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Is Aldrich waving "Bye-bye Billy" at Mighty M?
November 30, 2011
It’s been a year-long battle for leading driver honors at Monticello Raceway. Although Bruce Aldrich Jr. has led the pack for a good portion of the season, veteran Billy “Zeke” Parker Jr.  would then get on a tear and take command for a while. Then Aldrich would win a multitude of rac
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Pentland sending out pair in Autumn elims
November 30, 2011
When it comes to their horses, many trainers believe that with great patience comes great reward. John Pentland is no exception. The Dorchester resident, who recently relocated to Classy Lane Training Center with 10 horses for the winter months, remains hopeful that Del Rio Seelster and Pisti can
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PA's top drivers vie for $50,000 at Chester
November 30, 2011
Eight of Pennsylvania’s best drivers will converge on Harrah’s Chester Sunday, Dec. 18, to battle it out for their share of $50,000 in total prize money. The winner will receive $15,000 while second and third place will take home $10,000 and $8,000, respectively. Consolation prizes for fourth throug
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HHI meetings get underway Thursday
November 30, 2011
Harness Horsemen International’s annual meeting is set to begin on Thursday at the EmbassySuites Resort and Spa in Deerfield Beach, Fla.  The three-day agenda culminates with the HHI 2011 annual awards banquet on Dec. 3 at the same venue.   Keynote speakers during the Friday morning ge
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Ron Brechler, owner of Trick Man, dies
November 30, 2011
Ronald L. Brechler, 75, of Mount Vernon, Ohio, who campaigned the top horse Trick Man p,4, 1:49.3f ($286,135, died Monday, Nov. 28, at his home after a brief illness. He had been involved in harness racing for more than three decades.   Mr. Brechler was at The Meadows in late July w
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Tioga Downs raises $10,294 for United Way
November 29, 2011
Employees at Tioga Downs Casino are doing their part to help the community this holiday season. The staff raised $10,294 for the Tioga United Way, smashing the $9,000 fundraising goal set.   In addition to the employees’ donations, American Racing and Entertainment, the parent company of Tiog
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Canada's Waples to drive Saturday in France
November 29, 2011
Canada’s Randy Waples and France’s Eric Raffin, drivers of San Pail and Rapide Lebel, the respective one-two finishers in last month’s Breeders Crown Open Trot at Woodbine, will race against each other Saturday night, Dec. 3, in France as part of a competition featuring 14 drivers from 14 different
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Sir Caviar Horse of the Year at The Meadows
November 29, 2011
The older trotter Sir Caviar, a winner of 10 races in 16 starts, has been named Horse of the Year at The Meadows by the members of the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association (MSOA).  Owned by Bill and Leslie Zendt, trained by Bill Zendt and driven throughout much of the season by Bri
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Autumn Stakes for 2YOs begins at Woodbine
November 29, 2011
A trio of $20,000 Autumn Stakes eliminations for 2o-year-old colts and geldings took place Monday evening at Woodbine with Twickenham, Arthur and Twin B Wrangler finding the winner’s circle. In the opening dash, driver Rick Zeron guided Twickenham to an off-the-pace victory in 1:55, paying $10.30
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Delaware's William Chambers dies
November 29, 2011
Williams M. Chambers Jr., 76, former president of Delaware State Fair which owns Harrington Raceway and one of the most popular and humble people in southern Delaware, died on Nov. 19.   Mr. Chambers, a longtime harness racing supporter was a member of the USTA, Delaware Standardbred O
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Illinois legislature takes no action on gaming
November 29, 2011
The Illinois legislature finished its veto session on Tuesday without taking any action on a gambling bill that could have paved the way for expanded gaming at the state's racetracks and in downtown Chicago. Dave McCaffrey, president of the Illinois Harness Horsemen's Association (IHHA), posted the
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San Pail to return in March for Glorys Comet
November 29, 2011
San Pail, a hot favorite for the U.S. and Canada’s Horse of the Year honors in 2011, has earned himself a well-deserved rest after a head-turning campaign. The 7-year-old son of San Pelligrino-Village Beauty earned $1,266,420 in 2011 with a 14-2-0 record from 16 starts. Overall, San Pail has banke
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USHWA Dan Patch Awards dinner Feb. 12
November 29, 2011
On Sunday, Feb. 12, the United States Harness Writers Association will host its annual national awards dinner in Orlando, Fla. Highlights include the presentation of the prestigious Dan Patch Awards, which go to the 2011 harness horses of the year. Other awards will honor the leading
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The Prophet Mary looking for divine victory
November 29, 2011
During her debut season, The Prophet Mary has been on quite a journey. The next challenge for the 2-year-old pacing filly is qualifying for the Autumn Stakes in her $20,000 elimination on Thursday at Woodbine.   The Anthony Montini student was first trained down in Florida by Don Cromer bef
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Silvas purchase interest in The Game Plan
November 29, 2011
Ontario-based trainer John Kopas told harnessracing.com Thursday afternoon that he and partners Anthony Wagner, Gary Grieve and LLK Stable have sold a 20-percent interest in the 2-year-old gelding trotter The Game Plan to Jerry and Theresa Silva. An eight-time winner in 13 starts this year, includi
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Thoroughbred owner begins Bergstein Writing Award
November 29, 2011
The Stanley Bergstein Writing Award has been instituted by Team Valor International in order to foster the type of writing engaged in by the recently deceased horse racing giant and author of hard-hitting racing journalism. CEO Barry Irwin, a former Turf Writer who greatly admired Mr. Bergstein’s
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Gural believes he'll lease Big M within days
November 29, 2011
The Record newspaper of northern New Jersey has reported that Jeff Gural has said he hopes to sign a lease Monday to take over the Meadowlands Racetrack from the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority.   The story said final touches for privatizing the Meadowlands Racetrack may be co
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Biletnikoff wins at Meadows after 10-week layoff
November 29, 2011
Showing no ill effects from a 10-week layoff, Biletnikoff took advantage of live cover to capture Tuesday’s $22,500 Preferred Handicap Pace at The Meadows.   When Tuneariffic came first-over after the leader, Windsong Gorgeous, Biletnikoff followed. Under Aaron Merriman’s urging, the 7-year-o
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Hall, Wolfenden score Dover triples
November 29, 2011
Lorrie Please won the $16,500 mares winners-over pace, the first of three consecutive Mike Hall-trained winners at Dover Downs on Tuesday at Dover Downs.     Matt Kakaley took Lorrie Please to the top early and never looked back en route to a 1:52 conquest in the week’s top dis
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One Lucky Dragon gets maiden win at Pompano
November 29, 2011
On Tuesday, One Lucky Dragon became the second $90,000 yearling purchase to score his first career win in 2011 at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.     The 2-year-old colt by Dragon Again-Kiss My Lips was sent to Florida in October by Ohio trainer Ron Potter. Now racing from
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Lower stud fee for PA stallion Western Terror
November 28, 2011
Kentuckiana Farms and VAE Stallion Management recently announced that the service fee for the coming breeding season on Western Terror will be $10,000. The marks a reduction of $5,000 on the 10-year-old son of Western Hanover, whose credits on the racetrack in 2011 included Breeders Crown
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Vernon meet shows handle increase
November 28, 2011
Vernon Downs recently concluded its 58th season of live racing with impressive increases in wagering handle, bucking nationwide trends. Live on-track handle increased four percent over 2010 while export handle went up a staggering 35 percent.   “We’re very pleased with the successfu
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Jeremy's Successor 1:50.1 winner at Dover
November 28, 2011
Jeremy’s Successor took the lead turning for home and then outclassed eight rivals on the way to a 1:50.1 victory in the  $31,000 Preferred/Open pace on Monday at Dover Downs.   Sean Bier elected to race Andrea Hill’s Jeremy’s Successor from off the pace and the tactic proved correct as
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Hawaiianphotograph takes Meadows trot feature
November 28, 2011
After launching a first-over move, Hawaiianphotograph dug in and scored a narrow victory in Monday’s $22,500 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Trot at The Meadows.   Hawaiianphotograph was racing fourth down the backside when Brian Zendt sent her on her uncovered journey afte
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Does Nillabomb hold a record for most drivers?
