News Archive

Four Empire State divisions contested at Yonkers
June 19, 2009
The Empire State continued its sublet of Empire City Thursday night, with Yonkers Raceway hosting four  consecutive--and soggy --$55,056 divisions of the $220,224 New York Sire Stakes Mount Vernon Pace for 3-year-old fillies. This class of lass was also here last week. Eagle Way, 2008's rooki
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Master's Sweetie, Striking Lauren win Scioto series splits
June 19, 2009
Master’s Sweetie made it five victories in a row at Scioto Downs on Thursday evening as she took a division of the fourth leg of the Killbuck Mary Series for trotting mares. The 4-year-old daughter of Master Lavec scored another easy win for driver Jeff Nisonger in 2:01.4.   Nisonger mo
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Toucam Sam wins Harrah's Chester feature
June 19, 2009
Taking advantage of an early duel between Noble Falcon and Atochia, Toucam Sam ($14.40) continued off cover to a 5 1/2-length victory in the $35,000 Isle of Wight for open pacers on Thursday evening at Harrah's Chester Casino and Racetrack. With Atochia (Yannick Gingras) caught wide of Noble
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A winning photograph at The Meadows
June 19, 2009
Hawaiianphotograph waited patiently along the pylons, then unleashed a powerful uncovered bid that carried her to victory in the $27,500 Filly & Mare Preferred Trot on Thursday at The Meadows. Hawaiianphotograph broke stride in her last two starts, reason enough for Dave Palone to keep her cov
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$486 winner, yes, $486 winner, at Saratoga
June 19, 2009
In the 69-year history of Saratoga Raceway, no horse has ever paid a higher win mutuel than Nuclear Heat did in the Thursday finale as at odds of 242-1, Henry Pratt Jr.’s Nuclear Heat overcame post eight to win the evening’s 13th and final race.   A win price of $486 resul
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Cactus Creek favored in New Hampshire Sweepstakes final
June 19, 2009
Cactus Creek, the going away winner of his elimination race here a week ago, has been installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite for the $30,000 New Hampshire Sweepstakes final at Rockingham Park on Saturday. Cactus Creek will be partnered with Chris Long again and he is a deserving favorite in
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Merriman to drive five at the Big M Saturday
June 19, 2009
Aaron Merriman, currently the nation’s leading dash winner with close to 400 wins, will venture to the Meadowlands on Saturday for a busy night of drives.    Merriman, 30, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, comes off a career season in 2008 with 614 wins, which placed him sixth in North America
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New PA stakes series set to begin at The Meadows
June 19, 2009
A new stakes series will make its debut at The Meadows on Tuesday night, June 23, and 16 two-year-old pacing fillies will be the first to take to the track for the event. Each of the two divisions will go for $26,600. The Stallion Series is designed for PA-bred, 2-year-old pacers and trotters tha
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Pennsylvania Sire Stake time standards clarified
June 19, 2009
In response to a number of recent inquiries, the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission would like to provide a handy summary of the qualifying times required for participation in this year’s Keystone stakes events: PENNSYLVANIA PARI-MUTUEL SIRE STAKES – This is the first year (foals of 2007) th
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Woodbine and TVG sign broadcast and account wagering deal
June 19, 2009
Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) has reached an agreement with TVG, America’s leading horseracing network, to broadcast both its thoroughbred and standardbred live racing products from Woodbine and Mohawk racetracks throughout the United States. As part of the deal, TVG will also offer online wage
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Racetracks step closer to VLTs in Kentucky
June 19, 2009
By a vote of 52-45 the Kentucky House on Friday afternoon approved a bill introduced by House Speaker Greg Stumbo that would allow video lottery terminals at racetracks. With 51 votes needed for passage, the bill squeaked through by one vote (there was one abstention) after more than three hours of
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Lucky Jim breaks in qualifier; Lanson trots in 1:52.2
June 19, 2009
Lucky Jim, the top-ranked Standardred in 2009, made a break in a qualifier at the Meadowlands Friday morning, the first appearance for the trotter since winning the $250,000 Maxie Lee Memorial May 31 at Harrah’s Chester. The 4-year-old son of SJ’s Photo has won all 12 of his pari-mutuel starts this
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Ohio governor calls for VLTs at racetracks only
June 19, 2009
Ohio Governor Ted Strickland announced at a press conference Friday at 4 pm that he is supporting a plan for video lottery terminals at the state's seven's racetracks, and he sees it as a way to quickly raise close to $1 billion, which would help fill a $3.2 billion budget shortfall. Strickland
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Rare Dan Patch painting to be sold July 11
June 19, 2009
A rare and beautiful oil painting of the immortal Dan Patch, by George Ford Morris, one of America’s greatest equine artists, has surfaced and is being offered for sale at the American Saddlebred Museum’s Art, Antique & Rare Book Auction at noon, Saturday, July 11. This year’s auction, which a
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Judge Joe stays undefeated in NYSS this year
June 19, 2009
New York Sire Stakes completed their week-long Yonkers Raceway engagement with Friday night's  $216,465 event for 3-year-old colts and geldings, with five divisions--at $43,293 each.   Judge Joe, a homebred son of Credit Winner, was a premier player in this division a season ago for
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Keep It A Secret filly wins series leg
June 19, 2009
Two-year-old fillies were in action at Hoosier Park Racing and Casino Friday to kick off several series. One division of trotting fillies kicked off the night while two divisions of pacing fillies were on the card, with the trotting event going to Call Me Ching.   Call Me Ching and driver Dan
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