BERGMAN, KYLE ELECTED BY U.S. HARNESS WRITERS ASSOCIATION INTO HARNESS RACING’S COMMUNICATORS HALL OF FAME

 

HARRISBURG PA – One came to prominence in the shadow of New York City; the other is a son of the Midwest. One is primarily a writer who also has done much television journalism; the other achieved principal fame as a photographer, but he also wrote often and well.

 

What links them is their talent in communicating the abilities of the very best in harness racing, and thus Jay Bergman and Joe Kyle were voted in to the Communicators Hall of Fame by the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA), the sport’s leading journalism organization.

 

Bergman achieved his greatest impact during his 27 years of working at Sports Eye, a daily newspaper which primarily dealt with handicapping (Bergman was one of the key theorists behind the creation of a track “variant”) but also offered opinions on the issues of the day – a position, especially after he became editor-in-chief in the 1980s, Bergman did frequently and forcefully, not afraid to offer criticism and call people and organizations to task. He won a 1984 Hervey Award in the “news and commentary” writing division.

 

A frequent author for many of the sport’s most respected publications, Bergman is currently a columnist for DRF Harness, the harness racing arm of Daily Racing Form. He has served on-camera as television commentator for The Meadowlands and The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, and also assisted television broadcasters behind the scenes of many of the sport’s top races.

 

Kyle is a native of Decatur IL, 40 miles from the mile Grand Circuit track in Springfield IL and not far up the road from DuQuoin IL, where the Hambletonian and then the World Trotting Derby were held. He covered the top Midwest racing for many years, and with his move to the staff of The Horseman And Fair World magazine in Lexington KY, Joe also wrote about and photographed the stars of the sulky game during the annual Grand Circuit visit to Lexington’s Red Mile.

 

His photography has been cited by USHWA, with its Smallsreed Award, and the World Trotting Council. Ironically, that particular winning photo was taken at a race in Bergman’s “back yard,” The Meadowlands, after Scarlet Knight won the 2001 Hambletonian for trainer-driver Stefan ”Tarzan” Melander – a noted photographer in his native Sweden. Kyle attended many of the sport’s major races wearing both photographic and reporter hats during his time at The Horseman.

 

Jay Bergman and Joe Kyle will be honored at the 2022 Dan Patch Awards Banquet, as the 2021 Banquet has been cancelled due to health/travel considerations. That same year, they will be formally inducted into the Communicators Hall of Fame at the Harness Racing Museum in Goshen NY.

 

USHWA's "DAN PATCH VIRTUAL AWARDS SHOW," HONORING 2020'S STARS, TO BE BROADCAST SATURDAY, JANUARY 16 FROM 5 TO 6 P.M.

 

HARRISBURG PA – The United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA), the group of the industry’s communicators who are the primary voters on Hall of Fame and year-end honors, is announcing a special Dan Patch Virtual Awards Show, to be held on Saturday, January 16, 2021 from 5 to 6 p.m.

 

The Dan Patch Awards Show can be watched live on USHWA’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/USHarnessWriters), as well as through the Meadowlands simulcast signal, on the track’s website (www.playmeadowlands.com) and through the RTN broadcast network. The next day it will be archived and available on the USTA’s YouTube channel.

 

The Dan Patch Awards would normally be given at the writers’ annual Dan Patch Banquet in association with their national meetings, but there will be no banquet this year due to health/travel concerns, and the USHWA meetings will be held electronically.

 

To be announced on this Virtual Awards Show will be the twelve divisional winners in the Racehorse categories, along with Trotter of the Year, Pacer of the Year, and the prestigious E.R. Harriman Harness Horse of the Year.

 

Also to be announced are the Norman Woolworth Owner, Driver, and Breeder of the Year, along with the Trotting and Pacing Broodmares of the year. Nancy Takter, nominated as the Glen Garnsey Trainer of the Year by every chapter of USHWA and its At Large membership, was thus automatically declared the winner of that award. In addition, the Fair Island Farm Caretaker of the Year will be featured.

 

Media releases on all the winners, both human and equine, will be distributed as soon as possible after the Virtual Awards Show is completed. No winners in any of these categories will be released before the Awards Show.

 

Major Al-mar eyes encore in Cal Expo trot

 By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness

 

Major Al-mar, fresh from posting a 9-1 upset last week, figures to get more respect at the windows this time around as he heads the field for Saturday night’s featured $5,500 conditioned Trot.

 

Watch and Wager LLC will present 14 races with first post set for 4:55 p.m. The main event is set as the fifth on the program.

 

A 4-year-old son of Money Talks out of the Andover Hall mare Vestal Hanover, Major Al-mar is owned by Vikki Pfeilsticker and Amy Fichtner, hails from the Rick Bertrand shedrow and will once again have Cordarius Stewart giving directions.

 

Stewart was guiding the sidewheeler for the first time since they joined forces at Oak Grove in Kentucky back in November. After having to settle for a couple of minor awards in his first four appearances at this meet, Major Al-mar put it all together last time and rewarded his backers at a nice price.

 

Leaving from the outside post in the field of seven, he was parked to the lead at the quarter, withstood a strong bid on the final bend and early stretch and gamely re-rallied to prevail by a head.

 

Flameon and Mshindi, who were second and third, respectively, in that affair are back in the cast and will obviously have a big say in the outcome. Mshindi was sent off the 1-2 choice that night and was only beaten a half-length for the whole thing.

 

Taking on this trio are Jesse’s Student, Glenferrie Dreamer, MD Magic, Bringthegold and Teachmehowtotry.

 

Mandatory payouts, reduced takeout wagers spice action

 

Saturday being the closing night of the first portion of the 2020-21 Watch and Wager LLC meeting, there will be mandatory payouts in all wagers on the program.

 

Great value can be found as there are three wagers offered each night that come with a reduced 16 percent takeout rate – the 20-cent early and late Pick 5 and the 20-cent Pick 4.

 

A reminder that beginning next week, Cal Expo will be switching to a Saturday and Sunday night schedule.

 

                                     ***

 

Congratulations to Best Dream Seeker, who ended up on the right end of the photo with Nick Roland in last Saturday night’s first race, giving the veteran his 44^th lifetime victory from 454 starts.

 

The pacing son of Cambest takes his lessons from Rick Bertrand, who co-owns along with Vikki Pfeilsticker and Amy Fichtner and has had the hard-hitting performer for the last two and a half years.

 

Because he turns 15 years old next week, Best Dream Seeker will face mandatory retirement, but will remain at the Bertrand barn to assist joggers and help with teaching the babies.