November 28, 2011
It's a category for all breeds which is seldom, if ever, visited, but pacing mare Nillabomb must be approaching some sort of precedent. It must surely be a rare occurence for a horse of any breed to have over 30 different drivers or riders in the lifespan of their competitive career. &nbs
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Drivers, horses escape serious injury at Pompano
November 28, 2011
Fortunately, a serious-looking accident just before the opening quarter of the $12,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace did not cause injury to horses or drivers on the Monday evening program at the Isle Pompano Park.   Hay Beautiful, driven by Mike Micallef, made a sudden break, scattering the
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Ouellette drives 5 winners Saturday
November 27, 2011
Driver Luc Ouellette made five trips to the winner’s circle Saturday evening during the 11-race program at Woodbine Racetrack. Ouellette, who ranks sixth on Woodbine Entertainment Group's (WEG) driver standings, kicked off the night with a victory in the first race. He guided U Bettor Watch Out ($3.
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Voelz Hanover upsets field in Forest City
November 27, 2011
Despite being stung through a sizzling :25.3 opening quarter, millionaire pacing mare Voelz Hanover eventually made the lead and held on to pull off a 15-1 upset in the third edition of the $195,000 Forest City Pace at Western Fair Raceway on Saturday night.   When the wings of the gate folde
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All About Kisses sweet at Saratoga
November 27, 2011
In what has been a sensational sophomore season for pacing filly All About Kisses, the Janice Connor trainee set a lifetime mark on Sunday afternoon at Saratoga Casino and Raceway.   All About Kisses was a New York Sire Stakes star this summer, finishing second in the final on the Night of Ch
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Hugadragon game in 1:50.3 Matron victory
November 27, 2011
Hugadragon closed out his 3-year-old season by scoring a 1:50.3 triumph in the $221,465 Matron final at Dover Downs on Sunday night. On the card, were four $20,000 Delaware Standardbred Fund (DSBF) second-leg prelims, which were won by pacers Shaving Mug and Flying Instructor and trotters
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Smoken Up captures $500,000 Miracle Mile
November 26, 2011
Lance Justice cruised into Miracle Mile immortality when his champion pacer Smoken Up won Saturday night's pinnacle sprint, worth $500,000, at Tabcorp Park Menangle northwest of Sydney, Australia. It was the second straight Miracle Mile victory for Smoken Up, who edged I'mThemightyquinn
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Foreign Officer wins 11th race of 2011
November 26, 2011
Foreign Officer (Jim Pantaleano) was up on the money Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $38,000 Open Pace. Away fourth from post position four, Foreign Officer watched as pole-sitting, 7-5 choice Lucky Man (Brian Sears) lined up his rivals through a :26.3 quarter-mile and :55.3 half. &n
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Sparky Mark wins 4th straight Woodbine Preferred
November 26, 2011
Sparky Mark picked up his 10th win in 14 starts this season when he captured the Preferred Pace with a career-best 1:49 effort on Saturday night at Woodbine.   Sparky Mark survived a first-over trip and held on to win his fourth straight Woodbine Preferred Pace. This January and February
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Breakheart Pass, Wuthering Hanover win features
November 25, 2011
Pocket-sitting Breakheart Pass (Yannick Gingras) authored the upset Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $38,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.   Leaving from post position seven, Breakheart Pass was one of several interested early. She wound up making the lead before
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Gingras, wife welcome new daughter
November 23, 2011
Driver Yannick Gingras, the sixth leading money-winning driver in North America with purse earnings of slightly more than $11 million, is taking a few days off this week playing "Mr. Mom." Gingras's wife, Vicki, gave birth to the couple's third child, a girl, on Tuesday. The couple already
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Manofmanymissions to stand in Ontario
November 23, 2011
Kentucky Futurity champion Manofmanymissions will be standing at stud in Ontario for the 2012 breeding season for a stud fee of $7,000 (Canadian funds). Kentuckiana Farms made the announcement that the son of Yankee Glide-Armbro Vanquish (by Garland Lobell) will stand at Kentuckiana Farms
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Meadowlands to hold qualifiers Dec. 29
November 23, 2011
The Meadowlands will offer qualifying races on Thursday, Dec. 29, at 10 a.m. in preparation for the return of live harness racing over the one-mile oval, starting on Jan. 6. Director of Racing Peter Koch said that there would be a second day of qualifying on Friday, Dec. 30, if there were
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Instant Racing earning big money for KY purses
November 23, 2011
Instant Racing, in which gamblers bet on old horse races, is catching on in Kentucky at Kentucky Downs, a track which has held very short race meets in the town of Franklin, Ky., about 45 miles from downtown Nashville, Tenn.   According to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, Insta
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Matrix Hall picks up seventh win of season
November 23, 2011
Matrix Hall made his first start at Dover Downs a winning one in the $16,500 winners-over trot on Wednesday. Daryl Bier steered the Conway Hall-Melissa Hall gelding between horses to victory in 1:56.4.   Ken Wood, Bill Dittmar and Steve Iaquinta own Matrix Hall, a 7-year-old wi
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Marino, Hensley team up to win 3 at Pompano
November 23, 2011
Trainer Chris Marino and driver Ed Hensley teamed up to dominate the Wednesday evening program at the Isle Pompano Park on yet another ideal 78-degree evening in South Florida.Their winners included trotter Lord Burghley in a $5,000 purse conditioned test for owner Howard Jacobs of West Orange NJ, a
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Pompano introduces MEGA-9 wagering
November 22, 2011
The upcoming final weekend of November at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park marks the rollout of several new exciting and interesting initiatives for both fans and horsepeople. These are explained in detail below.   MEGA-9 Wager (Starts Nov. 28)--Leading off the new offerings for
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Forest City attracts star-studded field
November 22, 2011
Several of this year’s star performers, on the track and in the bike, will be at The Raceway at Western Fair District this Saturday night for the $195,000 Forest City Pace, the feature event of the fall meet at the London, Ont. racetrack.   The draw was completed this morning among the nine
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Powerful Burke duo headlines Matron 3CP final
November 22, 2011
Hugadragon and Westwardho Hanover, both easy winners of their respective eliminations of the Matron 3-Year-Old Colt Pace last Sunday at Dover Downs as odds-on choices, have drawn posts two and four, respectively, for this Sunday's $221,465 final. Both trained by Ron Burke, Hugadragon will be driven
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SBOANJ thankful for work to release purse money
November 21, 2011
Freehold horsemen have something to be thankful for this week – a purse increase. The purse increase going into effect at Freehold Raceway on Friday is the end product of negotiations between the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey and the Office of the Governor.  
