Two
riders raced on the mile track with their trotters under saddle [monte]
in a demonstration for the judges.
Jenny
Melander of Clarksburg, NJ [in blue], aboard Shoeless White Sox, held off
Jennifer Lowrey of Chester, NY [in red] with Lemon Pepper in a mile clocked in
2:12 flat.
 |
| Shoeless White Sox winning RUS Qualifier at Gaitway (Helene Gregory Photo) |
Shoeless
White Sox is a seven-year-old son of Mr Lavec currently racing out of the Mark
Harder Stable. Lemon Pepper, a 13-year-old gelding by Cumin, raced from
2001 to 2010, earning nearly $600,000 with 40 wins, 40 seconds and 32 thirds
from 247 starts.
The
purpose of the event was to “qualify” in 2:25 or better and for the riders to
demonstrate they could control their horses.
“We
have a race on Hambletonian Day [August 7] at the Meadowlands and at Freehold
on September 29, and we’re working on more dates,” said Helene Gregory, who has
organized the RUS America – Riders Under Saddle – effort in New Jersey.
“These will be exhibition races. If these turn out well, there could be
betting races in the future.”
Monte
racing is popular in Europe, especially in France, but are rare in North America.
For
more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/#!/RusAmericaRacingUnderSaddle
--Submitted
by Carol Hodes for SBOANJ