 

Best Dream Seeker will suit up one more time in Saturday night’s fourth race before calling it a career.

FOR BIG M FANS, CHRISTMAS COMES A DAY LATE

 

Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – After The Meadowlands takes a break for the holiday – there is no racing or simulcasting on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day – live action will return to The Big M with a bang this Saturday (Dec. 26) night with a gigantic 15-race program that will begin at the track’s new early post time of 6 p.m.

Like a true holiday feast, the card comes with all the trimmings. All 15 races have full 10-horse fields and the track’s betting menu offers all the goodies Big M players have grown accustomed to, with a 20-cent Pick-5 (race one), 20-cent Survivor Pick-7 (race three), 20-cent Pick-6 (race eight), 10-cent Pentafecta (race 15) and a pair of 50-cent Pick-4s (beginning in races six and 10). Both Pick-4s will have guaranteed pools of $50,000 and all the wagers offer a low 15 percent takeout.

The wagering on the card figures to be fast and furious since the last two Saturday programs were compromised: Two weeks ago by heavy fog – which left all of who watched a limited view of the first eight races – and last week by an electrical malfunction that caused the cancelation of the entire 13-race card.

“The Saturday card features 15 full 10-horse fields,” said Big M Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “Which will give horseplayers many chances for the big score. The one-mile oval makes it possible for all vertical and horizontal players to shoot for the moon.

“We think our product will do extraordinarily well this winter with our new 6 p.m. post time, which will be in effect through mid-March. We are hopeful that The Meadowlands with full fields and low takeout can cultivate even more horseplayers from around the world to wager on our signal.”

Not only will harness fans get to overindulge on the races from the mile oval, but Thoroughbred fans will get an excellent nosh as well, as the day after Christmas The Big M will offer simulcasting of the Opening Day card from Arcadia, California’s Santa Anita Park. The 11-race program – which features five graded stakes events – has a post time of 2 p.m.

FREE PPs: For free past performances of Meadowlands races, courtesy of the United States Trotting Association and TrackMaster, go to playmeadowlands.com.

Races 10 through 13 – the entire Late 50-cent Pick-4 – will be available for Saturday’s card.

TWEET THE TEAM: Stay in touch on Twitter with the Big M’s Dave Brower (@eedoogie), Dave Little (@DaveLittleBigM), Ken Warkentin (@kenvoiceover), Shades Demsky (@shadesonracing) and Jessica Otten (@JessicaOtten1). Check in everyday for Meadowlands news and updates at those handles, as well as @TheMeadowlands and #playbigm.

CHECK OUT THE PICKS: For those who need to get a leg up on the action, go to playmeadowlands.com to see track oddsmaker and analyst Brower’s selections and commentary. Click on the “handicapping” tab and go to “race reviews”.

Additionally, track announcer Warkentin’s blog is available on the site and offers his picks and analysis.

On race nights, access picks and plays from the Big M TV team at #playbigm or at @TheMeadowlands.

CHECK OUT THE SHOW: Be sure to watch the live “Racing from The Meadowlands” pre-game show, which will now begin on race nights at 5:27 p.m.

On Saturday night, The Big M’s “A” team of Brower and Little will talk about what’s going on in harness racing and take a look at that evening’s featured races from the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set while Demsky will be the featured handicapper on the live presentation on the Television Games Network (tvg.com) all night long.

CAN’T MAKE IT TO THE TRACK? There are several options for those who would rather catch the action from The Big M at home.

Racing fans can watch all the races live on the Roberts Television Network (rtn.tv). In addition, they can watch and wager by going to the Television Games Network (tvg.com) or their favorite Advance-deposit Wagering site (ADW).

THE MEADOWLANDS SCHEDULE: There is no live racing on Christmas Day, Friday, Dec. 25.

There will be live racing Saturday, Dec. 26, with a post time of 6 p.m.

In addition, The Big M will be closed for simulcasting on both Dec. 24 and 25.

HOLIDAY AT FANDUEL: Football fans can get their fill at the FanDuel Sportsbook, located just inside the main entrance at The Meadowlands.

On Saturday (Dec. 26), there will be four college football games that handicappers can play, and, in addition, the National Football League will have three contests: At 1 p.m., Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-9½) travel to Detroit to take on the Lions; Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals (-5½) host the San Francisco 49ers at 4:30 p.m. before the final game of the day kicks off at 8:15 p.m. when Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins (-3) travel to Sin City to take on the Las Vegas Raiders.

This week for the Christmas holiday, there will be some changes to the schedule at the FanDuel Sports Book.

On Dec. 24, bets will be taken until 6 p.m. The book will be closed on Christmas Day, Dec. 25.

During a normal week, hours in the track’s FanDuel Sports Book are from 10 a.m. – midnight Sunday through Friday and from 10 a.m. – 2 a.m. on Saturday.

Two Dead Heats at Monticello Raceway

 

By: Shawn Wiles

Something that you don’t see very often is 2 dead heats on the same day, this unique harness racing oddity occurred Tuesday afternoon at Monticello Raceway.

The first dead heat was in race 6, Blue Line (Bruce Aldrich Jr.) and Rockin In The Hills (Greg Merton) tripped the time in tandem in 1:58.3, Chip For Real (Bruce Aldrich Jr.) and See You Friday duplicated the feat 5 race later as the crossed the wire in unison in 1:58.4.

Also on the card James Taggart Jr. drove 4 winners, Greg Merton had 3 winners, James Devaux Michael Merton and Bruce Aldrich Jr each had 2 winners on the afternoon, both of Aldrich’s win came in each dead heat race.  Trainer Dan Gill had 2 winners from his barn, Gill is currently in 4^th place for leading trainers with 34 seasonal wins.

 

Sunday Racing at Cal Expo

 

By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness

The California Horse Racing Board has approved the request from Watch and Wager LLC, operator of Cal Expo, to switch Friday to Sunday evening effective the first of the year.

Sunday evening post time will be 4:55 Pacific.

"With the total closure of the California brick and mortar network, we think Sunday will better position ourselves for National exposure given the current situation in California,” said General Manager Chris Schick.

Funnicello/Holt Final, Joe Alto Pace in Saturday Cal Expo spotlight

By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness

The $8,700 Annette Funicello/Glen Holt Final and the $10,000 Joe Alto Filly and Mare Pace are the main attractions on Saturday night’s Cal Expo program.

 

Watch and Wager LLC will present 12 races with things getting underway at 4:50 p.m.