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Woodbine/Mohawk adopt Gural's rules on studs
November 21, 2011
Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) has announced stakes conditions for its major races will be revised to align with the stallion eligibility requirements introduced by U.S. racetrack operator Jeff Gural.   Beginning with foals born in 2014 (and therefore affecting WEG's major 2-year-o
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Running Aces 2012 dates approved
November 21, 2011
Running Aces Harness Park is pleased to announce that the 2012 dates for the track's fifth season of live racing have been approved by the Minnesota Racing Commission. Opening night will be Wednesday, June 6, with racing continuing on a four-night-a-week schedule through a special Labor Day pro
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Artists Rally rallies to Dover win
November 21, 2011
Artists Rally closed strongly to score a 1:51.4 victory in the $30,000 Delaware Special pace feature at Dover Downs on Monday night.   With Jim Morand in the bike, the Real Artist-Spunky Gal gelding bested Nova Artist (Allan Davis) and front-pacing Highbeam Rusty N (Corey Callahan) to win the
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Dinah Ross is supreme for Pavia at Pompano
November 21, 2011
Joe Pavia Jr. has returned to The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park from Pocono Downs with a 30-horse stable to his winter season base in South Florida and the 51-year-old horseman won his first two drives Monday night. It was the first time Pavia had competed at Pompano since last Marc
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OSS champ Mister Herbie wins Preferred
November 21, 2011
Fresh off a Canadian record performance against sophomores in the $300,000 Ontario Sire Stakes Super Final, Mister Herbie returned to Woodbine Racetrack on Monday evening and romped against older rivals in the $38,000 Preferred Trot.   Undefeated since joining forces with trainer Jeff G
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Vintage Master wins Chester feature in 1:50.2
November 20, 2011
Vintage Master, who went over $2 million in earnings a few starts back, picked up his sixth win of the season when he captured the $60,000 Open Pace on Sunday afternoon at Harrah's Chester. With Daniel Dube in the sulky, the 5-year-old stallion by Western Ideal scored in 1:50.2.   The Lou Pen
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Burke Stable sweeps Matron elims for 3YO pacers
November 20, 2011
Westwardho Hanover, winner of last Sunday’s $330,000 Progress Pace, and his stablemate Hugadragon, were in top form, scoring impressive front-pacing sub 1:50 victories to win respective $32,745 Matron Three-Year-Old Colt elimination paces Sunday night at Dover Downs.   On the same card, Shavi
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Brennan, Lucky Man take Yonkers feature
November 19, 2011
Lucky Man (George Brennan) prevailed from the pocket Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $32,000 winners-over pacing feature.   Leaving from post position seven, Lucky Man was in the game from the outset. He left around Nob Hill High (Brian Sears), then passed the baton to outside assig
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All Heart Gal upsets at The Meadows
November 19, 2011
Dismissed at 18-1, All Heart Gal unleashed a powerful first-over move that carried her to a stunning victory in Friday’s $22,500 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Pace at The Meadows. All Heart Gal was third down the backside when Aaron Merriman tipped her off the cones and asked her for pace
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Pompano cancels Saturday night card
November 19, 2011
The Saturday night racing program at the Isle Pompano Park has been cancelled due to unsafe track conditions caused by sustained rain in the area. Although the weather improved early Saturday, shadows kept the track from drying out in all areas.
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Freehold purses increased 30 percent
November 19, 2011
Freehold Raceway announced that effective Friday, Nov. 25, purses will be increased by 30 percent. The increase is possible due to a payment from the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority of an allocation of monies from the Purse Enhancement Agreement (PEA).With the increase, purses w
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Delaware Breeders legs for 2YO fillies held at Dover
November 19, 2011
The public choices responded with impressive victories in four Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) first leg preliminaries, each worth $20,000, for 2-year-old fillies at Dover Downs on Saturday, Nov. 19. Meet-leading driver Corey Callahan had three winners.   Alleigh Gir
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Western Tsunami takes Vernon feature on closing night
November 19, 2011
Vernon Downs closed out its 2012 meet with the veteran pacer Western Tsunami capturing the $10,000 Open. The 8-year-old gelding by Western Hanover-Rons Girl won in 1:51.2 for trainer Tracy Brainard, who also owns the horse with Andrew Herzog. The victory was the fourth this season--and 39th career-w
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Ontario commission denies big Flamboro date cut
November 18, 2011
The Ontario Racing Commission announced 2012 race dates on Friday, and included in the notice that it had denied a request by Flamboro Downs to be closed for three months.   Woodbine and Mohawk will race 228 dates in 2012, with 130 at Woodbine and 98 at Mohawk.   Flamboro Downs, which
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Sears takes Yonkers Friday features
November 18, 2011
Bling, driven by Brian Sears, found the pocket payoff Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $38,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.   Leaving from post position three, Bling was in play early. She made the first lead before giving in to 19-10 favorite Breakhear
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Big Bad John to stand at Midland in Ohio
November 18, 2011
Big Bad John p,2, 1:50.4; 3, 1:49 ($988,559), the winner of this year's Little Brown Jug, has been retired to stud duty at Midland Acres in Ohio. Ed Telle, whose Winchester Baye Acres owns the stallion, made the announcement along with Midland Acres.   "We're thrilled to have him. Big Bad Joh
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Fridaynightflight wins Abe Lincoln in 1:54.2
November 18, 2011
Fridaynightflight rebounced from a ninth-place finish in the American National at Balmoral the previous week and took the $127,800 Abe Lincoln on the other side of the Windy City on Friday night at Maywood Park, scoring in 1:54.2. Fridaynightflight now has career earnings of $387,704.   Frida
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"Cheddar," Crossthreaded big Windy City winners
November 18, 2011
Betterthancheddar coasted to a huge open-lengths victory in the $175,000 Windy City Pace at Maywood Park Friday night, hitting the wire in 1:52.3 with George Brennan in the sulky. The victory was the fifth straight for Betterthancheddar, who won the Breeders Crown at Woodbine on Oct. 29.   A
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Mr. Avalanche wins Vernon Open Trot by neck
November 18, 2011
Mr. Avalanche brushed by the favorite Scorpion Moon in late stretch to win Friday night’s $10,000 featured ninth race at Vernon Downs.   With Chris Lems handling the lines for trainer Paul Drante, Jr., Mr. Avalanche ($10.80) drafted along in the pocket behind the mile-cutting, crowd choice Sc
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‘Threepeat’ for Rembrandt Spur at The Meadows
November 17, 2011
Pushed five wide around the final turn, Rembrandt Spur charged through the slop to capture Wednesday’s $22,500 Preferred Handicap Trot for his third straight victory. Rembrandt Spur got away an unhurried sixth for trainer/driver Dick Stillings but erased a 5-length deficit with his impressive l
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Up The Credit heads to Dover for Matron
November 17, 2011
Up The Credit will leave Canada for Delaware’s Dover Downs, looking to finish his season with one more stakes victory. The North America Cup champion was among 15 horses entered in the Matron Stakes for 3-year-old male pacers. Two eliminations will be held Sunday, with the top four horses from each
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Forest City girls prepping at Woodbine
November 17, 2011
With no eliminations required for the $195,000 Forest City Pace on Nov. 26 at The Raceway at Western Fair District, five of the nine mares entered will prep this weekend, all at Woodbine.   Warrawee Koine has drawn post five in Friday evening’s fourth race at Woodbine. Jody Jamieson is
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Rare Ranger longshot at Pompano
November 17, 2011
It's very seldom that Bruce Ranger, the leading driver in track history at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park is overlooked at double digit odds, but that's what happened in the conclusion of the daily double on Wednesday evening, November 16.With 1-5 favorite Tom Cango in rein to Fern Paquet Jr. p
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Second Hand News first at Dover
November 17, 2011
Second Hand News returned to his former home track a winner in the $16,500 Winners-Over feature trot on a rainy Wednesday, Nov. 16 at Dover DownsWith Jon Roberts at the controls the Pathway To Victory-Mohawk Super Night gelding took the lead early and was never headed in a 1:54.3 triumph. Brit Evans
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Brittany announces 2012 stud fees
November 17, 2011
Stud fees for 2012 have now been set for the Brittany Stallion Management stallions. Art Zubrod, Brittany's manager, said that a stallion's commercial appeal, production, and overall market conditions were taken into consideration by each stallion's syndicate when determining the fees.   "I
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Young Bongiorno adds another Mighty M win
November 17, 2011
High School student Joe Bongiorno is working on his “Masters Degree.” Not one from any university but one that will further his career. Since he was old enough to know what he wanted to do in life the 18-year-old senior at Colts Neck (N.J.) High School is working toward that goal: to be a
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Vernon set to close meet on Saturday night
November 17, 2011
Vernon Downs is set to kick off its final weekend of live racing action this weekend beginning on Friday night with a 12- race card at 6:55 pm. The 90-day race meet then concludes on Saturday night with 10 races beginning at 6:55 pm, followed by a fireworks display immediately following live racing.
