Gurfein signed by CBS

Three-time Hambletonian winning trainer Ron Gurfein, inducted into harness racing’s Hall of Fame in early July, has been signed on as an analyst for the CBS-TV broadcast Saturday afternoon of the Hambletonian at the Meadowlands. Gurfein will be working with host Gary Seibel and analysts Caton Bredar and Jay Privman on the hour-long show that runs from 2-3 p.m.

“This is the first time I’ve ever gotten paid (to analyze a race),” Gurfein told harnessracing.com Wednesday afternoon with a laugh. “You get in the Hall of Fame and then they have to pay you.”

As for “analyzing” this year’s 81st Hambletonian and picking the winner, Gurfein didn’t hesitate to answer when asked.

“Believe it or not, I like Chocolatier. I just think he is the best horse,” he said of the defending Dan Patch Award champ that drew the outside 10 post. “(Driver D.R. Ackerman has to) leave hard and hope for the best. He has to leave, absolutely. You can’t win if you don’t leave. Not from the 10 hole at the Meadowlands, which is such a speed-favoring track the way it is now.

“I think the three best horses in the race are Chocolatier, Glidemaster and Mr. Pine Chip,” he continued. “I think they all leave and they line up in some way one-two-three, and finish something like that.”

As for any future television career, Gurfein said with a laugh, “They told me I could do the whole show next year if I wanted, but I’d like to have a horse in the Hambletonian so I don’t know. I haven’t missed too many (Hambletonians), but I’ve had a drought so maybe missing a year will be good.”

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