 

Jennie Ann and Gitchie Girl accounted for last week’s two Funicello/Holt eliminations with James Kennedy at the controls for both distaffers. Jennie Ann got her victory through the disqualification of River Lassena, who had a pylon violation.

 

A 3-year-old daughter of Lettherockbegin, Jennie Ann was an easy winner of her local debut on December 4 and then set all the fractions in last week’s tour before being overhauled, eventually awarded the tally by the stewards.

 

Gitchie Girl was a 16-1 upsetter in her mile after suffering a break in her previous mile. She goes about her business for Benvenga Racing and Kathie Plested with Plested the conditioner and figures to get more respect at the windows this time around.

 

River Lassena will be looking for some revenge from the cozy rail slot, while completing the field are Sporty Fox, Le Montrachet, D Vigilante, Hf’s Super Filly, Tropical Fruit, Prom Queen and Danzig To Dharma.

 

Looking at the Joe Alto, Velocity Sweets would appear to hold the aces after sweeping by the leaders as the 1-5 choice in last week’s top dance for the filly and mare pacers. Jennifer Sabot owns and trains the 5-year-old daughter of McArdie and James Kennedy will once again do the honors.

 

Taking her on are Mary’s Pretty Girl, Bertha Vanation, Brighten Your Life and Karefree Kara.

 

    Joe Alto remembered:

“They’re coming home now!”

 

Saturday’s co-feature is named for Joe Alto, the announcer here at Cal Expo for many years, who passed away in 2011 at the age of 78.

 

Joe Alto plied his trade as a track announcer for 40 years. He started at Buffalo Raceway and Batavia Downs in native New York, then came west and handled the duties at Hollywood Park, Los Alamitos and Cal Expo.

 

He was also golden gloves boxer in his younger days and an accomplished salsa dancer.

 

Joe called both harness horses and thoroughbreds here in Sacramento, and was known for such signature calls “You better take a look at” and “They’re coming home now!”

 

Trackman Marty Bridges also considered Joe a good friend. “He was a one-of-a-kind announcer and one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met, on or off the racetrack.”

 

                                               ***

 

There will be mandatory payouts in all wagers Saturday night at Cal Expo, as the first portion of the 2020/2021 meeting comes to end.

 

The trotters and pacers will return to action next Saturday, December, 26, with Saturday and Sunday programs beginning the following week.   

 

Contentious trot, early Pick 5 carryover at Cal Expo

By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness

Friday night’s program will find a $5,500 conditioned trot and an $8,296 carryover in the 20-cent early Pick 5 holding the spotlight.

First post for the 12-race Watch and Wager LLC card is 4:50 p.m.

The early Pick 5 is conducted on the first five events of the evening and there will be a $30,000 guaranteed gross pool. The 20-cent early and late Pick 5 and the 20-cent Pick 4 all come with a reduced 16% takeout rate.

Free past performances for the Friday program are available at ustrotting.com

Looking at Friday’s main event, Mshindi is exiting a fourth-place finish in last week’s Joe Lighthill Trot behind Silverhill Volo and looms a tough customer with Luke Plano handling the Bruce Nickells colorbearer for trainer Tim Clevenger.

Mshindi will leave from the No. 2 slot in the field of seven and will have Teachmehowtotory on his inside, while the outside challengers will be Flameon, Bringthegold, Glenferrie Dreamer, Jesse’s Student and Major Al-Mar.

On Saturday evening, the Annette Funicello/Glen Holt Final and the Joe Alto Filly and Mare Pace will be the main attractions.

Best Dream Seeker ready for social security

When the calendar turns to January 1, Best Dream Seeker becomes 15 years old for official purposes and will have completed the racing portion of his career. 

The pacing son of Cambest comes into this weekend having made 453 starts, with 43 wins, 63 seconds and 68 thirds. He has nearly $490,000 in his bank account and sports a 1:51 4/5 mark that was set back when George W. Bush was still our President.

“He’s a nice horse to be around and work with,” said trainer Rick Bertrand, who co-owns the veteran with Vikki Pfeilsticker and Amy Fichtner and has had him for the last two and a half years.

“He’ll remain in the barn for the winter to help pony the tough horses who don’t jog very well. He’ll also be useful to help train the babies and teach them to race before being turned out for the summer.”

Bertrand has done his homework as far as Best Dream Seeker is concerned, noting that he’s raced at 23 different track and posed for pictures at 15 of those venues.

He also pointed out that the veteran pacer has had 27 different trainers and 88 different drivers, winning for 26 of those pilots. “I’d have to say over the years he’s been handled by just about every top driver in the country,” his mentor added.

Cal Expo wishes a long and happy retirement to Best Dream Seeker.

                                    ***

Please note there will be mandatory payouts on all wagers Saturday. The second half of the meet will get underway on Saturday, December 26.

DRIVER OF THE YEAR? IT’S A LOCK FOR BIG M’S DUNN

Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – On the final day of the Championship Meet at The Meadowlands on Hambletonian Day, Yannick Gingras won four races to catch Dexter Dunn for the driver’s title, defeating the defending United States Harness Writers Association Driver of the Year, 86 wins to 85.

That’s about the only time anything went wrong during 2020 for Dunn, who is an overwhelming favorite to win DOTY for a second straight season as 12 of the 13 USHWA chapters have nominated the native New Zealander to take home the award as the sport's top pilot.

At the current Fall Meet at The Meadowlands – which kicked off Sept. 5 – Dunn is on his way to taking home the leading driver trophy. With just three race cards remaining in the calendar year, the 31-year-old reinsman has 43 wins, which puts him six ahead of Todd McCarthy in the standings.

Dunn, not surprisingly, also sits atop the UDRS (.336, well ahead of Dave Miller’s .275) and win percentage (.216 to McCarthy’s .146) heaps among drivers with at least 100 starts. He also has 26 seconds and 28 thirds, giving him 97 on-the-board finishes (.487). Dunn’s 128 overall Big M victories lead the way for the entire year.

Some highlights from Dunn’s spectacular 2020 include:

·         Has earnings of $11 million, no other driver has $10 million

·         Won four Breeders Crown finals at Harrah’s Hoosier Park

·         Won four times at The Big M on Fall Final Four/TVG Finals Night

It’s been a remarkable rise to stardom for Dunn, who is currently the game’s top driver while participating in just his second full season in the U.S. since his arrival from Down Under in mid-November of 2018.

DID YOU SEE? If you were playing Meadowlands races Saturday (Dec. 12) night, probably not.

