Gold Dust Beach sets mark

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 one-fifth of a second.

Gold Dust Beach had to be at his best holding off a determined bid from Sharky Osborne, driven by Brian Sears, who stalked the winner from the start and used the passing lane during a :27.3 final panel to get within a nose of the new world champion.

Miller and Gold Dust Beach led by two lengths in a :27 opening panel. The lead was 1 1/2 lengths at the half in :54.1 and still 1 1/4 lengths at the three-quarters in a speedy 1:21.3 with Lather Machine and Tim Tetrick racing alongside until the final steps, finishing third beaten by three-quarters of a length.

Joe Holloway trains Gold Dust Beach for breeder L. & L DeVisser, of Holland, Mich. Gold Dust Beach won for the third time this year in nine starts with two seconds and a third. He has won $77,104 this season and $508,573 in his career.

Gold Dust Beach now replaces Riyadh, driven by Luc Ouellette, in 1996 became the first horse of any age on a five-eighths mile track to win in 1:49.1. The 1:49.1 time was equaled in 2000 by Cam Knows Best and driver Cat Manzi. (Dover Downs)

« Back