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Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Meadowlands Stake News

East Rutherford, NJ - The Meadowlands wishes to remind horsemen of some important details on the 2017 stakes schedule that they should be aware of as they consider payments for the season.

Important to those with Hambletonian hopefuls is the change in venue for the Tompkins-Geers 3YO colt and filly trots to The Meadowlands. Those stakes have been scheduled for Saturday, July 22 as the middle leg in a three race series of Hambo preps. The Stanley Dancer and Del Miller Memorials are on July 15 and Reynolds 3YO trotting stakes come the following Saturday, July 29 with Hambo Day on August 5.

The Hambletonian Society handles the payments for the Tompkins-Geers and Reynolds as well as the Hambletonian itself. The Dancer and Miller are Meadowlands administered stakes.

The Mistletoe Shalee for sophomore pacing fillies has had payments reduced by 25% for 2017.

There are important details regarding races for two year olds in 2017 as well. The Meadowlands will host the popular $1.2 million Fall Final Four stakes consisting of the Governor's Cup, Valley Victory, Three Diamonds and Goldsmith Maid in mid-November.

With The Meadowlands fall meet starting on November 17 this year, the $800,000 Kindergarten finals will be raced at Vernon Downs on Friday, November 3.

All pertinent information on Meadowlands stakes is available on the web:

Further information is available by calling the Racing Office at 201-842-5130


Sunday, January 29, 2017

SPRINGBANK SAM N WINS SUNDAY 56G OPEN TROT

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY, Sunday, January 29, 2017—Springbank Sam N (Jordan Stratton, $8.10) put in a solid, two-move effort Sunday afternoon, winning Yonkers Raceway’s mile-and-a-quarter, $56,000 Open Trot.

One of a handful of leavers—from post position No. 4 (in one notch after a defection)—Springbank Sam N wound up in a three-hole at the :29.1 opening quarter-mile. It was the returning Il Mago (Matt Kakaley) leading there, as well as at the :58.4 half and 1:28.1 three-quarters.

‘Sam’ then took out after the leader, engaging at the 1:57 milepost. The two were essentially inseparable in and out of the final turn before Springbank Sam N put that rival away. He edged clear, whipping Allerage Star (Andy Miller) by a length in an added-distance 2:27.1.

Tweet Me (Pat Lachance) was a rallying third, with Newcastle (Dan Dube) and 8-5 choice Red Hot Herbie (Jason Bartlett) settled for the smaller change. Il Mago faded to ninth and last, though first-to-last in the entire field was just 3¾ lengths.

For second choice Springbank Sam N, a 10-year-old Down Under Sondon gelding owned Harry von Knoblauch and trained by Augie Abbatiello, it was his first win in three seasonal starts. The exacta paid $72, with the triple returning $473.

This week’s installment of the “New York, New York Double’ offered a 1A-Do Share (Aqueduct’s 3rd race) and 1-Warrawee Preferred (Yonkers’ 6th race) ‘snake eyes’ winning combination, which returned $14.30 for every correct dollar wager. Total pool was $5,136.


MILLIONAIRE VEGAS VACATION POSTS FIRST WIN SINCE 2013

Third $3 million handle night of 2017 at the Meadowlands

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ (January 28, 2017) – Vegas Vacation, the 2013 Little Brown Jug champion, returned to the winner’s circle for the first time since the end of the 2013 season on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

Vegas Vacation was making the sixth start of his most recent comeback on Saturday night in a $13,000 conditioned pace after missing 16 months due to a soft tissue injury.

Jim Marohn, Jr., who won four races on the card, put the 7-year-old millionaire Bettor’s Delight gelding on the front end through a 55.1 half mile and three-quarters in 1:22.4. Vegas Vacation opened up four lengths at the top of the stretch and cruised to victory as the 1/5 favorite in 1:50.2. It is his first win since November 17, 2013 when he won The Matron at Dover Downs.

“I was thrilled with him,” said trainer Andrew Harris. “I think that's the first time in his career he cut a mile. So to me that shows he's back. It took four starts to get him race ready but now he seems keen, alert, and very happy to do his work.”

Harris added that this win confirms to him that Vegas Vacation could have some stakes engagements this season.

“I think I'll talk with the crew, but I would imagine he may get staked up some,” explained Harris. “As for the Levy Series, I believe he's come back good enough to get the nomination but it's up to the owners. He owes them nothing and nothing is expected of him going forward. Whatever he tells us to do, we'll listen.”

Hillbilly Hanover moved past the $900,000 mark in career earnings with third win in his last four starts in the $15,000 featured pace. Hillbilly Hanover, one of three winners on Saturday night for Brett Miller, held off the late charge of millionaire Alexie Mattosie.

Total handle on the 13-race program was $3,028,082 – the third time this year that total handle surpassed the $3 million mark.


Live racing resumes Thursday with a 9-race card. Post time is 7:15 p.m. For more information, visit www.playmeadowlands.com.

CAVIART LUCA WINS SATURDAY 45G OPEN HANDICAP PACE

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY, Saturday, January 28, 2017—A repeating Caviart Luca (George Brennan, $6.90) bucked the front-end-is-awful trend Saturday night, repeating Yonkers Raceway’s $45,000 Open Handicap Pace.