An incredibly resilient, thick fog shrouded the mile oval, allowing patrons a clear view of just the opening and closing 10 seconds of the first eight races on the card, no doubt reminding some of the 1988 NFL playoff game between the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles known as the “Fog Bowl”.

DID YOU MAKE A SCORE? Whether it was Friday night (Dec. 11) or Fog Night (Saturday, Dec. 12), there were some healthy payouts to be had.

The 20-cent Survivor Pick-7 returned $5,568 Friday despite those who cashed in only needing six winners to do it. Twenty-four hours later, the wager returned $1,110.

Those with winning 20-cent Pick-6 tickets also had a happy weekend, walking away with $3,331 and $1,786 on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

A HOLIDAY WISH: “On behalf of myself and everyone in our Meadowlands family,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “I’d like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!”

IF WEATHER IS AN ISSUE: If you can’t make it out to The Meadowlands in the aftermath of the snowstorm that hit Northern New Jersey, you can watch and wager on all the action from the comfort of your own home. Go to rtn.tv or your favorite ADW platform to catch every race live.

The Television Games Network (tvg.com) shows all Meadowlands action live and offers opportunities for those who want to bet on Big M races as well.

TWEET THE TEAM: Stay in touch on Twitter with the Big M’s Dave Brower (@eedoogie), Dave Little (@DaveLittleBigM), Ken Warkentin (@kenvoiceover), Andrew Demsky (@shadesonracing) and Jessica Otten (@JessicaOtten1). Check in everyday for Meadowlands news and updates at those handles, as well as @TheMeadowlands and #playbigm.

FREE PPs: For free past performances of Meadowlands races, courtesy of the United States Trotting Association and TrackMaster, go to playmeadowlands.com.

Races one through five – the entire 20-cent Pick-5 – will be available for both the Friday and Saturday cards.

CHECK OUT THE PICKS: For those who need to get a leg up on the action, go to playmeadowlands.com to see track oddsmaker and analyst Brower’s selections and commentary. Click on the “handicapping” tab and go to “race reviews”.

Additionally, track announcer Warkentin’s blog is available on the site and offers his picks and analysis.

On race nights, access picks and plays from the Big M TV team at #playbigm or at @TheMeadowlands.

THE SCHEDULE: Live racing at The Big M will be conducted this Friday and Saturday night with a first-race post time of 7:15 p.m.

There is no live racing on Christmas Day, Friday, Dec. 25.

There will be live racing Saturday, Dec. 26, with a post time of 6 p.m.

In addition, The Meadowlands will be closed for simulcasting on both Dec. 24 and 25.

HOLIDAY AT FANDUEL: More football is a good thing.

Faithful fans of The Big M’s FanDuel Sports Book will have plenty of National Football League games on which to bet in the next five days.

There will be one game on Thursday (Dec. 17), two on Saturday (Dec. 19), 12 on Sunday (Dec. 20) and one on Monday (Dec. 21).

For those who like to bet a “Local-Team Parlay”, the Jets (+17½) travel to Los Angeles to take on the Rams Sunday at 4:05 p.m. while the Giants (+5) host the Cleveland Browns Sunday at 8:20 p.m.

Next week for the Christmas holiday, there will be some changes to the schedule at the FanDuel Sports Book.

On Dec. 24, bets will be taken until 6 p.m. The book will be closed on Christmas Day, Dec. 25.

During a normal week, hours in the track’s FanDuel Sports Book are from 10 a.m. – midnight Sunday through Friday and from 10 a.m. – 2 a.m. on Saturday.

NOMINATIONS FOR CARETAKER OF THE YEAR DUE THIS COMING MONDAY

 

The deadline for nominations for the 2020 Caretaker of the Year, sponsored by Art Zubrod and Leah Cheverie’s Fair Island Farm in conjunction with the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA), is nearing on Monday, Dec. 21, 2020. The Fair Island Farm Caretaker of the Year Award recognizes the unsung heroes of the sport — the caretakers who maintain the health and welfare of the horses on a daily basis.

 

Any caretaker working for any stable or farm in North America is eligible to be the Fair Island Farm Caretaker of the Year. All that is needed to nominate is a letter or email, 200 words minimum, from an individual or group detailing the skills and special qualities of the caretaker.

 

“Leah and I were very honored to continue the tradition of recognizing the outstanding caretaker of the year last year and we look forward to again rewarding an exceptional individual this year,” said Zubrod. “While the racing season may have been altered a bit with the covid-19 pandemic, caretakers continued to work as hard as ever. A caretaker’s work is important to the success of not only the horse, but the entire stable.”

 

The Fair Island Farm 2020 Caretaker of the Year will receive a cash prize of $500 and a trophy that will include a photo of the winning caretaker and a favorite horse.

 

“In 2020, caretakers have had to endure and persevere in spite of the overwhelming obstacles associated with the pandemic,” said USHWA President Kim Rinker. “These folks are the backbone of our industry and have seen to it that racing has continued to not only survive, but thrive, in these troubled times. This award is a shout-out to grooms across North America and beyond who dutifully care for their equine athletes.”

 

All nomination letters and emails must be received and/or postmarked by Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, and sent to committee chairman Tim Bojarski at a159star@gmail.com or mailed to Tim Bojarski, 7523 Maple Road, Akron, N.Y. 14001. With the deadline near, it is recommended to email all nomination letters at this point.

 

The winner will be chosen by a seven-person selection committee comprised of USHWA members, all of whom are former caretakers: Bojarski, Tom Charters, Moira Fanning, Dean Hoffman, Rob Pennington, Kim Rinker, and Shawn Wiles.

Cal Expo to broadcast In High Definition

 

By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness

 

Watch and Wager.com LLC, operator of Cal Expo harness, is pleased to announce their broadcast upgrade to High Definition beginning Friday, December 18.

 

"The upgrade will ultimately include features such as shutter, car and paddock camera shots,” said Chris Schick, General Manager at Cal Expo harness.

 

"We would publicly like to thank or partners Pegasus Communications, TVG, Roberts Television and the California Exposition and State Fair for help and cooperation with this fan friendly upgrade"

 

Cal Expo can now be found on RTN channel 9732.

 

ANA AFREET N COMES IN AS FOG ROLLS OUT AT BIG M

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – On a Saturday evening that looked more like a scene out of the Stephen King novel “The Mist” than a night at the races, Ana Afreet N came blazing out of the pocket to gun down American History in the $28,000 Preferred Handicap for pacers at The Meadowlands.

