In that photograph the tote board odds on the number one
horse, Haroun Hanover, can be seen as 1-9, and the pacer certainly has
the respect of the betting public. Besides his 16 victories, which is second
best in North America behind Tracys Song’s 19 wins, Haroun Hanover also
has five seconds and two thirds in 25 seasonal starts.
On Tuesday afternoon June 25th driver Jimmy
Marohn, Jr. had no trouble getting the pacer home first in a time
of 1:57.1.
In the contest Haroun Hanover started from the pole position
but he was looped on the first turn by Fuguzzi and driver Bruce Aldrich, Jr.
However, as soon as the field straightened in the backstretch Marohn moved his
pacer to the front and once on top they cruised to an easy three-length
triumph over Fuguzzi. Third place went Classic Camelot driven by Zeke
Parker.
“Strangely, for the past month or so it’s either been
raining or it begins to rain—like it did today—when Haroun goes to post. And he
loves it when it rains,” trainer Danny Gill said about Haroun
Hanover who has a strong penchant to be in high gear every time he’s on
the race track .
“He was and O-fer (no wins) when we got him late last year
and now he’s got 18 wins with us. I believe we’ve had a little luck with him
because we jog him and don’t tow him as others have done. We take him out very
early in the morning when no one else is around and even then he’s hard to
pull-up (stop).
“But the way he’s been racing we can put up with his
nonsense.”