In play from post position No. 3, Caviart Luca went right down the road (:27.3, :56.2, 1:24, 1:52.2), holding off a solid, season-debuting, first-over Long Live Rock (Dan Dube) by neck. Lucan Hanover (Brent Holland) was a belated third, with Roland N Rock (Jordan Stratton) and Somewhere in LA (Matt Kakaley) also closing for the minors.

P H Supercam (Jason Bartlett) bottomed out of the pocket as the 19-10 favorite, finishing last among the octet.

For second choice Caviart Luca, a 6-year-old Somebeachsonewhere gelding co-owned (as Burke Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi and Phil Collura, he’s won all three of his seasonal starts. The exacta paid $58, with the triple returning $804.

Saturday featured a cavalcade of closers, as only four of the 11 horses charted with the lead entering the lane did indeed close the sale. It also featured an ‘unhit’ Pick 5, so Sunday afternoon’s gimmick begins with a carryover of $2,436.39 (50-cent base wager, Sunday comprising races 6 through 10).

Reminder first post for Sunday’s ‘French’ matinee is 12:30 PM.


CANADA’S NATIONAL HARNESS RACING CHAMPIONS HONOURED


On Saturday, January 28, Standardbred Canada announced harness racing’s national champions at the 2016 O’Brien Awards, which honour Canada’s best in harness racing over the past season.

This was the 28th edition of the O’Brien Awards, named in honour of the late Joe O’Brien, an outstanding horseman and member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

It was a big night for several winners who took home more than one O’Brien trophy.  
Betting Line, co-owned and trained by Casie Coleman of Cambridge, Ont.,  who shares ownership with West Wins Stable, Christine Calhoun and Mac Nichol, took home two O’Briens – one in the three-year-old pacing colt category and one as Canada’s Horse of the Year.

Marvin Katz  of Toronto, Ont.,  and Al Libfeld of Pickering, Ont., were honoured for the second consecutive year with the Armstrong Breeder of the Year Award, and their two-year-old trotting filly, Ariana G won the O’Brien in her division.  Katz also shares ownership on Idyllic Beach who was honoured as Canada’s Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year.

Rick Zeron of Oakville, Ont., took home the O’Brien Award of Horsemanship and his two-year-old trotting colt, Mass Production was also honoured with an O’Brien.

Driver Sylvain Filion, of Milton, Ont., and trainer Richard Moreau of Puslinch, Ont., added to their trophy collections, both winning National honours in their respective categories for the fourth time in their careers.
Betting Line  was almost perfect in 2016, finishing the season with 14 wins and a second in 15 races to go along with almost $1.7 million in earnings. The Bettors Delight colt’s victories included the $1-million Pepsi North America Cup, the Battle of the Brandywine, the Milstein Memorial, the Little Brown Jug, the Simcoe Stakes, and a sweep of all of his Ontario Sires Stakes races, including his OSS Super Final.
What started as a partnership that focused on buying yearlings and racing horses has evolved into one of harness racing's most respected breeding enterprises for Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld. Horses bred by this partnership won 29 races and purses in excess of $1.3 million in 2016. Their top horses were All The Time, O’Brien winner Ariana G, Princess Aurora and O Narutac Perfecto.
Canada’s Two-Year-Old Trotting Filly of the year, Ariana G won nine of 11 races and earned $804,245 during her rookie campaign.  Stakes wins for the Muscle Hill filly included the Breeders Crown, Jim Doherty Memorial, Peaceful Way elimination and final, and New Jersey Sire Stakes Championship.
Veteran horseman Rick Zeron continued to successfully compete as a trainer and driver on the Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) circuit. Last year he drove 116 winners and horses to almost $2.6 million in purse earnings, while training 49 winners and horses to $1.7 million in earnings, including Mass Production, winner of the O’Brien Award in the two-year-old trotting colt category.
The Muscle Mass colt, Mass Production, won five of nine races and more than $285,000 during his rookie campaign. His victories included four Ontario Sires Stakes wins highlighted by a season’s best 1:54.4 stakes record effort in the OSS Super Final.
Sylvain Filion, a resident of Milton, Ont., won Canada’s Driver of the Year title in 2012, 2013 and 2015 before collecting his fourth bronze for the 2016 season. In 2016, he drove 310 winners and led all Canadian drivers in the earnings column with more than $7.7 million, while joining the $100 million club for lifetime earnings.  Filion was the regular driver for O’Brien champion, two-year-old pacing colt Beyond Delight.
Richard Moreau, of Puslinch, Ont., took home his fourth consecutive O’Brien trophy. Moreau, who has been a regular on the WEG circuit for over 12 years, led all Canadian trainers in the wins column with 249 wins to his credit and trained the winners of nearly $4.0 million.
Louis-Philippe Roy was recognized as the Future Star winner.  In 2016, the Mont-Joli, QC resident put together some phenomenal numbers, winning 233 races and driving horses to earnings of more than $1 million.  Roy was the leading dash winning driver at Hippodrome 3R and Rideau Carleton Raceway.
Idyllic Beach was honoured in the two-year-old pacing filly division.  She hit the board in all of her 14 races, boasted eight wins and almost $730,000 in purse earnings. Major stakes wins for the Somebeachsomewhere filly included the Shes A Great Lady elimination and final at Mohawk Racetrack, along with the Kentuckiana Stakes at Hoosier Park, and the International Stallion Stake at The Red Mile.