The weather was anything but cooperative for what was supposed to be a 13-race card, as after the first race where the horses were visible for only the first and final sixteenths of the mile, races two and three were canceled and race four did not go until 90 minutes after the first hit the finish. When racing resumed, it was much of the same as far as seeing – or not seeing – the races. Until the ninth race, that is.

The feature had not only Ana Afreet N and American History, but also fan favorite Highalator, who was seeking his sixth Big M win of the year from only eight starts. It was too good to miss.

And the weather gods agreed.

The fog lifted to reveal the first race of the night that could be viewed from start to finish, and after the three headliners all left the gate alertly, Ana Afreet N had a slight advantage out of the first turn before Highalator hustled up to take the top at the quarter.

Driver George Napolitano Jr. used Ana Afreet N once again, immediately moving back to the point, and as he did, even-money choice American History – seeking his fourth straight score – followed that foe and cleared the top at the half in :54.3.

American History led the field to the head of the stretch and looked strong on the point, but with a little more than a sixteenth of a mile to go, Ana Afreet N came calling one last time from out of the pocket and wore down the leader nearing the wire to record a 1-length score in 1:49.3. Highalator held on for third.

“This horse amazes me,” said Napolitano. “When I started driving him, he really wasn’t that good. I was told he was really lazy but he had plenty of late pace in a race when I first started driving him and thought he had some talent. So I had a little talk with him, and then the next week we started rattling off wins because I started feeding him racetrack.

“I knew he was a special horse, but I didn’t know how special until tonight. He beat good horses and he did it the right way. I have a lot of confidence in this horse. He felt so good around the far turn. [Trainer] Jeff [Cullipher] actually texted me and said, ‘Wow, what a fun race to watch.’ I love driving for that guy.”

Ana Afreet N, a 5-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight-Anna Livia who is owned by Pollack Racing and Cullipher, returned $6.60 to win as the 2-1 second choice in the wagering. He’s won four of his last six at The Big M, with a nose separating him from victory in the two defeats. Lifetime, he’s won 22-of-43 starts, good for earnings of $164,220.

The fog made things difficult on the judges, horsemen and fans alike, and track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir voiced his appreciation: “I have never quite seen fog like I saw tonight in East Rutherford, New Jersey. After the first race, I never thought we would get any more races in. Due to the timing issues with Lasix we canceled races two and three and set a post time of 9 p.m. for the fourth race and we were able to get the balance of the race card in. I want to extend my extreme gratitude and appreciation to the New Jersey Racing Commission judges, the horsemen and women, along with our employees for tonight’s herculean effort to work together and get the races in.”

A LITTLE MORE: Trainer Nifty Norman’s Let It Ride N made it three wins in as many starts since arriving from Australia. The 7-year-old gelded son of Rock N Roll Heaven-Love A Gamble crushed a solid high-end field of conditioned pacers in a night’s-fastest – and lifetime best – 1:48.4 as the 1-5 favorite with Dexter Dunn doing the driving. … All-source handle totaled $1,282,387 on the fog-marred shortened program. … Racing resumes Friday at 7:15 p.m.

Jake Cutting off to a torrid start

By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness

Jake Cutting has literally flown off the gate at this meeting with the equivalent of at :26 and change opening quarter, scoring with 17 of his first 51 drives. The Calgary native has displayed the cool of someone far beyond his 19 years and is making quite an impression.

“My mom and dad, my aunt and uncle, my sister and her boyfriend and my grandparents on my mom’s side have all been involved with the sport,” Cutting related. “From as far back as I can remember, this is what I wanted to do.”

One of Jake’s fondest memories came when Jim Marino won the Alberta Super Final for his parents. “I was about 9 or 10 at the time and it was quite a thrill.”

In addition to leading the driver standings, Cutting also has a stable of his own and has been making steady trips to the winner’s circle with those proteges. “I’ve got nine right now, and 10 would be about perfect.”

 In his brief career, Jake has competed over half-mile, seven-eighths and mile tracks, with his preference being the latter, which is the case here at Cal Expo. “It’s easier to trip out on a mile track, and you can drive each individual horse accordingly,” he noted.

As far as competition, Cutting said he would love to participate in each and every race, and his strong performance through the first few weeks has certainly garnered the attention of horsemen in terms of securing drives.

“I’ve been fortunate to drive with a lot of very experienced drivers,” he noted. “I always take advice and I’ve been able to learn a lot in a short time.”

Oh, to be 19 again.

 

Silverhill Volo heads Joe Lighthill Trot

Silverhill Volo, fresh from back-to-back tallies at the head of the class, leads the field for Saturday’s featured $10,000 Joe Lighthill Trot.

The headliner will go as the fifth contest on an 11-race card and things get underway at 4:55 p.m. under the Watch and Wager LLC banner.

Chip Lackey, reins, trains and owns Silverhill Volo, a 9-year-old son of Muscle Hill who will gunning for his 27^th career snapshot from 138 appearances. He has a 1:55 1/5 career standard and is looking to add to a $160,000 career account.

He was 6-1 when he captured the November 27 Open, withstanding a strong bid up front on the final turn before drawing away late. Off at even-money in his last tour, Silverhill Volo was parked to the lead by the quarter, took complete control from that and went on to a three-length decision for Lackey.

Mandevillie was runner-up to Silverhill Volo in last week’s Open and will be looking for some revenge this weekend for his owner/driver/trainer Gerry Longo. He lands the rail with Silverhill Volo just to his outside in the cast of seven.

The 8-year-old Majestic Son gelding has posed for pictures following 8 of his 20 trips to the post this season, the most recent coming at Oak Grove in early November. He is looking to add to a $266,000 lifetime bankroll.

Pridecrest turned in a sharp qualifying win last weekend and has gone many strong races over this layout in the past. He helps make things very interesting for trainer Kathy  Plested.

 

Completing the field are Bringthgold, Major Al-Mar, Jesse’s Student and Mshindi.

 

Cal Expo spotlight on Dave Goldschmidt Pace

By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness

Allmyx’sliventexas, who has rattled off two impressive victories since returning from Chicago, has top billing in Friday night’s $10,000 Dave Goldschmidt Free-For-All Pace.

Watch and Wager LLC will present xxx races with first post set for 4:55. The main event goes as the eighth event on the card.

A 7-year-old homebred son of Hi Ho Silverheel’s from the Distinguishedbaron mare Annie Get Your Gun, Allmyx’sliventexas carries the banner of Wayne and Rodney Knittel with Bob Johnson conditioning and Nick Roland at the controls.

