Thursday, Gural Farrell on Big Mess...p2 April 22, 2011 HTA Says Just Say No To Drugs...p3 For more information on Update, call (732) 530-6678 Heather Moffett, Beauty Queen?...p4 [email protected] The European Scene...p5 www.harnessracingupdate.com

Graduate To Vernon, Cutler To Tioga? Won The West, Qualifies, Takes Aim At Gallo By Bill Finley Blue Chip Record Two rich stakes races on the 2011 Meadowlands stakes By Bill Finley schedule appear headed to New York State and Jeff Won The West (Western Hanover) was back on the Gural-owned tracks. Working in tandem with Meadowlands track yesterday, winning a qualifier at Pocono Downs. With racing secretary Peter Koch, Tioga and Vernon Downs trainer Ron Burke in the bike, he racing officials are in the process of reaching out to owners completed the mile in 1:54 and won and trainers with horses nominated for the Graduate and by 5 ½ lengths. the A.J. Cutler Memorial seeking their permission to move “Everything went fine today and the races. Once a consensus is reached with horsemen, he’ll probably qualify again next which appears likely, the races will move to their new week and then go for the Graduate,” homes for 2011. Burke said. “We’re hoping for one The eliminations for both more big year and that we can make races are currently scheduled a real run at Gallo.” for May 7 at the Meadowlands, With career earnings of but with the current impasse $3,487,024, Won The West is within between Gural and the Mead- hailing distance of Gallo Blue Chip owlands mutuel clerks, it ap- (Magical Mike) ($4,260,959), the pears highly unlikely that the richest pacer of all time. He is cur- Ron Burke, guides Vernon Downs is set to Big M will be open for business Won The West to win host the Graduate rently fourth on the list, also trailing May 7. Mister Big (Grinfromeartoear) and in qualifier “We had to get out front with Eternal Camnation (Cam Fella), this in case they do have to move the races,” said Tioga neither of whom are active. Cont. p2 and Vernon spokesman Nick Salvi. “Considering the Meadowlands situations and with the eliminations coming up pretty fast, time has become an issue. We are doing this with the complete cooperation of Pete Koch and we are contacting people with horses in the Graduate and the Cutler and presenting this option to them. By rule, if you have nominated a horse you have to agree to the change of venue. We have made the calls and laid out what the options are in case the Meadowlands doesn't get re-opened. We just have to make sure that people who are intending to race their horses want to do this, but it is logi- cal that they would because, otherwise, the races might not be held.” The final for both races will be held May 14. The purse for the Graduate is $200,000 and the Cutler is $220,000.

Meadowlands Clerks Union Meets With New Jersey Pols By Lucas Marquardt Leaders from the union representing the Meadowlands mutuel clerks met yesterday with two notable New Jersey politicians, Senator Richard Codey and Assemblyman Richard Caputo. It is not clear what was on the agenda of the meetings. Earlier in the day, Pat Bartolotta, president of Local 137 issued a brief statement, which read: "I am continually meeting with key people involved in the process with labor and government to help keep our members working, and to do what's right for the state of New Jersey and our loyal customers." HarnessRacingUpdate.com • 4/22/11 • PAGE 2 of 7