The Bettors Delight colt Beyond Delight, winner in the Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt category, won three of 11 races and more than $423,000 for his connections. His three wins were major ones as he swept the elimination and final of the Metro Pace and won a division of the Champlain Stakes, all at Mohawk Racetrack.
L A Delight picked up her second consecutive O’Brien trophy after putting together another stellar season as a sophomore, winning nine races in 19 starts and more than $787,000. The three-year-old pacing filly was perfect in the Ontario Sires Stakes events, sweeping six of six, including the season-ending Super Final. She posted a life’s best 1:49.1 in winning the Nadia Lobell at The Meadows.
Lady Shadow also won her second consecutive O’Brien Award in the Older Pacing Mare category. She put together another profitable season with 12 victories and more than $945,000 in earnings. She was strong throughout the season, sweeping the elimination and final of the Roses Are Red, the Milton Stakes, and the elimination and final of the Breeders Crown before capping her year with a win in the TVG FFA at The Meadowlands.
Wiggle It Jiggleit, the sport’s richest harness horse last season with $1.8 million bankrolled was voted Canada’s Older Pacing Horse of the Year.  He never finished worse than third in his 24 races which included 15 wins and a mark of 1:47.2 posted in the Graduate Final at The Meadowlands. The multiple stakes winner captured Canada’s oldest stakes event, The Canadian Pacing Derby at Mohawk Racetrack and also secured runner-up finishes in the Confederation Cup and Prix d'Été on Canadian soil.
Caprice Hill won her second consecutive O’Brien, after a profitable campaign in 2016 with eight wins in 15 starts and purses in excess of $630,000 for her connections. The Three-Year-Old Trotting Filly of the Year won three of four Ontario Sires Stakes events, the Casual Breeze, Simcoe Stakes and was runner-up in the Hambletonian Oaks.
Marion Marauder took divisional honours as Canada’s Three-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year.  He was a winner of 10 of 15 starts, became the ninth Trotting Triple Crown winner in 2016 –- and first since 2006 –- by sweeping the Hambletonian, Yonkers Trot, and Kentucky Futurity. The son of Muscle Hill won the Goodtimes Stakes and a division of the Stanley Dancer Memorial en route to a season that amassed more than $1.5 million in purses, topping the North American earnings charts for all trotters.
The incredible trotting mare Hannelore Hanover won 17 of 20 races and earned $1.1 million in purses, leading all female trotters in earnings and winning the O’Brien in her division. Her victories included the Breeders Crown Mare Trot and the Hambletonian Maturity, where she defeated male rivals. She also beat the boys in the Centaur Trotting Classic in addition to winning the Armbro Flight Stakes, TVG Series championship for female trotters, Fresh Yankee, Muscle Hill, and Miami Valley Distaff. Her mile time of 1:51 in winning the Armbro Flight equaled the world record for a four-year-old trotting mare.
Flanagan Memory was recognized as Older Trotting Horse of the Year. The now seven-year-old son of Kadabra won six of 14 races including the Allerage, and the Breeders Crown Championship, and banked more than $663,000 last season.  This was his second O’Brien Award as he won Three-Year-Old Trotting Colt honours in 2013.
The Media Excellence Awards and Outstanding Groom Award were also presented at the O’Brien Awards gala.
Teesha Symes, 27, of Cambridge, Ont., was recognized with the Outstanding Groom Award for 2016.  Symes has worked for O’Brien Award winner Dr. Ian Moore for the last decade, and full-time since 2012. The Springhill, N.S. native cared for State Treasurer, Canada’s Horse of the Year in 2015, throughout his racing career.
In addition to State Treasurer, Symes went on the road to care for Rockin In Heaven the past two years and also cared for many of the Moore Stables’ two-year-olds.

Keith McCalmont of Toronto, Ont. won in the Outstanding Written Work category for his contribution to the ‘Remembering Those Lost’ feature, published in the February 2016 issue of TROT Magazine. McCalmont talked to some of the trainers and owners most affected by the tragic barn fire at Classy Lane Training Centre and asked them to share some memories of their beloved horses.

Woodbine Entertainment’s 2016 Pepsi North America Cup broadcast in HD won the Media Excellence Award in the Outstanding Video, Film or Broadcast category.

‘The Pepsi North America Cup’ aired across Canada on the TSN2 television network on Saturday, June 18, 2016 from 10:00 – 11:00 p.m.  The 60-minute special broadcast of the $1- Million Pepsi North America Cup aired in high definition and featured live race coverage of the main event as well as a feature on Emprize Hanover and her two foals.