He comes into this assignment with 41 wins from his 135 starts, a 1:50 mark that was set two years ago at Hoosier Park and a bankroll of $240,000.

Allmyx’sliventexas has put his class and his versatility on display in his two scores at this meet, going coast-to-coast in the November 27 score and then coming back the next week to get the job done from off the pace in first-over fashion while doing his work from the demanding No. 10 post.

The Knittel colorbearer will leave from the No. 6 slot for the Goldschmidt and will be challenged by Bngs Express, Impressive Art, I’m An Athlete, Dependlebury A, Hoo Nien A, Pecorino and Ponda’s Prospect.

Looking ahead to Saturday night, the $10,000 Joe Lighthill Trot will hold center stage with Silvehill Volo eying his third straight trip to the winner’s circle for owner/driver/trainer Chip Lackey.

Races honor memory of Lighthill, Goldschmidt

Friday’s Dave Goldschmidt Pace and Saturday’s Joe Lighthill Trot are named for two important members of the California harness racing community.

Joe Lighthill was an outstanding driver/trainer who was a mainstay in the Golden State for decades and passed away at the age of 78 in 2006.

Lighthill, who began his career in the mid-1940s, drove 2,272 winners for purse earnings just shy of $7 million and reined and/or trained some of the top performers of their generation.

Included in that illustrious list were Meadow Skipper, Countess Adios, Tender Loving Care, Hickory Pride, Peter Lobell, Try Scotch and BC Count. Joe Lighthill was one of the greats, not just in California, but across the nation.

Dave Goldschmidt, who had an extensive resume in the sport from the frontside, passed away in July of 2018 at the age of 62.

Goldschmidt attending the University of Denver where he was a sportswriter on the newspaper, but after hearing about the new Race Track Management Program at the University of Arizona, had knew he had to transfer to that school and was in the first graduating class.

Dave was racing secretary at Los Alamitos and Cal Expo and co-racing secretary at Bay Meadows; assistant racetrack manager at Hollywood Park and a founder, president and major financial backer of the Premier Harness Meet at Los Alamitos in the 1990s.

PRESENTS COME EARLY FOR BIG M FAITHFUL

Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Temperatures may be falling, but many popular wagers at The Meadowlands have seen payoffs on the rise of late, much to the delight of those playing at the mile oval.

The 20-cent Pick-5 did not pay anything special – $141.10 – on Nov. 27, when the first three winners in the sequence went off at odds of 3-5, 8-5 and 5-2, but since then, it has been a big-payoff bonanza in the multi-leg wager that begins the card on a nightly basis.

On Saturday, Nov. 28, one sharp player raked the pot (being the only winner), cashing in for $55,157. That bettor may have been helped by the “all” button in the fourth race when a 75-1 shot scored, but the other four legs – despite none being won by the favorite – did not have any winner score at odds in excess of 9-2.

Last weekend (Dec. 4-5), the Pick-5s came back $1,444 and $5,886 on Friday and Saturday, respectively, but P5 players were not the only ones able to check everything off their respective Christmas gift lists after making some big scores at The Big M.

Recent action – and returns – on the track’s “signature” Pick-4 wagers have been strong as well. Over the last four race cards, nightly handle on the bets that begin in races six and 10, respectively, has been at least $132,000, with a high of $170,822 put in play last Saturday.

The Early Pick-4 on Nov. 27 paid a handsome $5,960 despite two 3-1 shots and an 8-5 favorite scoring. An 80-1 chance proved to be the key for those cashing tickets.

The Late P4 came back $3,558 on Dec. 4 when a pair of 4-1 chances and a 1-2 chalk were joined in the sequence by a 39-1 bomb. Clearly, there are Big M bets where windfalls can result if players can find that one race that drives the big return.

“We are extremely pleased at how the wagering public has responded to the low [15 percent] takeout wagers,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “The Meadowlands has always tried to have the most exciting and price-conscious wagering menu in the sport, and the current betting lineup has made all kinds of big scores possible for Big M players around the world.”

Some other recent noteworthy payouts include the $15,163 on Nov. 21 and $7,930 on Nov. 28 that 20-cent Survivor Pick-7 players enjoyed.

The 20-cent Pick-6 has been creating a stir for about a month with carryovers on the last four Saturday programs. Two recent payouts stand far above the rest, as on Nov. 14, the return was $5,642, while on Nov. 28 – when the final two legs were won by favorites – two winners walked away with $14,143.

“The growing interest in our wagering product resulted in the biggest handle of the Fall Meeting on Saturday [Dec. 5],” said Settlemoir.

Indeed, the $2,894,040 pushed through the windows was a meet best and pushed the streak of Saturdays with at least $2.5 million in handle to five. In addition, The Big M has seen wagering exceed the $5-million level for four consecutive weekends.

Historically, Meadowlands’ bettors love the track for its vulnerable favorites, but a look at recent returns reveal total handle is brisk whether there’s chalk or not.

Over the last four race cards, 17 public choices have scored from 52 races for a win percentage of just 32. The four programs prior to that saw 25 chalks take 52 dashes for a cool 48 percent, yet all eight programs were part of the current $5-million weekend streak.

CHECK OUT THE SHOW: Look for the “Racing from The Meadowlands” live in-house simulcast show every Friday and Saturday night. The pre-game presentation begins at 6:42 p.m. First race is at 7:15 p.m.

If you can’t make it out to the track, you can watch and wager on all the action at home. Go to rtn.tv or your favorite ADW platform to catch every race live.

The Television Games Network (tvg.com) shows all Meadowlands action live and offers opportunities for those who want to bet on Big M races as well.

TWEET THE TEAM: Stay in touch on Twitter with the Big M’s Dave Brower (@eedoogie), Dave Little (@DaveLittleBigM), Ken Warkentin (@kenvoiceover), Andrew Demsky (@shadesonracing) and Jessica Otten (@JessicaOtten1). Check in everyday for Meadowlands news and updates at those handles, as well as @TheMeadowlands and #playbigm.

FREE PPs: For free past performances of Meadowlands races, courtesy of the United States Trotting Association and TrackMaster, go to playmeadowlands.com.

Races one through five – the entire 20-cent Pick-5 – will be available for both the Friday and Saturday cards.

CHECK OUT THE PICKS: For those who need to get a leg up on the action, go to playmeadowlands.com to see track oddsmaker and analyst Brower’s selections and commentary. Click on the “handicapping” tab and go to “race reviews”.

Additionally, track announcer Warkentin’s blog is available on the site and offers his picks and analysis.