Won the West cont. “He’s $800,000 behind him and he’s capable of putting together that kind of year. I would think it’s a very good possibility and if he stays sounds he has a good shot at it.” Burke’s other older pacing star Foiled Again (Dragon The Big M Mess: Can Anything Be Salvaged? Again) will sit out this week’s round of the Levy Series at By Mike Farrell Yonkers. With the gelding already assured a spot in the It seems the most critical labor vs. management negotia- finals and with a busy schedule on tap, Burke decided to tions always go down to the wire. go easy on him. There are many examples of negotiated agreements “He has to race in the final and then, between the Gradu- struck well in advance of the deadline. The ones that really ate and the Graduate, he’ll be going strong for four weeks matter, the ones that hit home, are usually cliffhangers. in a row after that,” Burke said. “He’s been super for every Growing up in New York City, transit strikes were a periodic race this year and he doesn’t mind having a week off. If fact of life. The entire metropolitan area was glued to televi- you do what’s best for him he’ll do what’s best for you.” sions and radios as the clock ticked down to a strike deci- Won The West was not the only big name in action sion. The news that "clock had been stopped" was always yesterday during qualifiers at Pocono. All Speed Hanover a hopeful sign of last minute progress. (Cam’s Card Shark),a Breeders Crown winner at 2, and We hung in the balance, dreading the announcement of Blacktuxwhitesocks (Credit Winner) also won Pocono a strike that would send us collectively begging and bor- qualifiers. rowing rides from strangers in their cars creeping along the avenues feeding traffic-choked Manhattan. 8 Copyright Harness Racing Update. We don't seem to be moving any faster on the Meadow- This newspaper may not be reproduced in any form or by lands front. any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior Jeff Gural and teller's union didn't make headway in their written permission of the copyright owner, MB meeting on Wednesday. If anything, positions on both Publishing Inc. Information as to the races, race results sides seem to be hardening with time running out. and earnings was obtained from results charts published New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has set May 12 as a by the United States Trotting Association and utilized drop-dead deadline. Gural needs to close deals with the here with the permission of the copyright owner. unions, or the track closes. Cont. p3 HarnessRacingUpdate.com • 4/22/11 • PAGE 3 of 7

Big Mess cont. Any hope of resuming the harness meet on May 7 has all but vanished. Now it's a matter of seeing what can be salvaged. In the depth of the transit strikes, everyone from manage- ment, the workers and the public all knew the trains and buses would resume someday. That's not necessarily the case at the Meadowlands. Horse racing is not a service or product vital to the public interest. It's a fragile business of enormous benefit to the state on so many levels. To survive, without benefit of alternative gaming, it needs all the help it can get. Or it will vanish. That's not a threat. It's simply a fact. If you have any doubts, consider the sudden demise of New York City Off-Track Betting. A corporation that han- dled just under $1 billion a year–that is B as in bil- lion–suddenly closed up shop last December. Many would argue that its demise was long overdue, after decades of disservice to it's patrons. There were others who believed the state would again come to the rescue of the bankrupt NYC-OTB. Wrong. Tired of endless effort that resisted remedy, the legisla- tors in Albany let go the rope. In an instant, it was over. About 1,000 employees lost jobs. About 50 betting parlors went dark. All gone in a heartbeat. An article in Wednesday's Wall Street Journal pointed out that many shuttered parlors and abandoned office space are tough sells in this economy. Ironically, one person trying to lineup new tenants is none other than Jeff Gural, through his Newmark Knight Frank real-estate HTA To Recommend Support of RCI Drug Initiative service firm. So now we wait, bracing for another cliffhanger down to (Press release from HTA) the wire on May 12. In many negotiations, the last and best The Executive Committee of Harness Tracks of America offers aren't on the table until the clock is poised to strike (HTA) has voted to recommend to its Board of Directors 12. that it support the recently announced call by the outgoing This deal is a little tricker. While Gural and the teller's and incoming chairmen of the Association of Racing Com- union are the main protagonists, Gov. Christie is a key missioners International (RCI) for a "five-year phase-out" of player in this drama. equine medication While Gural and the unions have a vested interest in in horse racing in making a deal, Christie does not. He has made it crystal order to bring the clear that New Jersey will exit the horse racing business as United States "in quickly as possible. And Christie doesn't care what hap- line with what is going on in other pens in the aftermath. parts of world." He too is ready to drop the rope. The Executive Committee of HTA agreed that such a proposal is worthy of further discussion within both the Standardbred and Thoroughbred industries in an effort to better serve the health and welfare of the equine athlete, maintain and improve the integrity and image of both sports, and to boost the long-term interests of the overall racing industry. These goals would benefit all industry stakeholders, from breeders and owners, to racing associ- ations and the betting public.