Clive Cohen’s photo of October racing at Mohawk Racetrack in Campbellville, Ont. was the winner in the Outstanding Photography category.  This marked the third time that Cohen has won in this category.

Cohen's photo was taken on October 1, 2016, at Mohawk Racetrack and published later that night on the WEG Standardbred Instagram feed. Cohen is the resident track photographer for Standardbred racing at Mohawk and Woodbine Racetracks.

Here is a complete list of winners and their respective owners:

2016 O’BRIEN AWARD WINNERS
PACERS

TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACER
Idyllic Beach
Owned by Christina Takter, East Windsor, NJ – John Fielding, Toronto, ON – Brixton Medical Inc., Matawan, NJ and Marvin Katz, Toronto, ON


TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT PACER
Beyond Delight
Owned by Jeffrey Snyder, Michael Snyder, New York, NY and Four Friends Racing Stable LLC, Moorestown, NJ

THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACER
L A Delight
Owned by Robert McIntosh Stables Inc., Windsor, ON – CSX Stables, Liberty Center, OH, and Al McIntosh Holdings, Inc., Leamington, ON

THREE-YEAR-OLD COLT PACER
Betting Line
Owned by West Wins Stable, Cambridge, ON, Christine Calhoun, Chatham, ON and Mac Nichol, Burlington, ON

OLDER PACING MARE
Lady Shadow
Owned by David Kryway, Amherstburg, ON, Carl Atley, Xenia, OH, Ed Gold, Phoenixville, PA and BFJ Stable, Philadelphia, PA

OLDER PACING HORSE
Wiggle It Jiggleit
Owned by George Teague Jr Inc., Harrington DE – Teague Racing Partnership, Boynton Beach, FL

TROTTERS

TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROTTER
Ariana G
Owned by Marvin Katz, Toronto, ON & Al Libfeld, Pickering, ON

TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT TROTTER
Mass Production
Owned by Rick Zeron Stables, Oakville, ON- James Walker, Port Perry, ON- Bruno Dipoce, Wasaga Beach, ON and Rene Allard, Matamoras, PA

THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROTTER
Caprice Hill
Owned by Tom Hill, Hamilton, ON

THREE-YEAR-OLD COLT TROTTER
Marion Marauder
Owned by Marion Jean Wellwood, Stratford, ON & Devin Keeling, Cambridge, ON

OLDER TROTTING MARE
Hannelore Hanover
Owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Fredericktown – Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Canonsburg, PA – Frank Baldachino, Clarksburg, NJ – J And T Silva Stables LLC, Long Beach, NY

OLDER TROTTING HORSE
Flanagan Memory
Owned by Liette Flanagan, Repentigny – Rene Dion, Saint-Lazare, QC

HORSE OF THE YEAR
Betting Line
Owned by West Wins Stable, Cambridge, ON, Christine Calhoun, Chatham, ON and Mac Nichol, Burlington, ON

PEOPLE AWARDS

O’BRIEN AWARD OF HORSEMANSHIP
Rick Zeron, Oakville, ON

ARMSTRONG BREEDER OF THE YEAR
Marvin Katz, Toronto, ON / Al Libfeld, Pickering, ON

DRIVER OF THE YEAR
Sylvain Filion, Milton, ON

TRAINER OF THE YEAR
Richard Moreau, Puslinch, ON

FUTURE STAR AWARD
Louis Philippe Roy, Mont-Joli, QC

ADDITIONAL AWARDS PRESENTED AT THE O’BRIEN AWARDS
Outstanding Groom Award
Teesha Symes, Cambridge, ON
Standardbred Canada’s Media Excellence Awards
Written Work – Keith McCalmont
Broadcast – Woodbine Entertainment Group

Photography  - Clive Cohen

Itsonlyrocknroll A Partying Tonight in Buffalo

Itsonlyrocknroll continued his winning wins taking the Saturday feature at Buffalo Raceway.  After winning the Open II last week Itsonlyrocknroll finished with a 3 length victory in the Open Pace.
Shawn Gray put Southwind Torque on the early led but was overtaken by Major Trick (Bruce Aldrich Jr) before the half. As the field entered the final turn they were three wide. Leading driver Larry Satlabaum got Itsonlyrocknroll to the lead at the top of the stretch and pulled away to the 3 length win.
A trio of drivers each had three wins on the night Ray Fisher Jr, Bruce Aldrich Jr, and Shawn Gray.
Racing will resume at the Hamburg Fairgrounds on Wednesday with a 5:00 first post.

Photo by Steve Roth

Saturday, January 28, 2017

YONKERS’ NEWS INCLUDES ‘PRIX,’ PURSES

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY, Friday, January 27, 2017—Yonkers Raceway’s Friday news agenda—we’re talkin’ real news here, people—features a pair of interesting morsels.

First, the Raceway has announced that the winner of Sunday’s (Jan. 29th) Prix d’Amerique at Vincennes in Paris shall receive an invitation for the 2017 Yonkers International Trot. The Prix is scheduled for 10 AM (ET) and can viewed on-line at www.letrot.com.