On race nights, access picks and plays from the Big M TV team at #playbigm or at @TheMeadowlands.

THE SCHEDULE: Live racing will continue every Friday and Saturday night through the end of 2020. The one exception is Christmas Day. Post time every night is 7:15 p.m. except for December 26, when the first race will go at 6 p.m.

PROLIFIC PIGSKIN PARLAY: Fans of local National Football League teams had a winning Sunday (Dec. 6) last week.

For those sharp enough to play the point spreads and use the Giants and Jets on a two-team parlay walked away winners.

Can they do it again? The answer will come on Sunday (Dec. 13) when the Giants (+2½) host the Arizona Cardinals at 1 p.m. and the Jets (+13½) travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks at 4 p.m.

The week will kick off Thursday (Dec. 10) when the New England Patriots (+5) visit the Los Angeles Rams at 8:20 p.m.

You can wager on all the action in the Big M’s FanDuel Sportsbook.

One can wager on a full slate of college football games as well. There are also other sports available to bet on in the book from 10 a.m. – midnight Sunday through Friday and from 10 a.m. – 2 a.m. on Saturday.

RCI MODIFIES MODEL RULES OF RACING AFFECTING CLENBUTEROL, HISTORICAL RACING, HARNESS TRACKS AND QUALIFYING RACES.

 

Lexington, KY — The Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) has approved new amendments to its Model Rules of Racing to: further restrict the use of clenbuterol in Thoroughbred contests; provide guidance for regulatory policy affecting ADW wagering on past live racing products; add additional requirements for harness track maintenance; and adopt the USTA policy with regard to the use of hopples in Standardbred qualifying races.

The ARCI also amended its Totalizator Standards at the request of AMTOTE to provide some redundancy in the stop betting function utilized by racing officials to close betting upon the commencement of a race.

The specific rules that were added or modified are as follows:

• Amendment to ARCI-011-010 VETERINARY PRACTICES with a new subsection “C” Treatment Restrictions concerning the use of clenbuterol in Thoroughbred races;
• Amendment to ARCI-004-049-ADVANCED DEPOSIT WAGERING to add a new section “C” entitled “Advanced Deposit Wagering on Past Live Racing Products”;
• Amendment to ARCI-021-020 FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT (D)(5)(6) which adds additional requirements on how racetracks manage track maintenance.
• Amendment to ARCI-024-010 DECLARATIONS AND DRAWING (C)(4) in regard to the use of hopples in qualifying races for Standardbreds.

The ARCI also amended TOTE STANDARDS SECTION 1.4(f)(2)(b) which enables totalizator companies to provide stop wagering functionality via remote capabilities.

 

The full updated version of the Model Rules document containing these revisions, as well as a new rule pertaining to use of the riding crop in flat races, will be published by Dec. 20, 2020. For more information on the Model Rules and about ARCI, please visit www.arci.com. 

 

To review the Model Rules adopted on Dec. 4, please click here.

 

AMERICAN HISTORY KEEPS ROLLING AT BIG M

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Heading into Saturday night’s featured $28,000 Preferred for pacers at The Meadowlands, American History had won two in a row by a combined 10¼ lengths, and while the veteran earner of over $1.1 million might have been bumping up in class, the narrative remained the same.

On a night where the feels-like temperature was 30 degrees with a stiff wind into the horses faces in the stretch, American History upped his win streak to three with a powerhouse 1:48.4 performance.

“He had a terrible bunch of bad luck this summer,” said winning trainer Tony Alagna. “But we thought he was coming around in his last few starts. He’s been in spots where he can use his speed. We worked hard on that. He trained well off the pace as well, so he can do that, too.”

All night long the track played to speed in a big way, so there was no need for the 2019 Breeders Crown champion to race from behind.

This Is The Plan, with his impressive lifetime bankroll of $1.7 million, was sent to the gate as the 3-5 public choice. He showed high speed from the start, as did American History, Harambe Deo and Western Joe.

Grabbing the top at the opening quarter while parked was This Is The Plan, but only led briefly, as American History wrestled the lead away from the chalk as he sprinted the second quarter in :26.4 to hit the half in :54.1.

Around the far turn, driver Andy McCarthy asked American History for more, and he responded by opening a 1½-length edge on the pocket-sitter at three-quarters in 1:21.

Through the stretch, American History would have to deal with This Is The Plan after that one popped the pocket inside the eighth pole. But as the pair neared the wire, American History had little trouble holding sway to score by a half-length. Western Joe was third.

A 5-year-old son of American Ideal-Perfect Touch who is owned by Brad Grant, American History paid $7.20 as the second choice in the betting to up his lifetime stats to 21 wins from just 58 starts and earnings of $1,172,753.

“We are going to pick and choose his starts in the weeks ahead,” said Alagna. “We are not opposed to racing him [during the winter] a little bit. He can go with the best horses when he’s on his game.”

MEET-HIGH HANDLE: Wagering was vigorous from start to finish on the 13-race card, as a total of $2,894,040 was bet on the program, a Fall-Meet best. … 50-cent Pick-4 action was fast and furious as the two “signature” mile-oval wagers saw total action of $170,822. … A carryover of $6,205 fueled a total pool in the 20-cent Pick-6 of $51,741, the fourth consecutive Saturday that saw a P6 carryover. Those with six winners cashed in for $1,469.58.

A LITTLE MORE: George Napolitano Jr. continued his winning ways at the meeting by scoring three times on the card. He made a big move to the lead at the half with Ruthless Hanover in the ninth race high-end conditioned pace on the way to a dominant 5¼-score in 1:48.4, pacing the night’s fastest mile until American History stopped the clock in the same time 23 minutes later. … McCarthy equaled Napolitano by visiting the winner’s circle three times. … Racing resumes Friday at 7:15 p.m.

Annual Toys for Tots Collection Drive at the Meadowlands Racetrack

 

East Rutherford, NJ - Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment is holding its Annual Toys for Tots Collection Drive through Monday, December 14^th.

All are welcome to bring in new, unwrapped toys to help boost the spirits of a child in need this holiday season.

The NYC division of the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots will personally deliver the collected toys to children at Harlem Grown -- a charitable organization in Harlem whose mission is to inspire youth to lead healthy and ambitious lives through mentorship and hands-on education in urban farming, sustainability, and nutrition. For additional information, please visitwww.HarlemGrown.org.

“This has been a tumultuous year for all of us but especially for children,” said Jason M. Settlemoir, GM/COO of Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment. “We want to be able to make a child’s Christmas and year just a little bit brighter. Donating toys can help make a child’s day a little bit brighter.”