Follow Harness Racing Update on Facebook at Cont. p4 www.harnessracingupdate.com/facebook Missed an Edition of the HRU? Check out our archive at www.harnessracingupdate.com HarnessRacingUpdate.com • 4/22/11 • PAGE 4 of 7

HTA cont. Heather Moffett, candidate for Mrs. Delaware HTA President Paul Fontaine of Plainridge Racecourse U.S. 2011 stated that, "Outgoing RCI Chairman Dan Hartman and By Marv Bachrad incoming Chairman Willie Koester say they want their Heather Moffett, the award-winning host of the harness organization to lead the way into a bright new future for horse racing. HTA's Executive Committee feels it's an racing shows Post Time and effort worthy of serious discussion, and as such, we will PA Harness Week, will be further refine our discussion and bring to our Board of competing for the title of Mrs. Directors the idea of throwing our support behind it in any Delaware United States 2011 way we can." on June 12. The pageant takes In remarks made at the March 28 RCI Annual Meeting place at The Schwartz Center held in New Orleans, Hartman noted that a five-year plan in Dover, Delaware. would give industry stakeholders time to make the neces- “As an on-air personality, I sary practical and regulatory adjustments to effect the have been able to reach thou- change. New RCI Chairman Willie Koester of the Ohio sands of people,” explained State Racing Commission agreed with Hartman's proposal. Moffett, who won the People’s The HTA Executive Committee acknowledges it will Choice Award and Best Inter- require a substantial effort from all facets of the industry, view in last year’s pageant. building on the work already in place by the Racing Medi- “Not only do I get a chance to cation and Testing Consortium (RMTC) to form a consen- promote Standardbred racing, sus on policies and improve drug testing practices. "Hope- but I can also share my goals in fully this will act as the start of a real dialogue on tackling community service. I am al- this issue," Fontaine added. ways looking for new ways to Heather Moffett share my message and get others interested in volunteering. I’ve discovered that pag- eantry is a perfect fit for me.” Follow Harness Racing Update on Twitter at www.harnessracingupdate.com/twitter Cont. p5 HarnessRacingUpdate.com • 4/22/11 • PAGE 5 of 7