“The Prix d’Amerique is one of the sport’s great races, and we sincerely hope that the champion joins us,” race secretary Steve Starr said. “It’s our goal to continue making International a marquee event that attracts the best trotters in the world.”

The million-dollar Yonkers International Trot is scheduled for Saturday afternoon, Oct. 14th.

The second news nugget involves the purses, which are to be increased beginning with the race week of Monday, Feb. 6th. The hikes are across the board, and range from $3,000-$5,000. This places the new purse range from $11,500 for lowest classes to $50,000 for the weekly Opens/Open Handicaps (currently $8,500 to $45,000).


For more information, please contact the race office at (914) 457-2627.

Canada’s National Harness Racing Champions to be Honoured on Saturday

This Saturday, January 28, Standardbred Canada will present the O’Brien Awards, Canada’s National Harness Racing Awards at the Hilton Mississauga / Meadowvale Hotel in Mississauga, Ont.

The who’s who of the harness racing set will be on hand to receive their coveted bronze busts of the late Joe O’Brien, a member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.  Awards will be doled out in 18 categories, along with three Media Awards of Excellence and an Outstanding Groom Award.

Two finalists in each of the categories were announced in late December and the winners will be revealed at the Black Tie Gala.

Several past champions are looking to add to their trophy collections including defending driver of the year, Sylvain Filion and defending trainer of the year, Richard Moreau.   Last season Filion, a resident of Milton, Ont., steered winners of more than $7.8 million, making 2016 his second-best year behind his first O'Brien Award-winning season in 2012 when horses he drove won $8.66 million. With his seasonal success, the veteran driver reached a career milestone, topping the $100 million mark in lifetime earnings.   The other finalist in the driver category is first time nominee Bob McClure of Elora, Ont., who topped the charts for wins in 2016, and was the leading driver at many of Ontario’s smaller tracks including Flamboro Downs and Grand River Raceway.

Richard Moreau, of Puslinch, Ont., is looking for his fourth consecutive O’Brien as Trainer but he’ll have to get past another trainer who has a collection of bronzes, Casie Coleman, of Cambridge, Ont.  Moreau topped the trainer earnings charts with $4 million and he also scored his 5,000th win as a trainer last year.   Coleman trained horses to earnings in excess of $2.8 million in 2016 and the stable was led by Betting Line, a winner of almost $1.7 million and a finalist in the three-year-old pacing colt division.

Rick Zeron of Oakville, Ont., has three shots at taking home some hardware.  He is a finalist for the O’Brien Award of Horsemanship, an honour he won in 2010, and his two-year-old trotting colt Mass Production and his older pacing horse, Shamballa are up for national honours.

The partnership of Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld are defending their title in the Armstrong Breeder of the Year Category, and are up against Seelster Farms.  In addition to the Breeder category, their homebred Ariana G is up for divisional honours as Canada’s top two-year-old trotting filly.

The O’Briens will be video streamed live on standardbredcanada.ca starting at approximately 9:15 p.m. (EST).  If you are a Twitter follower, you can follow the live updates from @trotinsider.

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Attached: release in Microsoft Word format


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Big Action Saturday at the Meadowlands

East Rutherford, NJ- Saturday night at The Meadowlands is bursting with action and activities. The racing action is fierce with some really competitive fields coming together. There are several higher class conditions and three divisions of the popular Racing for G-Notes short series.

Vegas Vacation gave a really good account of himself in his very first start at The Meadowlands last week, finishing a good second to a razor sharp Bettor's Edge. He actually drops a class here but it's no easy stroll with several formful foes including a raging Rockin Robert from the rail, Reuben Brogden N off the layoff and the always dangerous National Seelster awaiting him in Saturday's second race. Jimmy Marohn, Jr drives "Vegas" for trainer Andrew Harris.

There's another division of that same class in race 11 and Calvin B (Corey Callahan) looks like the horse to beat in that one. He's always done well over the mile for owner Delores Smiel and trainer Heidi Rohr and is rounding into top form. Pansformative is a danger from his inside post and Mattamerican should move forward off a no chance spot at Yonkers.

The top class is a $15,000 condition pace (race 7) with a field of nine really nice horses that match up really well. Doctor Butch is the slight morning line choice over Ontario Success and Hillbilly Hanover in that one. "Butch" is the kind of horse everyone would like to have, grinding out a few hundred thousand every season for owner Kenny Jacobs and trainer Linda Toscano. Marohn has the drive on this one, too.

All the standard horizontal guarantees are in place with the largest pools in all of harness racing and free program pages are available for the Late Pick 4.

Off the track there's a chili cook-off with a people's choice element so you can taste and vote, too. The "Own A Horse" sign up ends Saturday, so get that done right away! Trackside dining is available in Pink.


Racing begins at 7:15 p.m.

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Meadowlands Features Trotters on Frirday

East Rutherford, NJ - Friday night's program at The Meadowlands offers fans and horseplayers a dozen well matched fields. The feature is race six, a $13,000 conditioned/optional claiming trot where a field of eight veteran square gaiters will battle for the winner's share.