For more information on the Toys for Tots collection drive and live racing visit PlayMeadowlands.com

 

Annual meeting of the Grand Circuit officers and stewards held Dec. 2

 December 4, 2020, by Paul Ramlow. publicity director, the Grand Circuit

 

Columbus, OH — The 2020 annual meeting of the Grand Circuit officers and stewards took place via a video conference on Wednesday (Dec. 2). Most of the Grand Circuit tracks were represented at this video conference.

John Campbell, president of the Grand Circuit, conducted the meeting and went through the events for the 2020 racing season, the financials and asking for approval of the finance report submitted by Paul Ramlow, the Grand Circuit’s treasurer.

Campbell asked for a discussion and a vote on his thoughts to have an Executive Committee formed, made up of the Grand Circuit officers and any other Grand Circuit steward that would want to be a part of this new committee. This committee would be able to make decisions regarding any situation that could come up for the Grand Circuit and would be able to be handled more efficiently. The Executive Committee idea was approved and the members of the new committee are as follows: John Campbell, Carol Cramer, Scott McKelvie, Paul Ramlow and Nick Salvi.

Discussion ensued regarding the cancellation of the 2021 USHWA Dan Patch Awards Dinner and our Grand Circuit presentations of awards to the year-end champion driver, trainer and owner. Campbell suggested those awards could be presented to the 2020 winners during a Grand Circuit night at The Meadowlands next season. A motion was presented and passed.

The 2020 Grand Circuit champions were Yannick Gingras (driver), Nancy Takter (trainer) and Burke Racing Stable (owner).

The 2021 Grand Circuit schedule of racing dates will be released in January.

NANCY TAKTER IS UNANIMOUS CHOICE OF HARNESS WRITERS AS 2020 TRAINER OF THE YEAR

 

HARRISBURG PA – Nancy Takter was voted 2020 Trainer of the Year by the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA) – and her year was so spectacular, the decision to have her receive the award did not even have to go to a vote. How? There are twelve chapters in USHWA and an At-Large gathering – and Nancy was nominated for top trainer by all 13 of these groups, meaning that the award was decided at the end of the nomination process – there literally were no other candidates brought forth by the communicators.

 With over $8 million won by her trainees, 31% victories and a UTR of .442, the horses in Nancy’s stable seemed to almost never miss in the big events. The leader of the barn was Tall Dark Stranger, a three-year-old pacing colt who was a prime candidate for Horse of the Year honors off of a year where he won 11 of 13 starts and earned $1,302,681, tops among all North American harness horses. The Meadowlands Pace, Cane Pace, North America Cup, and two Grand Circuit victories at Lexington all were taken by a horse who earned widespread praise from seasoned veterans for his fierce tenacity to hold on to the lead late when threatened with defeat.

 Nancy also trained the great trotting mare Manchego, whose 1:49.3 victory at Plainridge, a 5/8-mile track, was not only the sole sub-1:50 trot of the year, but probably the most impressive trotting mile of all. There was also Kissin In The Sand, who capped her year with seven straight wins against the top older pacing mares including her Breeders Crown … and Hambletonian Oaks champion Sorella … and Governor’s Cup winner Always A Miki … and the list could go on for several more lines.

When informed of her selection, Takter was pleased, but was quick to spread the credit around. “It’s a very big honor, and I think it’s almost more of a Stable of the Year award, really, because I am nothing without my team. They executed the work, adjusted to the COVID circumstances, and never lost their focus.

“I knew coming into the year that we had good horses coming back, which makes my job easier, but then there were all of the adjustments we had to make. It wasn’t always easy, but we never lost our sense of purpose. That was huge.”

With a solid crew beside her, Nancy Takter had the kind of year in 2020 where it was more frequently heard “He’s Nancy Takter’s father,” referring to the Hall of Famer Jimmy, five-time Trainer of the Year, rather than “She’s Jimmy Takter’s daughter.”

 

Alan Horowitz Memorial heads Cal Expo card

By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness

Trainer Robert Corbin appears to have a strong hand in Friday night’s $20,000 Alan Horowitz Memorial, as he sends out two of last week’s three elimination winners in E R Vincent and Skyway Raider.

An 11-race program is on tap Friday under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with a first post of 4:55 p.m.

Looking at the Horowitz, E R Vincent was a handy winner of his heat last week while touring the mile in 1:54 flat with Mooney Svendsen in the sulky, while Skyway Raider went two ticks faster in his tour a bit later in the evening with Phil Knox giving directions.

E R Vincent is a 6-year-old son of He’s Gorgeous who races for Corbin Stables Inc and is looking for his second snapshot from his last five trips to the post. The first of those scores came on October 10 at Hoosier Park, then he made his Cal Expo debut a winning in the first elimination for this event last week.

Stablemate Skyway Raider carries the banner of Cavalho Stables and is a 4-year-old son of Arache Hanover who is gunning for his sixth victory of the season from 18 trips to the post. He went coast-to-coast in his first-ever Cal Expo mile with Knox and looms large right back.

Cruisin For You accounted for the other elimination last week for owner Troshu Racing, trainer Ariel Alvarez and pilot Jacob Cutting. The 8-year-old set his 1:53 3/5 mark over this layout last season and has 31 trips to the charmed circle from his 189 lifetime appearances.

Completing the field are, McLegend, Wild Again, Buff’s Image, Man Of Mine, Impressive Art, Western Devil and Lukes Cowboy.

$69,912 Single 6 carryover; low takeout wagers on tap

Players have plenty to aim for Friday night with a $69,912 carryover in the 10-cemt Single 6 and three wagers that come with a reduced 16 percent takeout rate.

The lower takeout bets are the 20-cent early and late Pick 4 and the 20-cent Pick 5, all offering great value.

                                        ***

Saturday night’s Bill Conlin Final shapes up as interesting handicapping puzzle with several questions to be answered.

How good is Its Pointless? Can Cut A Rug work out another pocket journey? Will Sherwood get his revenge after being collared at 2-5 last week?

Its Pointless steamrolled over his opposition in a quartet of Sire Stakes here earlier in the year, then did the stalk and pounce to perfection for James Kennedy while capturing his elimination heat in a sparkling return last week.

Meanwhile, the other elimination saw Sherwood dispatched at 40 cents on the dollar, but he had to be happy with an exacta completion as Cut A Rug was upset minded and left hard into an eventual two-hole trip that resulted in a length score with Luke Plano doing the honors.

Something has to give Saturday night, and starter calls for the pacers.