Strong Bow isn’t a world class trotter although the veteran
11 year old gelding has amassed over $295,000 in his career. Now in his 10th
season of racing the altered son of Striking Sahbra has won a race in
each of those years and was once an open trotter at the Mighty M.
Now he has been relegated to the claiming ranks
and has been racing with a tag for the past four years with much success for
his current owners Manny and Mary Fajardo and Helen Licitra of Garden City, NY
Yesterday (Sept. 9), despite starting from the seven-hole
the front running trotter again sailed to victory in a time of 2:01 to score
his 11th triumph of the season and the 56th
of his career. His fastest win this year was in 2:00 just three weeks
ago.
Jimmy Taggart, Jr. again handled the driving chores and has
been the horse’s pilot for the past three years.
To go along with his 11 wins In 28 seasonal starts Strong
Bow also has recorded eight seconds and four thirds and is on
his way to being cited again as a claiming trotter of the year here, which will
make his third consecutive season with that accolade.
Oddly, or perhaps not, Strong Bow isn’t from a top barn here
at the Mighty M. His hard working and dedicated trainer Terry Beck only handles
a few horses.
“With only a couple of horses I can give them special
attention and he (Strong Bow) needs work to keep him going,” said
the 63 year old trainer who never has been a driver.
“I’ve been around the horses most of my life and I love
every minute with them. And I’m proud of the way Strong Bow has raced for us.
Why he’s made almost $95,000 over the past three seasons and that’s saying a
lot here at Monticello. We don’t race for world class purses, ya’ know.”
Beck also trains a pacer by the name of Badlands and Art who
is owned by Beck’s wife Sharon. A former classy pacer who has amassed over
$310,000 in his career Badlands And Art now competes with a $4000
tag. And still, with over $10,000 on his card with five wins, the fastest
in 1:56.4, he too has been fairly successful for Beck.
“I love having an older horse, trotter or pacer, who had
class when they were young, because with constant attention and care they can
be useful, especially for small time guys like me,” Beck added.