Moffett Cont. Trot is Hot this Easter During the past year, Moffett has raised thousands of There is a lot of action for European trotting fans these dollars and helped find homes for retired Standardbreds in days. At the half-mile track, Klosterskogen in Norway, the Horse Lovers United program. She’s also put together racing takes place Friday and Saturday. an Alex’s Lemonade Stand/Locks Of Love event, partici- On Saturday afternoon some very talented 4-year-old pated in a food drive for the SPCA, and collected enough trotters will meet in Habib Memorial with a purse for the money as the 2010 Mrs. Delaware United States People’s winner of $37,500. The race is named after the Interna- Choice winner to send seven children with autism to a tional Trot-winner of 1986. special summer camp program. Muscles Wiking BR, who is the best in the Norwegian Moffett plans to further her goal by recruiting more peo- crop of 2007, is the likely favorite, despite drawing post ple to the importance of community service by working with position 11 in the second tier. Volunteer Delaware and promoting her platform - Volun- Though Norwegian-bred, Muscles Wiking BR has an All- teer: You’re Always a Winner When You Put Others First! American pedigree being sired by Muscles Yankee and out “Taking home the Mrs. Delaware United States title of Sappho Blue Chip, who is by Credit Winner. would be an exciting outcome for me and my community,” Some purebred US-trotters are in the field too – said the Harrington, Delaware resident. “But it would also Glideable Volo (by Yankee Glide), Dressedforsuccess be a boost for a truly American family sport - Standardbred (by Yankee Glide) and Thierry (by Cantab Hall). racing. I’ve been a voice for harness racing my entire life. In some of the best 3-year old trotters will meet at Now, through pageantry, I am finding a new and wonderful the Agnano track in Naples Friday in the $65,000 Premio way to expose my love for the sport to potential fans.” Maschio Angioino over the mile. One of the favorites is Moffett is reaching out to those in racing who would like Olmer Breed (by Conway Hall), who has won his last two to help her achieve her goal through sponsorships and races. advertisements in the pageant program. You can contact The richest race during Easter time in is the Gran her at [email protected]. Premio d’Europa at San Siro, Milan on Monday afternoon. The total purse is $440,000. Though the race is open to European trotters, it’s only the local heroes, who goes to post. The race seems to be a match between Norton Ans (by Cantab Hall) who recently won in a very impressive style in 1.55.3h and last year’s winner of the Gran Premio, Orsi Mangelli, the filly Nesta Effe (by Naglo). No less than 15 trotters are entered and therefore, from Lisa goes to Paris post position 15, Naxos del Ronco will race from the third tier. Lisa America, who’s owned by Hall of Famer Lou Guida, is one of the favorites in the prestigious Prix de l’Atlantique Wishing Stone in Saturday afternoon at Enghien – a 1300 meter – or 13/16 The reason why Gran Premio d’Europa is just an Italian mile track - in the outskirts of Paris, . Thirteen trot- affair is, that three days later eliminations to the prestigious ters are in the line-up behind the gate. The distance is 1 ¼ King and Queen Trophy races at Aby in Sweden will take miles and the total purse is $290, 000, with half going to place. the winner. Kentucky Futurity winner Wishing Stone (Conway Hall) Lisa America took an easy victory in the Grand Prix de will have his fourth European start in the first elimination on Costa Azurra a month after a three-month rest. Thursday and must be odds-on favorite though he will race Her trainer Jerry Riordan says: “Lisa America has been from post position 11 in the second tier. And for the fourth working well, but she’s not at her best yet. We have got a time, Wishing Stone will have a new driver. Jean Michel good draw in Paris – post position 2 – but I don’t think that Bazire, the leading French driver, will be in the bike. Bazire Torbjörn Jansson in the bike will go for lead. The stretch at was supposed to drive Wishing Stone earlier, but unfortu- Enghien is very long, so I think it pays to take her easy nately broke a leg in early February and first returned to from the start and then try to come from behind. This will action last week. be her last race before we’ll ship her to Scandinavia.” From the other eliminations it should be noted that Lisa America will race in the Oslo Grand Prix, which she US-bred Formula One (Yankee Glide), driven by Erik won last year, then in Elitlopp in Stockholm and on to Adielsson, and Hard Livin (SJ’s Caviar) driven by Daniel Kouvola in .” Réden are in with good chances in their respective races. It’s a high quality field that Lisa America will meet at Hard Livin will make his European debut this Friday after- Enghien. noon at Eskilstuna in Sweden. He has a mark of 1.55 and The likely favorite will be the French trotter Quaker Jet, earnings of $539,448. In the USA Hard Livin was cam- who won the Grand Criterium de Vitesse in mid-March at paigned by Jimmy Takter. Cagnes, and other notable trotters in the field are the Each elimination has a purse of $13,000 to the winner, winner of the Prix d’Amerique 2010, Oyonnax, and the while the total purse in the finals on May the 12th will be no European Derby winner, Main Wise As. less than $300,000. HarnessRacingUpdate.com • 4/22/11 • PAGE 6 of 7

