Florida fundraiser set to aid Lebanon horsemen

There's a charitable dimension this Sunday at The Isle Pompano Park added to the annual Florida Breeders Annual Sale. Pompano based trainer John Hallett has stepped up to spearhead with a fundraiser for the victims of the recent fire at Ohio's Lebanon Raceway.

 

"It's just what we do in times like this," Hallett in a live trackside TV interview before the Wednesday evening program in South Florida. "Emotions run high amongst horsepeople because we race against each other day in and day out, but when it's time to help each other after a disaster that's when people in harness racing really show their best side" he said. "We aren't supposed to get attached to our horses and think of them as pets but there's no doubt people that lose horses in a fire like this suffer a big loss in their heart."

 

Hallett is reaching deep into his personal collection of whips from the game's best known drivers that he gathered after many of their historic wins. Of particular interest are the whips carried by the late Stanley Dancer in his final career driving win with Lifelong Victory, and the whip carried by Ron Pierce in his 2008 Meadowlands Pace upset of Somebeachsomewhere with Art Official. Other whips expected to bring generous bids have been collected over the years from the likes of John Campbell, Bill O'Donnell, Brian Sears, Herve Filion, Jody Jamieson, Wally Hennessey and Bruce Ranger. Most have considerable anecdotal interest since they were carried by the game's top reinsman in rich and historic victories.

 

"I've heard stories already of people stepping up to give horses to the people that lost them in the barn fire in Ohio, so this I think is a great way to rally the folks in Florida for a fundraiser," Hallett said in his winner's circle TV interview. "I'm expecting many of the whips to raise over $100 at our fundraiser, and in fact Stanley Dancer's whip already has a bid of $125. I know if the situation were reversed that the Ohio folks would reach out to us too." (Pompano Park)