy won the $20,000 Delaware winners-over co-features at Dover Downs on Sunday while three colt and two filly $20,000 Delaware Standardbred Breedders Fund (DSBF) second-leg paces concluded the preliminary rounds. The sports and the track's leading driver, Tim Tetrick, won
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First foal for 2004 HOY
April 02, 2007
Rainbow Blue, voted the 2004 Horse of the Year by the U.S. Harness Writers Association, delivered her first foal Sunday night, April 1, at Vieux Carre Farm in Gettsyburg, Pa. Co-owner George Teague Jr. told harnessracing.com Monday morning that he received a phone call from farm owner Dr. John Eglof
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Eric Ledford wins in Hungary
April 02, 2007
After a year away from the sulky, Eric Ledford drove again on Saturday�in Budapest, Hungary�and won twice in seven starts. Ledford, who recently accepted a $9,000 fine and one-year suspension (with credit for time served) from the New Jersey Commission after being arrested March 31, 2006, with his f
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Barasch honored by writers
April 02, 2007
At the recent meeting of the U.S. Harness Writers it was unanimously voted to rename the Breakthrough Award, which annually honors a non-trainer/driver for early career accomplishments, after the legendary Lew �'Tootie� Barasch, who died last year at age 90. Barasch, a former sportswriter for the
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Hambo winner returns
April 02, 2007
Although trainer-driver and co-owner Roger Hammer stated last Friday he planned on scratching 2005 Hambletonian winner Vivid Photo out of his 2007 debut race at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs on Monday, he decided to start his star trotter and the result was a 1:55 win in the $20,000 Open. Hammer to
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Aminorex link found?
April 02, 2007
The Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency (CPMA) on Monday issued a memorandum regarding the rash of aminorex positives in Ontario and that there could be a possible connection to the adminstration of the deworming medication levamisole. The following is the statement issued by the CPMA: Following an un
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Spin Rate Holds On
April 01, 2007
Spin Rate and driver Ron Pierce capitalized on scorching early fractions to win the $101,300 Matt's Scooter Final for 3-year-old colt pacers on Saturday night at the Meadowlands. Spin Rate ($11.40, $4.20, $4.00) drafted behind Panedict Arnold, with George Brennan in the sulky, as he challenged
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Pocono Opens Season
April 01, 2007
Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs opened its 2007 live harness racing season Saturday afternoon with some 2,000 fans on hand to see George Napolitano Jr.pick up where he left off last year, as he collected three wins on the 12-race card. Napolitano has been the leading driver and trainer at the Northeaste
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Bronson Hall wins again
April 01, 2007
The month of March was a good one for Bronson Hall as the 7-year-old pacer extended his winning streak to four on Saturday, taking a $10,000 winners-over pace at Pompano Park in 1:53.4 to close out an unbeaten month of racing in South Florida. Driven from post six by his trainer Tom Harmer, Bron
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Levy Returns At Yonkers
April 01, 2007
The last night of March saw a first of sorts at Yonkers Raceway...the first renewal of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series in some 11 years. Once a stellar metropolitan area Free For All staple, the Levy returned with five, $50,000 opening-round divisions. Of the 55 nominees in this ev
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Tetrick wins 6 at Dover
April 01, 2007
Full Of Elegance, one of six winners driven by Tim Tetrick, won the $14,500 Male Pace at Dover Downs on Saturday. Tim Tetrick opened the program winning the first three races then got back in the winner's circle in the feature race behind Full Of Elegance, a 3-year-old Full Of Fun gelding owned
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John Dilinger Guns To Win
April 01, 2007
For the second week in a row the Spring Pacing Championship Series at Woodbine Racetrack was the scene of a double digit upset compliments of John Dilinger, who lit up the board at odds of 20-1. In rein to teamster Mario Baillargeon, the 4-year-old son of D M Dilinger � Jens Beach Toy survived a
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Susies Magic wins in 1:54.3
April 01, 2007
Susies Magic, who pulled off a stunning upset at Woodbine Racetrack last fall in the Breeders Crown for 3-year-old trotting fillies, return to the Mega City on Saturday evening and came away with a career-best clocking of 1:54.3. The four-year-old daughter of Dream Vacation � Kash Echo tucked int
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Hall Of Famer Posts Win
April 01, 2007
Four months after breaking his leg in a racing accident, Hall of Famer John Campbell made a victorious return to the races capturing the eighth race, a $10,250 conditioned pace, on Sunday afternoon at the Meadowlands. In his second of two drives on the card, Campbell guided Big Stack, who he c
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Beach Nut Brand Upsets
April 01, 2007
Beach Nut Brand [$74.20, $37.20, $14.20] took control of the lead in the stretch and trotted strong to the wire to upset the field and capture the $50,000 second round of the Su Mac Lad Series by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.1. CR Dream Catcher [$7.20, $5.20] finished second and it was
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