MANALAPAN,
NJ – January 2, 2014 – On a frigid winter’s day, 80-year-old harness driver
James R. Porter drove the winner of the third race at Freehold Raceway on
Thursday, January 2, 2014 with a horse owned by 80-year-old Eugene Landy.
It
was the first career win for five-year-old Buenos Aires Lady, who paid $17 to
win. The trotting mare covered the mile in 2:03.3 with Porter at the
lines, prevailing by a head in a three-way photo.
Porter,
who turned 80 on November 12, opted to drive the mare himself because he never
had problems with her breaking stride during training sessions. In their
first start together, they finished second. Thursday’s victory was their
second outing together.
Porter,
who hails from Smyrna, DE, has 2,134 career driving victories but this was his
first since 2011 and only the fourth time he has taken the lines in the past
two years.
"I
just have to keep talking to her the whole mile," Porter said.
"If she doesn't know I'm back there, she gets nervous and runs."
Back
in the winner’s circle at Freehold to celebrate the victory was Eugene Landy of
Freehold, NJ who turned 80 on November 6.
Buenos
Aires Lady, who is by Revenue and out of Fandango Hall, was born at the Landy
family’s Congress Hill Farm in Monroe Township, NJ.
--Submitted
by Carol Hodes for SBOANJ