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Can Crime Of Passion overcome post 11?
November 17, 2011
After pulling off an upset at 11-1 in last week’s $121,100 American National Stake at Balmoral Park, it would only seem fitting if Erv Miller Stable, Leland Mathias and Omer Miller’s Illinois-bred sensation Crime Of Passion could pull off a repeat performance in Friday’s $127,800 Abe Lincoln Stake a
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Swinging Beauty looks for 2 in a row in Chicago
November 17, 2011
Fresh off a thrilling come-from-behind victory in the $135,000 American National Stake at Balmoral Park last Saturday night, William Switala and James Martin’s Swinging Beauty will look to make it two in a row on the Chicago circuit when she leads a field of nine sophomore pacing fillies postward fo
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Feelin Friskie yearling tops sale at $29,000
November 17, 2011
Buyers from 25 states, several Canadian provinces, and Europe rolled into Delaware, Ohio, for the 64th annual fall sale.  The 1,226 horse catalog featured a wide variety of green prospects, young racehorses, seasoned campaigners, broodmares, weanlings, and yearlings.  However, it was the b
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Meadowlands lease could be done by Dec. 5
November 17, 2011
Jeff Gural says he hopes to execute his lease of the Meadowlands Racetrack for harness racing by Monday, Dec. 5, but if not, Dennis Robinson, president of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA) told a New Jersey reporter the track could be operated jointly, as it was i
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No action taken to prohibit slots at Rosecroft
November 16, 2011
The county where Rosecroft Raceway is located has decided to not issue an order to prohibit video gaming or slot machines in the county.   Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III released the following statement following the 5-4 decision of the Prince George’s County Counc
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Urgent! Contact Florida Gov. to save racing
November 16, 2011
Tom Hicks, executive director of the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association (FSBOA), says the horse racing industry should be on high alert because of various legislative initiatives and workarounds being discussed in the Sunshine State.   The most urgent are initiatives to
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1995 Jug winner Nick's Fantasy at SRF
November 16, 2011
Jean Rastetter has a small stable at The Meadows in western Pennsylvania; mostly racehorses, a yearling and until recently a Little Brown Jug winner. Since 1997, when 1995 Little Brown Jug winner Nick’s Fantasy raced at Los Alamitos in California, Rastetter cared for him at home in West Alexander, P
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Windy City tops Friday card at Maywood
November 16, 2011
Fans of the sport will not want to miss any of the action at Maywood Park on Friday as the half-mile oval will play host to some of the sport’s top human and equine athletes for the 29th Annual Windy City Pace Night. The main event of the night the $175,000 Windy City Pace Stake for 3-year-old pac
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Vote now for 2011 Race of the Year!
November 15, 2011
It’s time to vote for the 2011 Race of the Year! As selected by the staff at harnessracing.com, here are the five finalists, in alphabetical order: Allerage Farms Older Horse Pace, won by We Will See; Breeders Crown Older Horse Trot, won by San Pail; William Haughton Memorial, won by Alexie Mattosie
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Blue Creek Angie wins 17th of year
November 15, 2011
It’s true that the margins of victory are less now than in the early seasonal wins, yet Blue Creek Angie keeps getting the job done. At Monticello Raceway on  Monday afternoon, the 8-year-old On The Attack mare notched her 17th victory of the season when owner- trainer
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Higher And Higher's 1:49.2 equals world record
November 15, 2011
Higher And Higher equaled the world record over a five-eighth mile oval, steaming to a 1:49.2 victory in the $23,000 Mares Open/Handicap pace at Dover Downs on Tuesday.   For the second straight week, Daryl Bier drove Higher And Higher to a convincing triumph in the track’s top female event o
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Zornow to be honored with Hamilton Medal
November 15, 2011
Theodore “Ted” H. Zornow was there at the conception of the New York Sire Stakes and he has been helping to shape the program ever since. For his outstanding contributions to harness horse racing and improvements of the breeding of Standardbred horses in the State of New York, Harness Horse Breeders
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Forest City Pace attracts stellar field of nine
November 15, 2011
This year’s Forest City Pace, the anchor of the current fall meet at Western Fair Raceway, will feature Tim Tetrick’s debut at the London, Ont. half-miler and nine of the most elite pacing mares in North America including the recent Breeders Crown champion, the defending champion and Canada’s
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Roll With Joe to stand stud, being syndicated
November 15, 2011
Roll With Joe, 2011’s leading money-winning performer on either gait, has been retired to stud at Blue Chip Farms in Wallkill, NY.   A winner of more than $1.8 million during his career, Roll With Joe scored numerous victories in 2011 including the Meadowlands Pace, in which he took
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Marcus Miller talks about Maywood Friday
November 15, 2011
With three driving titles in hand, Marcus Miller needed only one word to define his year. “Fun,” Miller said, laughing. “It’s just fun. That’s the only way to describe it.”   The 22-year-old Miller, who is the son of trainer Erv Miller and nephew of driver Andy Miller, entered Tuesday with 45
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Tunearriffic scores again at The Meadows
November 15, 2011
Tuneariffic was terrific at The Meadows once more, knifing through the slop to track down the strong leader and capture Tuesday’s $22,500 Preferred Handicap Pace for his second straight victory.   When Code Word drew off to a clear lead down the backside, it appeared that Tuneariffic might ha
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Buffalo has new race secretary, announcer
November 14, 2011
Buffalo Raceway, located on The Fairgrounds in Hamburg, NY, has announced the appointment of Virginia Rosenfeld as race secretary and Gabe Prewitt as announcer for the upcoming 2012 race meet that begins in January.   Rosenfeld has been employed as assistant race secretary, program direc
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Hudons back at work after accident
November 14, 2011
Pat Hudon will be taking sometime away from the race bike to nurse a pair of injuries he sustained in an accident, but that won’t keep him away from the barn in the morning or racetrack in the evening. Pat, his father Joe and his brother Phil were involved in an on-track incident on Thursday, Nov.
