'Hollywood's' Tattersalls Sale outtakes

Bob “Hollywood” Heyden was covering the Tattersalls Mixed Sale Monday afternoon at the Meadowlands for harnessracing.com/The Horseman And Fair World and he did his best impression of TV host Ryan Seacrest on the Golden Globes Red Carpet as he interviewed many of harness racing’s stars. Heyden may not have asked about what people were wearing, but he found out a few interesting things, including that leading driver Tim Tetrick is also a newlywed after marrying longtime girlfriend Ashley Viater.

“Yes, Timmy and I got married Dec. 9,” revealed a beaming Mrs. Tetrick. “I’m expecting June 1. I'll know this Wednesday the sex of the baby. We just got a new farm, 11 acres in Swedesboro. Married life? It's wonderfully the same!"

Driver Jason Bartlett, whose 2011 season came to an abrupt halt when he suffered a severely sprained left ankle in a pick-up basketball game Dec. 7, is still recovering from extensive ligament damage and was walking around with a hobble—no pun intended. Although Bartlett missed the final three weeks of the season, he returned to the sulky for Yonkers’ opening weekend on Jan. 13-14 with a bang as he won 12 races—including eight on opening night.

"It'll be six to eight months before I'm back to 100 percent,” Bartlett told Heyden.

But Jason, didn’t you just win EIGHT races at Yonkers on Opening Night?

“Yes, it doesn’t bother me much when I’m in the bike,” Bartlett answered.

Another horseman who has battled through more serious health issues is the veteran Tom Artandi, who won back-to-back Little Brown Jugs in 1988-89 with BJ Scoot and Goalie Jeff, respectively.

“I had a lung taken out in August,” said the 68-year old Artandi. “I’m doing better now. I’m back in Florida and have five in my barn.”

Brothers John and Tom Cancelliere were at the sale, hoping to conjure up some déjà vu. It was back in 2007 when the siblings plucked Western Shore from this sale for $212,000 and have since watched as the now 9-year-old son of Western Hanover blossomed and became a million-dollar winner.

Presidential Series starter Foreign Officer was a $150,000 Tattersalls Mixed Sale purchase last year and one of his new connections, David Rovine, was at the Meadowlands on Monday.

“I ALWAYS look towards the top end. Proven racehorses,” said Rovine. “That's my business plan. No chancy propositions. They have to demonstrate to me that they can compete on the highest level. Foreign Officer is a perfect example. He showed big time talent at three and continues to race and perform with the best."