The rookie of the bunch is 51-year-old Jimmy Takter, who will be inducted into
the Hall of Fame that evening. Takter is a three-time Trainer of the Year,
trained two-time Horse of the Year Moni Maker (1998-99), won the Hambletonian
twice (with Malabar Man in 1997 in another Horse of the Year season and Muscle
Massive in 2010) and is campaigning a stable of dozens of stakes horses.
John Campbell, the sport’s all-time leading money-winning driver and a six-time
winner of the Hambletonian, will also take the reins at Goshen, looking to add
to his lifetime bankroll of $278 million. Next on the lifetime money list is
Ron Pierce, with $186 million. Pierce, a three-time Hambletonian winner, also
is expected to compete in the Hall of Fame race.
Mike Lachance, who is third in career purses and a five-time winner of the
Little Brown Jug, is expected to be in the race along with Jim Doherty, who
drove and trained $3 million winner Fool’s Goal and Breeders Crown winner No
Nonsense Woman.
Cat Manzi, with 14,460 wins, will also compete. He is
third in lifetime victories, behind only leader Herve Filion, who will also
drive and try to add to his 15,180 career victories. Dave Palone with
15,156 wins will compete as he is attempting to bypass Filion as the all
time race winning driver in North
America.
Wally
Hennessey, a Hall of Fame driver best known for driving Moni Maker throughout
her years of dominance in Europe and North America, will be on hand to greet
fans.
Here
is the field for the July 1 Hall of Fame drivers race in alphabetical order:
John Campbell, Jim Doherty, Herve Filion, Mike Lachance, Cat Manzi, Dave
Palone, Ron Pierce and Jimmy Takter.