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Ouellette bails out, but not injured
November 14, 2011
Driver Luc Ouellette was unseated during the fourth race on Monday evening at Woodbine Racetrack. Ouellette was positioned fourth along the rail heading to the half when he knew something was wrong with his horse As Duharas.   As Duharas was angled towards the safety lane when Ouellette
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Back-to-back Meadows wins for Kandor Hanover
November 14, 2011
Kandor Hanover took her time making the front, but she was unassailable once there in capturing Monday’s $22,500 Filly & Mare Preferred Trot at The Meadows for her second straight victory.   Dave Palone allowed Kandor Hanover to idle on the outside until the field settled before urging he
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Bombilla Hanover sets 1:51.4 Pompano mark
November 14, 2011
A humid evening with the temperature hovering in the upper 70s set the stage for a remarkable track record by 3-year-old pacing filly Bombilla Hanover of 1:51.4 in the very first race of the Monday evening, Nov. 14, program at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.   A talen
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Fools Gold, Highbeam Rusty N win again at Dover
November 14, 2011
It was deja vu all over again in the $30,000 double feature paces on Monday, Nov. 14, at Dover Downs. In a repeat of last week’s headliners, Fools Gold won the Preferred/Open and Highbeam Rusty N made it two Delaware Specials in a row. Corey Callahan drove three winners.   Daryl Bier was
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Go Go Solano ties Vernon all-age record
November 13, 2011
Go Go Solano tied the all-time track pacing standard at Vernon Downs with a blistering 1:49.4 performance on a clear, but chilly, Saturday evening.   A 1:51 winner here at age three, Go Go Solano was assigned the outside eight post by racing secretary Scott Warren for Saturday’s $10
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Ontario Super Finals in the books
November 13, 2011
The top 2- and 3-year-old Ontario-sired colts and fillies converged onto Woodbine Racetrack Saturday night to contest eight $300,000 Ontario Sire Stakes Super Finals.    Jody Jamieson captured his second Super Final victory on the card when Mister Herbie cruised to a 1:52 Canadian,
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Favorites rule in Fall Final Four at Chester
November 13, 2011
The Fall Final Four for 2 year olds were raced Sunday afternoon at Harrah's Chester, with the race favorite capturing each contest. The quartet began in the fifth race with the $410,000 Valley Victory for 2-year-old colt trotters, contested as a non-betting affair, won by Possess The Wil
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American Nationals contested at windy Balmoral
November 13, 2011
Balmoral Park played host to one of its biggest night’s of the year on Saturday as six American National finals were contested over the Crete oval. With almost $900,000 in purse money up for grabs and a large crowd on hand there were plenty of thrills and great performances despite gusting wind
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Westwardho Hanover wins Progress Pace
November 13, 2011
Supplemental entry Westwardho Hanover bested favored Alsace Hanover by three quarters of a length in Sunday's $330,000 Progress Pace for 3 year olds at Dover Downs. In a major upset on the card, Big Rigs sprung a 16-1 surprise in the $174,940 Matron 3-Year-Old Colt, bringing to an end the four-race
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Lightning Treasure, Gurf win Yonkers feautures
November 12, 2011
Lightning Treasure (Dan Dube) made it look simple from the eight hole Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $38,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.   In play early, Lightning Treasure moved around Quicksilvercandy A (Larry Stalbaum) before a :27.1 opening quarter mile. She th
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Scorpion Moon wins Vernon feature
November 12, 2011
The veteran trotter Scorpion Moon earned his 79th career victory with a 2:00 triumph in Friday night’s $8,000 featured race at Vernon Downs.Claude Huckabone III did the teaming for trainer Tracy Brainard as the favorite Scorpion Moon ($5.30) rallied from last at the half to fifth at the three-q
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NYSS champ Royal Shyster sells for $450,000
November 12, 2011
New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) champion Royal Shyster, most recently fifth in the $600,000 Breeders Crown final for 2-year-old colt trotters at Woodbine Racetrack, sold for $450,000 on Saturday in the second and last session of the mixed sale portion in Harrisburg. William Weaver was the successful bid
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Roll in Messenger, Rock in Lady Maud
November 12, 2011
Roll With Joe, driven by Ron Pierce, surprised no one Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $401,000 Messenger Stakes for 3-year-old pacers. In his retirement soiree, "Joe" rolled, romping in the 56th edition of the final jewel of the Pacing Triple Crown by eight widening lengths in 1:
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Pocono wraps up 2011 meet
November 12, 2011
Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs closed out its 2011 season by honoring some of its finest horses, trainers, and drivers, while Golden Receiver provided one more highlight by winning the featured pace on Saturday night. Golden Receiver, trained by Mark Harder and driven to victory by Howard Parker, pick
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Check Me Out spots Matron field 20, still wins
November 12, 2011
Check Me Out overcame going offstride in mid first turn and then made up approximately 24 lengths to win the first of four Matron 2-year-old finals at Dover Downs on Saturday at Dover Downs.   In the $129,050 Matron final for 2-year-old filly trotters, Check Me Out eased away from the st
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Santeramo drives first-ever winner
November 12, 2011
He timed his late stretch move perfectly to nail down a nose photo finish win and was then greeted by cheering well wishers in the winner's circle. It all made for a most memorable debut in the Florida Amateur Driving Club (FADC) as 30-year-old Tom Santeramo earned his first first lifetime driv
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Harrisburg yearling sale finishes up 2.7%
November 11, 2011
The four-day yearling portion of the Standardbred Horse Sale Company’s auction at Harrisburg concluded on Thursday with the average price settling at $31,572, an increase of 2.7 percent from last year. The total gross for the 1,067 yearlings sold was $33,687,500, with a median price of $20,000, the
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Three Hudons escape injury in Woodbine mishap
November 11, 2011
Joe, Phil and Pat Hudon were able to walk off the track under their own power after an accident in race eleven of Woodbine's Thursday evening card.The incident occurred in deep stretch, as Feels Good and driver Joe Hudon veered to the inside and fell to the ground, causing a chain reaction. Mater De
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Online memorial site for Stan Bergstein
November 11, 2011
Al Bergstein has set up a memorial site, including photos and other information, for Stan Bergstein. The site is a work in progress, and more will be added as photos are scanned and the timeline of Stan's life is filled in. Friends and admirers can leave messages for Stan's family to read. The site
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D Man wins Cal Expo Bergstein Memorial
November 11, 2011
It was only fitting that a horse named D Man won a race named in the memory of a great man. Conditioned trotters, racing for a purse of $3,400, were featured at Cal Expo on Thursday night, in which D Man dropped down in class to score in the Stan Bergstein Memorial.   Leaving and racing four
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Indiana slot subsidy reduction suggested
November 11, 2011
After an exhaustive 16-month investigation of the Indiana Horse Racing Commission, Indiana’s Inspector General, David O. Thomas, has found no criminal code or ethics violations. A report detailing the Inspector General’s findings was released on Thursday and posted on the Inspector General’s ag
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Graceful Touch sells for $560,000; The Queen for $350,000
November 11, 2011
Jean-Pierre Barjon, the owner of the 2009 Prix d'Amerique winner Meaulnes du Corta, was the successful bidder at $560,000 for Graceful Touch, the dam of the 2007 Hambletonian winner Muscle Massive, world champion Muscle Mass and 2010 Merrie Annabelle winner Thatsnotmyname, during the Perretti Farms
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Illinois gaming bill voted down in House
November 10, 2011
The Illinois House of Representatives failed to pass a new gambling bill late Wednesday afternoon. A revamped bill, which called for slots at the state's racetracks, was defeated by a vote of 58-55, falling short. It needed 71 votes to become law over a potential veto by Gov. Pat
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Whirlwind week continues for Cancelliere
November 10, 2011
Less than 24 hours after spending more than $1.2 million on two yearling purchases at Harrisburg, trainer Tom Cancelliere didn’t have much chance to enjoy the moment as he had to ensure that his recent Breeders Crown winner, Bettor Sweet, was on his way to Balmoral Park for Saturday’s $175,000 Ameri
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Rembrandt Spur returns to form at The Meadows
November 10, 2011
Returning to The Meadows’ top trot after sharpening his game in a conditioned race, Rembrandt Spur made up 6-3/4 lengths late to capture Wednesday’s $22,500 Preferred Handicap Trot. The all-age track record-holder on the trot, Rembrandt Spur endured a long drought before taking an Oct. 22 condi
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Vaporstar shines at Balmoral
November 10, 2011
State-bred trotting colts were back in the spotlight on Wednesday night at Balmoral Park as a field of seven two-year-olds met in the $14,200 Normal OTB Stake. Coming off back to back romps over this surface Fox Valley Standardbreds and Harold & Joshua Carter’s Vaporstar continued his late seaso
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American Nationals on tap Saturday at Balmoral
November 10, 2011
Balmoral Park will play host to some of the top Standardbreds as the prestigious American National Stakes are contested this Saturday night.   Some of the horses pulling into Balmoral Park this weekend include:   BETTERTHANCHEDDAR – won both the 2011 Breeders Crown and the Cane
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Broad Bahn to stand at Winbak of New York
November 10, 2011
Winbak Farm of New York is proud to welcome Broad Bahn, winner of the 2011 Hambletonian. The son of Broadway Hall has earned $1,526,996 in his career and has a lifetime mark of 1:53. As a 2 year old he won his Breeders Crown elimination and set the track record, won the William Wellwood elimi
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Valley Victory final to be raced as non-bettor
November 10, 2011
Although earlier controversy regarding the eligiblity of three horses for Sunday's $410,000 Valley Victory Trot at Harrah's Chester is no longer an issue, the race will now be contested as a non-wagering event and still carded as the fifth race on the program. Post time for the first race is 12
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Smokin Dabra ends Keystone Thomas win streak
November 10, 2011
A conqueror to the supremacy of Keystone Thomas has finally been found in Florida and it's Ontario import Smokin Dabra. The 5-year-old Kadabra-Smokin Rama gelding used a robust two-move effort to take down the top prize in the $12,000 purse mid-week  Open Handicap Trot on Wednesday at
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Betterthancheddar looking for Am-Nat victory
November 10, 2011
Sporting victories in four of his last six starts, Steve Calhoun and West Wins Stables’ Betterthancheddar, this year’s 3-Year-Old Breeders Crown champion, will be looking to parlay a big late season run into divisional honors when he takes on nine other sophomore pacers in Saturday’s $225,000 Americ
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Will luck be a Podges Lady Saturday night?