There's a new face among the octet, that of Dale Wareham and Kris Rickert's five-year-old gelding Wilberforce. A winner in 15 of his 45 career starts, Wilberforce matured into a top level performer last season, winning 10 of 33 while earning over $100,000 and taking a 1:53.1 mark at Pocono. After a short respite at the end of 2016, he has returned in fine form by capturing pair of open trots at Northfield Park to kick off the new year.

B Yoyo and Watkins lead the competition, both are rock solid performers who also had six figure seasons in 2016 and are on familiar turf.

Wilberforce makes his Meadowlands debut for new trainer Nick Sodano on Friday with Eric Carlson set to do the driving from post position seven.

The lead promotion on Friday is "Text To Win" where cash and prizes will be awarded to participants. You must be a member of our text-to service in order to win. Text "NewBigM" to 23819 and you are signed up!

The exciting "Own A Horse" promotion is gearing up for February, it's time to enter and join the fun.

The racing begins at 7:15 p.m.



Tuesday, January 24, 2017

YONKERS’ SUNDAY SET FOR 12:30 PM FIRST POST

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY, Tuesday, January 24, 2017—Yonkers Raceway’s third Sunday (Jan. 29th) of the season goes at 12:30 PM, with races 3 (post time 1:15 PM) through 8 (post time 3:45 PM) as the ‘French’ trots. The 11th–race finale is scheduled for 4:30 PM.

The ‘New York, New York Double’ also continues, featuring one race from Aqueduct and one from Yonkers. Information regarding this Sunday’s wager shall be sent when available.


Sunday, January 22, 2017

BETTOR’S EDGE REWARDS NEW OWNERS

Millionaire wins Saturday feature in 1:49.4

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ (January 21, 2017) – Bettor’s Edge, the 2015 TVG Free For All champion, returned to the Meadowlands and rewarded his new connections with a decisive 1:49.4 score in the $16,000 Saturday night feature.

Bettor’s Edge was recently purchased by trainer Jennifer Lappe and Robert Santagata after racing for Ron Burke and earning nearly $1.9 million.

Brett Miller put the 8-year-old Bettor’s Delight gelding on the front end through a 55.3 half mile and kicked home in 26.3 to record his 33rd lifetime win. 2013 Little Brown Jug champion Vegas Vacation finished second with Somesizesomestyle finishing third.

“He is an old class horse,” said Miller, who was driving the horse for the first time. “I have raced against him quite a bit over the years and he was as nice driving tonight as he always looked when he would beat me.”

Bettor’s Edge made amends for a break he made in his first start for the new connections last week at Yonkers, but Miller gave a big excuse.

“Apparently they had the hopples set way too long when he raced at Yonkers,” explained Miller. “They tightened them and he felt pretty good. He seems like he would be a nice horse for the Levy Series at Yonkers.”

Lappe added two other wins on the card to post a training triple. Heidi Rohr and Ron Burke scored two training wins.

Corey Callahan led all drivers with three wins while Miller, Yannick Gingras, Marcus Miller, and Jim Marohn, Jr. all posted two wins.

Total handle for the 13-race card was $2,747,729.

The Meadowlands moves to a three-nights-a-week schedule beginning next week with Thursdays added to the regular Friday and Saturday nights. Post time is 7:15 p.m. For more information, visit www.playmeadowlands.com.


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CAVIART LUCA WINS SATURDAY 45G OPEN HANDICAP PACE

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY, Saturday, January 21, 2017—Caviart Luca (George Brennan, $28.60) snapped odds-on Blood Brother (Jason Bartlett) at the wire Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $45,000 Open Handicap Pace.

‘Twas a night better suited for Carl Sandburg (fog reference for all you academics out there), Caviart Luca found himself away from post position No. 3. He sat as 3-4 choice Blood Brother two-moved to the lead before a :27.4 opening quarter-mile.

Things remained unchanged after a 57-second intermission and 1:25 three-quarters, with Blood Brother taking a 2½-length lead into the lane.

Despite a mediocre tow from P H Supercam (Scott Zeron), Caviart Luca was relentless from second-up. He picked off the pace-setter by a nose in 1:52.2, with P H Supercam, Roland N Rock (Jordan Stratton) and City Hall (Tyler Buter) settling for the remainder. E Z Noah (Dan Dube) was outrun.

As an aside, it was the first time Bartlett did not drive P H Supercam here since September, 2013.


For fifth choice Caviart Luca, a now-6-year-old Somebeachsonewhere gelding co-owned (as Burke Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi and Phil Collura, he’s won both of his seasonal starts. The exacta paid $65.50, with the triple returning $204. 

BETTOR’S EDGE REWARDS NEW OWNERS

Millionaire wins Saturday feature in 1:49.4

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ (January 21, 2017) – Bettor’s Edge, the 2015 TVG Free For All champion, returned to the Meadowlands and rewarded his new connections with a decisive 1:49.4 score in the $16,000 Saturday night feature.

Bettor’s Edge was recently purchased by trainer Jennifer Lappe and Robert Santagata after racing for Ron Burke and earning nearly $1.9 million.