Thursday’s Results: Please explain why the teller’s union is pivotal as their 9, Chst, $35,000, Pace, Fillies & Mares Open Handicap contract expires this year? Mr. Gural and partners could Post Positions Assigned, 27.2, 56.4, 1:24.4, 1:52.1, FT hire new tellers, train them and not have this problem of a 1-Anndrovette (m, 4, Riverboat King--Easy Miss, by Big union or its leadership who seem to have other interests as Towner). O-Jeffrey P Bamond & Joseph Davino & Mark their position seems contrary to the interests of the mem- J Kesmodel. B-Golden Touch Stable. T-Mark Kesmodel. bership. D-Tim Tetrick, $17,500, Lifetime Record: 28-13-1-4, –Max Wernick $636,760 2-Higher And Higher (m, 4, Western Terror--Pro Bowl Best, by Cambest) O-Daryl Scott Bier & Glenn F Del Russo & Charles A Dombeck. B-Perfect World Enterprises. T-Daryl Bier. D-Daryl Bier, $8,750 3-Rock N Soul (m, 4, Rocknroll Hanover--Artchitecture, by Artsplace), $32,000 2008 LEX-SEL. O-Burke Racing Stable LLC & Weaver Bruscemi LLC & Frank D Baldachino & Howard A Taylor. B-Perretti Farms. T-Ron Swedish Winners By North American Sires Burke. D-Yannick Gingras, $4,200 4-16 Aby, Gothenburg, Sweden – 5/8 mile track. 4-year Calls: 6Q, 5H, 2H, 1T, NS old trot - 1 5/16 mile - $33.000 Finish Order: Perfect M Forever, Lightning Treasure, Sum- Formula One (h,4 Yankee Glide – Ferrari Of by Credit mer Snow Winner) $165.000 LEX 2008, O-Onkel Invest OY, Finland, Exiting the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series at Yonkers for B-Kenneth A. Jackson, Lexington, D-Erik Adielsson, T-Stig yesterday’s $35,000 Fillies & Mares Open at Chester, H. Johanssson. 1.59.2f (mile rate) - $16.000. Lifetime Anndrovette was placed first through disqualification after record: 12: 10-1-0, 1.57.2f - $203.700 missing by just a nose to Higher And Higher. The stewards ruled that Higher And Higher interfered with Anndrovette in 4-16 Aby, Gothenburg, Sweden – 5/8 mile track. V75- deep stretch. Rock N Soul, the 9-5 favorite, cut out the early fractions but had nothing left when the field came to Klass II-final 1 5/16 mile - $65.700 her at the top of the stretch. Higher And Higher made a Octopus (h, 4 Yankee Glide – Decapode by Cumin) first-over move and was followed by Anndrovette, who $55.000 Elitauktionen 2008. O-W&W Import Holz, GMBH, failed to get by her after a sustained drive. For , B-Menhammar Stuteri, D-Erik Adielsson, T-Stig Anndrovette, it was her 13th career victory from 28 starts. H. Johansson. 1.59.1f (mile rate) - $32.000. Lifetime re- Tim Tetrick was the winning driver. He had four winners on cord: 9: 4-3-1, 1.59.1f, $75.750 the card. 4-16 Aby, Gothenburg, Sweden – 5/8 mile track. V75 – 6, Chst, $25,000, Pace, Fillies & Mares NW $25,000 in Klass 1 final – 1 /5 16 mile - $65.700 Last 5 Starts, 26.4, 56.3, 1:24.0, 1:52.2, FT Campbell As (h, 4 Malabar Man – Final As by Mr Vic) Native Doll (m, 4, Allamerican Native--Debras Charm, Private sale. O-Stall Paris KY HB, B- Ann Christin Lorentzen & J.E. Magnusson, D- Erik Adielsson, T- Svante by Walton Hanover), $17,000 2008 SHS-HBG Baath. 1.59.3f (mile rate) - $ 32.000. Lifetime record: 21: O-David Rovine & Joel Benson & Minisink Farms LLC & 3-4-2 - 1.59.1f, $108.415, John A Fodera. B-Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. T-Tony Alagna. D-Jim Pantaleano, $12,500, Lifetime Record: 42-9-7-7, $331,727 HARNESS RACING UPDATE IS: Mike Farrell, co-publisher 10, Chst, $21,000, Trot, NW $18,000 in Last 5 Starts 4 Yr. Bill Finley, co-publisher Olds & Older Last Starts for a purse of greater than Emily Gaskin, writer/reporter $25,000 ineligible AE: NW 9 Ext. PM Races or $80,000 Andrew Cohen, columnist Lifetime, 28.0, 57.1, 1:25.0, 1:54.0, FT Robert Williams, IT Bastille (g, 5, Revenue S--Another Spice, by Cumin) Lia Kusch, Graphic Design O/B-Ronald F Knigge. T-Ashley Knigge. D-Yannick Visit us on the web at www.harnessracingupdate.com. Gingras, $10,500, Lifetime Record: 40-7-10-5, $102,841 HarnessRacingUpdate.com • 4/22/11 • PAGE 7 of 7