November 10, 2011
After opening a promising career with a pair of victories including a four-length romp in a division of the Hanover Stake here at Balmoral Park back in July, Sawgrass Farms Podges Lady returns to the local scene looking to take home top honors in Saturday’s $86,800 American National for 2-year-old p
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Yearling sale concludes; final day up 3.7%
November 10, 2011
The fourth and final day of the yearling portion of the annual Standardbred Horse Sale Company auction in Harrisburg concluded Thursday with 267 horses sold for an average price of $18,698. That's an increase of 3.7 percent from the 2010 average price.   A gross of $4,992,300 was realized for
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Pacer gets teeth stuck in gate; race 'no contest'
November 10, 2011
The 12th race at Monticello Raceway on Thursday was declared “no contest” when the Docdor Chaser got stuck to the mobile starting gate.   According to Scott Hamilton, the starting judge, Docdor Chaser’s top teeth got stuck in a bar of the mobile starting gate and
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Maine voters turn down expanded gaming
November 09, 2011
Two referendums approving expanded gaming in Maine met with resounding defeats Tuesday. One proposal that would have allowed Scarborough Downs and a new harness track in Biddeford to operate slot machines was trailing 55-45 percent with 87 percent of the precincts reporting, while the second proposa
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3rd session down, but overall sale up 2.7%
November 09, 2011
The third session offering yearlings at the annual Standardbred Horse Sale Company auction in Harrisburg concluded Wednesday with 275 horses sold for an average price of $18,493. That's a drop of 3.8 percent from the average of $19,218 attained in last year's third session, when 303 yearlings were s
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Bettor's Delight to stand in Canada in 2012
November 08, 2011
Blue Chip Farms is pleased to announce that Bettor's Delight, North America’s 2011 leading moneywinning pacing sire, will be standing in Canada in 2012 pending syndicate approval.   Bettor's Delight has had a phenomenal year which recently culminated in two Breeders Crown victo
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Moon Beam to stand in PA at Delaware Valley
November 08, 2011
Moon Beam 1:51f ($772,486) will stand the 2012-breeding season at Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, Pa.   The son of Dragon Again-Sun N Moon won four of six starts at two, earning $407,650 with a mark of 1:52:2s and placing second in the $1 million Metro Pace final and Woodrow
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OSS Super Finals drawn for Saturday
November 08, 2011
Over $2.4 million will be at stake this Saturday at Woodbine Racetrack as eight $300,000 Ontario Sire Stakes Super Finals go to post, featuring the province's top pacers and trotters.   Two and 3 year olds competing in the Gold eliminations and finals throughout the season accumulate
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Southwind Trucker wins at sunny Mighty M
November 08, 2011
During the 2009 campaign Southbound Trucker was the Horse of the Year at Monticello Raceway. He performed well last season but raced mostly out of town and this year having bankrolled just $22,000  the grand old campaigner’s numbers were running far behind his previous seaso
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After 2 sessions, average up, median down
November 08, 2011
The second session of the Standardbred Horse Sale Company's annual yearling auction in Harrisburg was missing the fireworks of the opening session, but it still finished to keep the entire sale in positive territory.   Through the first two sessions, the sale is up 2.9 percent in average. Thi
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Tunearrific overcomes 5-length deficit to win
November 08, 2011
With the help of live cover, Tunearrific zipped the back half in a snappy :54.4 en route to victory in Tuesday’s Preferred Handicap Pace at The Meadows.   When Jojo N Goliath took the field through a comfortable :57 half, it appeared that Tunearrific might be hard pressed to erase his five-le
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Higher And Higher wins Dover $23,000 mares feature
November 08, 2011
Higher And Higher duplicated her winning performance of last week to win the $23,000 Mares Open Handicap pace on Tuesday (Nov. 8) at Dover Downs.In similar fashion to her win last week, Daryl Bier moved Higher And Higher to the outside heading to the clubhouse turn and then followed cover before mak
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New Jersey voters approve sports wagering
November 08, 2011
Voters in New Jersey on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a ballot proposal that would allow sports wagering at racetracks, sites of former racetracks and casinos. NJ.com reported shortly after 10 p.m. Tuesday night that with more than 50 percent of the votes tallied, voters were approving the re
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Roll With Joe strong favorite in Messenger
November 08, 2011
Roll With Joe, the richest harness horse in North America this season. drew post position three for Yonkers Raceway's Messenger Stakes. The 56th edition of the final leg of the Pacing Triple Crown goes as Saturday night's sixth race, a one-dash-for-the-cash event worth $401,000. Post time is ap
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Pierce wins 8,000th career race
November 07, 2011
Hall of Fame driver Ron Pierce won his 8,000th career race Sunday night, reaching the milestone with the 3-year-old filly pacer Fouralarmfire in the 12th race at Dover Downs. The 55-year-old Pierce is just the 20th driver to reach 8,000 victories. Pierce began Sunday three away from 8,000, and was
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Updated: Valley Victory drawn despite controversy
November 07, 2011
UPDATED (Nov. 7, 4:15 pm)  Howard Taylor has given harnessracing.com an update on the draw situation regarding the post position draw for Sunday's $410,000 Valley Victory 2-Year-Old Colt Trot at Harrah's Chester, and he said the race was drawn with five finalists and did not include the three h
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Donato Hanover brother brings record $825,000
November 07, 2011
John and Tom Cancelliere have made harness racing history by buying the breed's most expensive yearling ever, paying $825,000 for Detour Hanover, a full brother to Donato Hanover early Monday evening at the Standardbred Horse Sales Company auction in Harrisburg. Karl-Erik Bender of Sweden, who&
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Harrah's Chester 2-year-old stakes drawn
November 07, 2011
Post positions for the four stakes races for 2 year olds on the Sunday card at Harrah's Chester have been drawn. There are just five slated to line up behind the gate in the $410,000 Valley Victory for 2-year-old colt trotters, with that race still in limbo as a court appeal is expected to be filed
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Kandor Hanover takes Meadows feature
November 07, 2011
Rebounding from an eighth-place finish in the Breeders Crown Mare Trot, Kandor Hanover used a third-over trip and a powerful late kick to capture Monday’s $22,500 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap at The Meadows.   Away an unhurried sixth for Dave Palone, Kandor Hanover followed live cover
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Fools Gold scores in 1:51.3 at Dover
November 07, 2011
Fools Gold closed to win the $30,000 Preferred/Open pace while Highland Rusty N used similar tactics for victory in the $30,000 Delaware Special on Monday (Nov. 7) at Dover Downs.   Daryl Bier followed cover racing fourth on the backstretch before coming to the outside on the final turn and F
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I'm Just Special is a horse for a course
November 07, 2011
More than 80 percent of her wins in 2011 have been in South Florida so it was no surprise that I'm Just Special would go off as the 3-5 prevailing public choice in the $12,000 purse Monday evening feature at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.With Bruce Ranger making a key decision in the opening e
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A Rocknroll Dance wins Governor's Cup elim