Brett Miller put the 8-year-old Bettor’s Delight gelding on the front end through a 55.3 half mile and kicked home in 26.3 to record his 33rd lifetime win. 2013 Little Brown Jug champion Vegas Vacation finished second with Somesizesomestyle finishing third.

“He is an old class horse,” said Miller, who was driving the horse for the first time. “I have raced against him quite a bit over the years and he was as nice driving tonight as he always looked when he would beat me.”

Bettor’s Edge made amends for a break he made in his first start for the new connections last week at Yonkers, but Miller gave a big excuse.

“Apparently they had the hopples set way too long when he raced at Yonkers,” explained Miller. “They tightened them and he felt pretty good. He seems like he would be a nice horse for the Levy Series at Yonkers.”

Lappe added two other wins on the card to post a training triple. Heidi Rohr and Ron Burke scored two training wins.

Corey Callahan led all drivers with three wins while Miller, Yannick Gingras, Marcus Miller, and Jim Marohn, Jr. all posted two wins.

Total handle for the 13-race card was $2,747,729.


The Meadowlands moves to a three-nights-a-week schedule beginning next week with Thursdays added to the regular Friday and Saturday nights. Post time is 7:15 p.m. For more information, visit www.playmeadowlands.com.

Finalists Excited For 2016 O'Brien Awards

Anticipation is building for this year's O’Brien Awards, to be held on Saturday, January 28 at the Hilton Mississauga / Meadowvale Hotel. The black-tie gala, presented by Standardbred Canada, will honour the best in Canadian harness racing from the 2016 season. It is the night that fans and industry participants will learn who takes home the prestigious hardware.

The O'Brien Awards annually celebrate the best in the sport. Harness racing media from across the country, race secretaries, track publicists, track announcers and simulcast hosts have voted for the winners, with two finalists in each category invited to attend the event, where envelopes will be opened and the winners will be revealed.

"We have won several O'Brien Awards and always look forward to a great evening as it's, in our opinion, the best awards program in the industry," said Jeffrey Snyder, co-owner of Beyond Delight, who is a finalist along with Sports Column in the two-year-old pacing colt category.

"Actually we were expecting to be nominated due to the horse's performance,” continued Snyder, 71, of New York, N.Y., “but it's always exciting to hear from Kathy (Standardbred Canada Industry Marketing Manager, Kathy Wade Vlaar) that we were nominated."
After a dream season in which her three-year-old trotting colt Marion Marauder won the Trotting Triple Crown, co-owner Jean Wellwood raved about the O’Brien Awards when asked earlier this month.

"I look forward to the evening,” said Wellwood, 78, of Stratford, Ont. “It is a spectacular event each year. My personal thank you to all the people who do all the work to make it such a spectacular evening!"

Wellwood stated that she was very pleased to get the call on ‘Marauder's nomination. "It [would be] an honour to receive an O'Brien Award for me, as Joe and Ilene (Joe O'Brien, the legendary Canadian horseman who the awards are named after, and his wife, Ilene) were very dear friends for many years.”

Bob McClure, who is a finalist for Canada’s top driver of 2016, said that he is planning on making the O’Briens a family affair.

“We don’t know yet if my son, Ryder, is coming, but my grandparents are buying a table, and I’m going to have a table with some friends, so there’s no shortage of room at the O’Briens for family,” said McClure, 26, who is a resident of Elora, Ont. “I don’t have a tux ready, though. I’ll have to go rent one.”

Walter Parkinson, the assistant farm manager for breeder of the year finalist Seelster Farms, has characterized the O’Brien Awards Gala as a regal pause during what is a very busy time of year.

"It is always an enjoyable evening," said Parkinson, who is a 38-year-old resident of Lucan, Ont. "It is great being able to catch up with so many people in one place. As we approach the start of breeding season and with the first foals starting to hit the ground, it is nice to be able to get away from the farm and celebrate the best in Canadian harness racing before life gets hectic."

Parkinson explained that Seelster being an O’Brien nominee is quite humbling for the entire operation. "It's certainly an honour to be a finalist for the O'Brien Award for Armstrong Breeder of the Year," said Parkinson. "We take a lot of pride in the horses that we breed and raise, and to be recognized as one of two finalists for this award is a great way to cap off a successful season."

Mel Hartman, who is part of the ownership team behind two-year-old trotting filly of the year finalist Magic Presto, also offered his praise.

"I read it (about the nomination) on the internet, to be honest with you,” said Hartman, 73, from Ottawa, Ont. “And I got a phone call from [Standardbred Canada] to let us know...We're very happy that she's one of the finalists."

A finalist with U.S. Two-Year-Old Trotting Filly of the Year Ariana G, Hartman went on to add, "We may not have the highest of expectations, but we're still honoured that she was nominated."

Conditioner Casie Coleman is no stranger to the O’Brien Awards Gala, as she has walked away with the trainer of the year award on five different occasions. Still, the night doesn’t get old to the 36-year-old Cambridge, Ont. resident.

"O'Briens is always an awesome night!” said Coleman, who is again a trainer of the year finalist, and also conditioner of Betting Line, another O’Brien finalist. “Whenever I get nominated I buy tickets for my whole staff to join me, as they deserve to be there as much as I do. Everyone's all dressed up and happy, the meal is always great, it's just a real good night to get to relax and reflect on all the awesome horses we got to race and watch race that past season.”