Hoosier Report cont. Wednesday’s Late Result: 12, HoP, $25,000, Pace, IS 30 "THE JERRY LANDESS" (FINAL), 27.2, 57.1, 1:27.1, 1:57.0, FT Action Jackson (g, 4, Kentucky Spur--Molly's Filly, by Thursday’s Results: Bruce Gimble) 8, HoP, $25,000, Pace, IS 31 "THE MISS WINDFALL" O/B-Green Acres LLC. T-Gregory Kain. D-Sam Widger, (FINAL), 29.0, 59.0, 1:28.4, 1:57.2, FT $12,500, Lifetime Record: 7-3-1-0, $24,985 Straitstraitstrait (f, 3, Third Straight--Roseisaroseisarose, by Matt's Scooter), $32,000 2009 HOOSIER O-Shirley L Otto. B-Alvin L B Schwartz. T-Ron Otto. D-Peter Wrenn, $12,500, Lifetime Record: 5-2-2-0, $23,250

4, HoP, $13,750, Trot, MINI SERIES 14 (NW 1 PM RACE OR $5000 LIFE) (IS) (FINAL), 28.1, 59.0, 1:30.1, 2:01.1, Wednesday’s Late Result: FT 10, Mea, $22,500, Trot, **PREFERRED**, 28.1, 57.4, Please Us Abc (m, 4, Abc Garland--Please Us All, by 1:26.3, 1:55.4, FT Cakes And Ale) Sing Jesse Sing (h, 4, Jailhouse Jesse--Hollybrook O-Robert W Wagler & Robert E Day. B-Dewayne Wagler. Lane, by Lindy Lane), $4,000 2008 OH-SEL T-Robert Wagler. D-Mark O'Mara, $6,875, Lifetime Re- O-Burke Racing Stable LLC & Slaughter Racing Stb LLC & cord: 34-1-4-8, $16,555 Weaver Bruscemi LLC & Frank D Baldachino. B-Harry & 6, HoP, $12,500, Pace, MINI SERIES 12 (CLAIMING Iris T Horowitz. T-Ron Burke. D-Dave Palone, $11,250, $6000) (FM) (IS) (FINAL), 27.2, 57.2, 1:26.0, 1:55.0, FT Lifetime Record: 25-11-8-1, $372,498 I Don't Rember (m, 5, Carlsbad Cam--Sentational Sherry, by Dirk Almahurst) O-Jeffrey G James. B-Harold E Fravel. T-Charles Stewart. Want to Subscribe for FREE? Visit www.harnessracingupdate.com/websignup.cfm and D-Ricky Macomber Jr, $6,250, Lifetime Record: fill out the free subscription form. 63-17-5-12, $78,192

9, HoP, $12,500, Pace, MINI SERIES 10 (CLAIMING $6000) (IS) (FINAL), 28.0, 58.4, 1:26.3, 1:55.0, FT Tune in to the Bob Heyden Report for the best in Call Me Surely (g, 6, Dontgetinmyway--Its All The Rave, harness racing talk, every Saturday at 10:15 a.m. by Rustler Hanover) Eastern on the Eclipse Award-winning O-Tracy L Wilfong. B-Big Hat Stable LLC. T-Andy Shetler. horse racing radio program D-Jason Dillander, $6,250, Lifetime Record: 86-21-11-6, DOWN THE STRETCH $88,615 every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern SIRIUS Channel 126 & XM Channel 243 1, HoP, $11,250, Pace, MINI SERIES 11 (NW 1 PM RACE OR $5000 LIFE TO BE CLAIMED FOR $7500) (IS) Hosted by Dave Johnson and Bill Finley (FINAL), 28.3, 59.0, 1:29.2, 1:58.3, FT Call in with your questions to 866-900-6451 Wanna Race (c, 3, All I Ask--Carrie Farr, by Falcon Seelster) O-Ned L Simmons. B-Glen J Miller. T-Charles Stewart. For SIRIUS/XM radio go to www.siriusxm.com D-Peter Wrenn, $5,625, Lifetime Record: 10-1-0-0, $7,710