November 06, 2011
Harrah’s Chester Downs played host to key elimination races Sunday afternoon, November 6 to determine the fields for the Governor’s Cup, Valley Victory and Goldsmith Maid. A Rocknroll Dance turned in the fastest win in three $20,000 Governor’s Cup splits for freshman pacing colts, stopping the clock
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Gingras, Burke team for Indy Downs stakes wins
November 06, 2011
It was a big night for Yannick Gingras and Burke Racing Stable Saturday, November 5 at Indiana Downs. Gingras teamed with leading trainer Ron Burke to capture the $275,500 Monument Circle with Hugadragon before capping the evening with a track record performance behind Foiled Again in the $205,000 I
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Mystical Valentine scores at Vernon
November 06, 2011
Mystical Valentine delivered a strong stretch kick to capture Saturday night’s $10,000 Open pace, while the trotter Famous Image and pacer Noble Wabbit each established Vernon Downs records for going 7/8ths-of-a-mile--the wrong way of the track.   With Leon Bailey steering for trainer Dave De
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Star Recruit wins American-National elimination
November 06, 2011
Steve Carter pupils Star Recruit and Caviart Key swept the top two spots in the lone American-National elimination for freshman pacing colts Saturday, November 5 at Balmoral Park. Sent off as the favorites, the two horses finished a neck apart at the wire, with Ridge Warren guiding Star Recruit to t
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Sires stakes headline action at Cal Expo
November 06, 2011
The weather wasn't nice, but the weekending card (November 5) at Cal Expo was while highlighted by Sires Stakes, Series' Finals, and Winners-Over action. Two $15,000 California Sires Stakes had center-stage for freshmen colts & geldings, on which Ra Ra Steven & El Azteca scored.   In
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Colonial Downs closes with Day of Champions
November 06, 2011
Itrustyou, the 2010 Virginia-bred 2-year-old colt and gelding pacing champ, returned to the Commonwealth and captured the $44,400 3-year-old division in a new life mark on Saturday afternoon on the $368,000 Day of Champions program at Colonial Downs. The Third Straight--Dynamic Lady gelding went w
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Progress Pace elims to "Alsace," Fashion Delight
November 06, 2011
Alsace Hanover and Fashion Delight won Progress Pace elims, and Chapter Seven, Cedar Dove and Drop The Ball were Matron Stakes winners on Sunday at Dover Downs.   In a photo finish, John Fielding’s Alsace Hanover, reined by Hall of Famer Ron Pierce, had just enough to hold off fast finis
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Red Star Hottie a winner at The Meadows
November 05, 2011
Red Star Hottie charged through the Lightning Lane at The Meadows to capture Friday’s $22,500 Filly & Mare Not Listed Preferred/Preferred Handicap Pace and become a career $500,000 performer.Away second behind the streaking Mud Pie Hanover, who was seeking the fifth win in her last six starts, R
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Big night of stakes action at Indiana Downs
November 05, 2011
The last Saturday night program for Indiana Downs’ 2011 harness meet is packed with stakes action. Several top trotters and pacers are slated to compete in several lucrative events on the 14-race program beginning at 6:55 p.m.   Burke Racing Stable will send out six entries in the highly-comp
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Shooebee's Place takes Yonkers open handicap
November 05, 2011
Shooebee's Place (George Brennan) lasted on the lead Saturday night (November 5), winning Yonkers Raceway's $42,000 Open Handicap Pace.   Assigned post position No. 3, "Shoobee" left around Southwind Tabor (Larry Stalbaum), making the lead before a :26.3 opening quarter. After a 56-second ha
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Check Me Out sets world record in Matron elim
November 05, 2011
Check Me Out opened up the 2011 Matron Stakes with a 1:53.2 world record winning the $18,175 two-year-old filly trot elimination. Delano made it a Ray Schnittker-trained and co-owned daily double with a 1:57 win in the $38,725 colt trot elim. Voluptuous Ronda notched the other $18,175 filly trot eli
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Cracker Coffee earns $100,000 Florida bonus
November 05, 2011
The rain held off until the evening's added money events were complete, and Saturday night (November 5) at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park was made $100,000 sweeter for the connections of two year old pacing filly Cracker Coffee. The 2011 'Super Night' headline performer came through with a grit
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Hall of Fame pays tribute to Bergstein
November 04, 2011
Stanley Bergstein was inducted into the Harness Racing Communicators’ Hall of Fame in 1987 and inducted into the Harness Racing Living Hall of Fame the following year. These are the two highest honors that can be bestowed by one’s peers and he is the only person who is a member of both halls of fame
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Matron elims headline Saturday Dover card
November 04, 2011
The Matrons, the sport’s oldest continual stakes program, makes it’s 2011 debut on Saturday (Nov. 5) with elimination divisions for freshman on Saturday and three sophomore elims plus two Progress Pace elims on Sunday at Dover Downs. First post is 5:30 p.m.   An impressive group of two-year-o
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WEG lowers fees for winter/spring series
November 04, 2011
Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) is pleased to announce several new changes to its Winter and Spring Stakes Series, beginning with events scheduled to close Dec. 1. All events with deadlines of Dec. 1 this year, along with Jan. 17 and Feb. 15, 2012, will now offer a reduced nomination fee of only
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MOMM retired to stud duty at Kentuckiana
November 04, 2011
World champion trotter Manofmanymissions 3, 1:52.1 ($1,215,000) has been retired. The son of Yankee Glide-Armbro Vanquish (by Garland Lobell) will begin his stallion career at Kentuckiana Farms in 2012. Kentuckiana, breeder of the colt, will serve as the syndicate manager.
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Rewind things at Vernon on Saturday
November 04, 2011
With the upcoming daylight savings upon us this weekend, Vernon Downs’ race secretary, Scott Warren, has decided to shake things up and for the first time in the track’s 58-year history two races on Saturday night will be raced in the opposite direction.   Dubbed the “Turn Back The Clock” rew
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Wall inducted to London Sports Hall of Fame
November 04, 2011
Dave Wall, one of the most talented horsemen to ever emerge from the London area, was honored Thursday night at the Spirit of Sports awards and inducted into the London Sports Hall of Fame.   Accompanying Wall as part of the 10th anniversary induction class were NHL players Eric L
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Breeders Crown to return to Woodbine in 2012
November 04, 2011
On the heels of a record-breaking night of racing featuring a spectacular international trotting contest, the Hambletonian Society and Woodbine Entertainment Group announced Friday the Breeders Crown $6 million year-end championships will return to Canada in 2012, on Saturday, Oct. 27.  
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Temple Of Doom to stand at Ind.'s Victory Hill
November 04, 2011
Temple Of Doom 3, 1:52.4f ($680,267), a world champion during the 2010 racing campaign, has been retired to stud duty and will stand the 2012 breeding season at Jeff and Maria King’s Victory Hill Farm in Indiana. His stud fee will be $3,000.  “Temple Of Doom is a handsome, dark horse who also
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Yonkers features to Favored Lightning, Looking Hanover
November 04, 2011
Favored Lightning Treasure (Dan Dube) went from first-up to first home Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $42,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.   Leaving from post position No. 5, Lightning Treasure watched from fifth as Billmar Scooter (Eric Goodell) was the only leave.