There will also be a pair of younger faces in the crowd at the gala, as Future Star finalists Brett MacDonald, 20, and Louis-Phillipe Roy, 27, will be taking in the evening as well.
“Some people go their whole career without being nominated for an O’Brien, I couldn’t believe it when [Kathy Wade Vlaar] called and told me I got the nomination,” said MacDonald, of Embrun, Ont. “It is still early on in my career, so the call was really exciting for me.”

Roy, a resident of Mont-Joli, Quebec, echoed the same sentiments, but he also stated that he has come to learn just how much of an honour an O’Brien nomination is.

“When I first got the call I didn't realize how big it was,” said Roy, “but then with all the people congratulating me and talking about the O'Briens, I realized how big it is. I’m thrilled to be going to the O'Brien Awards!”

A small number of tickets still remain for the 2016 O'Brien Awards. As a result, Standardbred Canada has extended the deadline to 12 noon (ET) on Monday, January 23.

To order your tickets, contact the Standardbred Canada Industry Marketing Department at 905-858-3060 (Ext. 207, 243 or 213).

CAVIART LUCA WINS SATURDAY 45G OPEN HANDICAP PACE

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY, Saturday, January 21, 2017—Caviart Luca (George Brennan, $28.60) snapped odds-on Blood Brother (Jason Bartlett) at the wire Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $45,000 Open Handicap Pace.

‘Twas a night better suited for Carl Sandburg (fog reference for all you academics out there), Caviart Luca found himself away from post position No. 3. He sat as 3-4 choice Blood Brother two-moved to the lead before a :27.4 opening quarter-mile.

Things remained unchanged after a 57-second intermission and 1:25 three-quarters, with Blood Brother taking a 2½-length lead into the lane.

Despite a mediocre tow from P H Supercam (Scott Zeron), Caviart Luca was relentless from second-up. He picked off the pace-setter by a nose in 1:52.2, with P H Supercam, Roland N Rock (Jordan Stratton) and City Hall (Tyler Buter) settling for the remainder. E Z Noah (Dan Dube) was outrun.

As an aside, it was the first time Bartlett did not drive P H Supercam here since September, 2013.

For fifth choice Caviart Luca, a now-6-year-old Somebeachsonewhere gelding co-owned (as Burke Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi and Phil Collura, he’s won both of his seasonal starts. The exacta paid $65.50, with the triple returning $204.


Rebel Jet Lands Perfectly At Buffalo Raceway

by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway

HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Rebel Jet ($12.40) has been a well-traveled pacer the past few months but he found a perfect landing spot at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday night (Jan. 21) by winning the $10,000 Open in 1:57.1 over the good track.

After visiting Vernon Downs, Batavia Downs, Pocono and The Meadowlands in the past three months, Rebel Jet (Bruce Aldrich Jr.) was ready to give Buffalo Raceway a try. 

It was a success as he got a perfect pocket trip then used the passing lane late to hold off Knocking Around (David McNeight III). Southwind Torque (Shawn Gray) took third.

After taking the lead briefly, Rebel Jet had to settle into second place as Southwind Torque set the pace with splits of 29.2, 58.0 and 1:27.1.

Turning for home, Southwind Torque hung tough but retreated to third place. Rebel Jet, however, revved his engines in the passing lane and squeezed out the half length decision while Knocking Around came on the outside to take second.

Owned by Rocco Stebbins and trained by Joe Skowyra, the 8-year-old gelded Rebel Jet (Jerome's Jet-Heart ofthe Matter) has now earned $218,224 in his career thanks to 26 lifetime victories.

Gray led the drivers with a triple with Aldrich Jr. and Ray Fisher Jr. each notching a double. Trainer JD Perrin conditioned three winners and Skowyra posted two.

Action will resume at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday night with a 12-race program slated to begin at 5 p.m.

For more information including the latest news, race replays, results and upcoming promotions, go to www.buffaloraceway.com


Friday, January 20, 2017

YONKERS’ THURSDAY PICK 5 WELL-RECEIVED

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY, Thursday, January 19, 2017—Yonkers Raceway’s Thursday evening’s (Jan. 19) Pick 5, fortified by a spiffy double-carryover of $7,800.95, received its fair share of attention.

A brand-new, 17,398 infusion created a total pool (after takeout) of $20,849 and some change.

The winning combination was…

2-Diamond Cowboy ($10.40)
4-Santanna One ($9.80)
4-Rock Absorber ($5.90)
4-Analyze ($10.80)
3-Macho Chick ($6.10, Tyler Buter’s fourth win in 10-race card)

returning $969.50 for every correct half-a-buck wager.
  
The Pick 5 is a 50-cent base investment comprising races 6 through 10 (for programs with 10 races…if more, then it goes as races 7 through 11). It has no consolation payoff, meaning if no one selects all five winners (as was the case Monday and Tuesday nights), the entire pool (minus takeout) moves to the next racing program.