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Yankee Manny scores in 1:57.2 at Dover
November 04, 2011
Yankee Manny survived an overland journey to snare a 1:57.2 triumph in Friday night’s $8,000 featured ninth race at Vernon Downs.   Facing seven formidable foes, Yankee Manny ($7.80) moved up steadily from fifth at the quarter to third at the half and second entering the stretch, building up
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Winbak to stand Shark Gesture at Nandi in PA.
November 03, 2011
Winbak Farm will be standing Shark Gesture in 2012 at Nandi Farm in Pennsylvania. ­He will be standing for $6,000 and will be available for syndication.   Shark Gesture had a successful race career taking marks of p, 2, 1:51.3; 3, 1:49.1; 1:48.1 and earning $2,818,021. Shark Gesture prov
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Vaporstar shines in Cardinal
November 03, 2011
Fresh off a convincing win in the biggest event of the year for Illinois conceived and foaled trotting colts, Lincoln Land Stake winner Vaporstar romped to his second straight triumph destroying eight other diagonally gaited freshmen by 8 ½ lengths in Wednesday’s $48,700 Cardinal Stake at Balmoral P
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VIP has new partnership group with free shares
November 03, 2011
The newest partnership group in Harness Racing looks to bring new owners into the game by offing FREE shares in a package of four yearlings.  Inner Circle Stable is the latest innovation from industry leader VIP Stable, and this new stable is being introduced to offer ownership opportunities at
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Tattler's Jet, 13, wins 110th career race
November 03, 2011
Thirteen-year old Tattler’s Jet, who scored a 1:49.2 winning mile at Colonial Downs last fall, won for the 110th time in his 417th career start Wednesday afternoon as the “work horse” continues to roll back the clock in his twilight years.   The Tattler’s Torpedo gelding had not won in h
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Raffle tickets available for Prix d'Amerique drawing
November 03, 2011
The Prix d'Amerique, one of harness racings most prestigious events, raced at Vincennes Racecourse in Paris, is a dream destination for those who love the sport of harness racing. The Standardbred Retirement Foundation (SRF), in an effort to raise much needed funds, is once again
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Top colt trotter Whatever It Takes dies
November 03, 2011
Andy Miller told harnessracing.com Thursday morning that Whatever It Takes, who most recently finished second in the $1 million Canadian Trotting Classic in September at Mohawk Racetrack, was euthanized Friday, Oct. 22, after coming down with pneumonia and then laminitis. After posting four wins in
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Changes to Woodbine winter series
November 03, 2011
Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) is pleased to announce several new changes to its Winter & Spring Stakes Series beginning with events scheduled to close December 1. All events with deadlines of December 1 this year, along with Jan. 17 and Feb. 15, 2012, will now offer a reduced nomination f
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Big night for Florida stakes at Pompano
November 03, 2011
Post positions have been drawn for the Florida Breeders Stakes “Super Night” on Saturday. Purses total $509,000 for the eight divisional finals.   Florida Bonus eligible Cracker Coffee starts from post 5 in the 2-year-old filly pace against five other quality fillies in what should be an
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Higher And Higher takes Dover feature
November 02, 2011
Higher And Higher, one of last season’s standouts, won the first $23,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace of the meet on Tuesday at Dover Downs. Driver Jon and his dad, trainer Bib Roberts combined for a double.   Daryl Bier drove Higher And Higher to a :28.1 final panel to record her seventh wi
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Drivers apologize for missing Crown mounts
November 02, 2011
Drivers Tim Tetrick, Yannick Gingras, David Miller and George Brennan said they were sorry for missing the Breeders Crown finals on Oct. 29 at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. The group was among horsemen stranded in New Jersey because of snow-related travel postponements.   “I want to off
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Bulletin: Racing legend Stan Bergstein dies
November 02, 2011
Stanley F. Bergstein, a legend in horse racing for his knowledge, writing, and involvement in more facets of the sport than probably anyone else, died peacefully at home in Tucson, Ariz., at 4 a.m. Wednesday morning (Nov. 2). At his side was his son Al, Al's wife Megan, and a hospice care
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Feb. 13 brings trainer, horse together
November 02, 2011
Although he’s never posted a world record, raced in the Ontario Sires Stakes program, or owns a speed badge of 1:50 or faster, Whippet Good has certainly been a feel-good story for co-owner and trainer James De Chellis.   Purchased for a mere $4,700 in 2004 at the Standardbred Canada Mixed
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Economy Terror in Three Diamonds at Chester
November 01, 2011
Breeders Crown winner Economy Terror was among eight 2-year-old fillies entered in the Three Diamond Stakes at Harrah’s Chester, while Breeders Crown runners-up Win Missy B, A Rocknroll Dance, and Possess The Will also will make stakes appearances at the Philadelphia-area oval.   Sunday’s rac
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Saturday funeral for Hazel Park's Denny Walton
November 01, 2011
Funeral arrangements for longtime Michigan-based horseman and Hazel Park Raceway assistant race secretary Denny Walton have been announced. Mr. Walton died last week as a result of a heart attack at the age of 74.   Along with working in the Hazel Park race office, Mr. Walton was also in
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New Zealanders conquer Dover Downs
November 01, 2011
A pair of veteran New Zealand-breds, Mainland Key N and Roman Conqueror N, scored impressive victories in Halloween Day $30,000 paces on the first Monday card of the 2011-2012 Dover Downs meet.   Tim Tetrick made a quick move with Mainland Key N to take the lead at the three-quarters and then
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Rod Hughes reflects on season with San Pail
November 01, 2011
Harness racing fans will not see San Pail again this year, but the 7-year-old trotter gave them plenty of memories upon which to reminisce until his return next season.   Last Saturday night, San Pail won the $600,000 Breeders Crown Open Trot by a neck over the French invader, Rapide Lebel, i
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Burke wins BC MVT Award
November 01, 2011
The inaugural Most Valuable Trainer (MVT) Award was won by trainer Ron Burke at the conclusion of the Breeders Crown races on Saturday night. Burke accumulated 38 points in the scoring and bested 62 other trainers who all put on another thrilling show for harness racing fans all over the world.
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Court upholds Fusco's 5-year ban
November 01, 2011
The New York State Racing and Wagering Board’s five-year license ban of a harness trainer who repeatedly violated the Board’s rules regarding banned substances has been upheld by the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department.   The court’s dismissal of trainer Carmine
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Andover Hall colt wins rich Mangelli in Italy
November 01, 2011
The Orsi Mangelli for 3-year-old trotters, worth approximately $525,000, was contested at the San Siro track in Milan, Italy on Tuesday night and it was won by Brad de Veluwe, a son of Andover Hall out of the Muscles Yankee mare Amazing Ride. The filly division went to Orsia, a daughter of Angus Hal
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Jojo N Goliath takes Meadows pace feature
November 01, 2011
Jojo N Goliath worked out a second-over trip and went on to a narrow victory in Tuesday’s $22,500 Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Pace at The Meadows.   Sitting fourth down the backside, Jojo N Goliath and Eric Ledford followed the live cover of Tunearrific before peeling off aro
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6 entered in Messenger; 4 in Lady Maud
November 01, 2011
Roll With Joe, the richest harness horse in North America this season. leads six 3-year-olds entered for Yonkers Raceway's Messenger Stakes. The final leg of the pacing Triple Crown is a one-dash-for-the-cash event, worth $401,000. It will be contested Saturday night, Nov. 12.   The rema
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Winbak Delight upsets Real Mystical at Monticello
November 01, 2011
One of the bigger stories around Monticello Raceway in recent months has been the emergence of Real Mystical, a 1:51.1 record pacer five years ago who has been the talk of the town of late.   Claimed for $5,000 by James Schreisbeis on Sept. 20, the altered son of Real Artist then proceeded t
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