March race calendar page 12 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019

©2019 HORSEMAN PUBLISHING CO., LEXINGTON, KY USA • FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION CALL (859) 276-4026 Gingras Off To Fantastic Start In 2019 It may be the cold of winter but driver Yannick Gingras has been as hot as the Fourth of July the past few weeks, espe- cially at the Meadowlands. After just seven wins over the first six nights of racing in 2019 at the Big M, Gingras has been on fire the last eight race cards, posting 35 victories. Entering this weekend’s pair of programs, Gingras’ 42 vic- tories in 152 drives (27.6 percent) easily leads the dash-win- ning standings, 17 more than runner-up Dexter Dunn. “I’ve had a couple of really good winters at the Meadow- lands where things worked out, but there is no doubt this is a great run,” said Gingras, who also leads all drivers in purse earnings with $322,877. Of Gingras’ last 35 wins, 23 have come with horses trained by Ron Burke. Gingras said teaming up with horses condi- tioned by the 2018 Trainer of the Year has obviously been key. “We had a lot “It’s a lot of horses in the right of horses that class,” stated Gingras, who captured fit two classes his third Driver of the Year title in below what 2018. “Ronnie has a lot of new they should.” horses and we started out the year –Yannick Gingras with a lot of them fitting cheap. So it’s worked out that way. It’s more about classification than anything else. We had a lot of horses that fit two classes below what they should.” The first weekend of February saw Gingras win 13 races at the Meadowlands, while weekend two saw him win 10 races. His win total dropped last weekend to 10, but Gingras WHAT’S INSIDE . . . is optimistic for the upcoming Friday and Saturday cards. Atlanta’s owners buy out Zeron—pg. 2 “This last weekend wasn’t quite as strong but a lot of New faces in Meadowlands Preferreds—pg. 3 horses will go back down in class again,” said Gingras. “I Dan Patch awards to be streamed live—pg. 4 think it will keep going a little bit longer because I’ve quali- fied a couple horses.” Pride Ofthe Family looking for a win—pg. 6 Twenty-seven of Gingras’ 42 wins have come with horses Johansson training Manchego—pg. 6 sent off at odds of 2-1 or lower. His biggest return came on NJ Governor signs appropriation—pg. 7 Feb. 15 when he won with 14-1 ($31) Julerca for trainer Breeding Banter—pg. 10 Sean Smithpeters. In addition to his weekend duties at the Meadowlands, last year—the ninth year in a row he won more than $11 mil- Gingras is also driving at Yonkers on Monday and Thursday lion—he admitted he wasn’t happy with his lesser workload. nights. In 105 starts at Yonkers he has 16 wins, with seven “I raced so little early last year and at the end of the year coming for trainer Rene Allard. when I looked at my amount of starts, I thought it was way “It’s going good over there too,” said Gingras, whose too low for my age and where I’m at,” said Gingras, who is 7,000th career win came at Yonkers on Jan. 7 with Prologue. nearing $170 million in career earnings at just age 39. “So “I’m driving a little bit for Rene and picking up some for I’m trying to be a little more active than the last few years other people.” as I really took it easy during the winter. I think I needed to After having more than 2,000 drives every year since 2003, get back in the game a little bit. I’ll just try to push a little bit Gingras’ mounts dropped to 1,989 in 2017 and then to 1,705 more and try to be a little more committed to the in 2018. Although Gingras had purse earnings of $11.7 million overnights.”—By Gordon Waterstone HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 2 of 12 February 22, 2019 www.harnessracing.com

FREE THIS WEEKEND’S Program Leading Meadowlands Drivers 1/1-2/12/19 Pages FEATURED RACES Driver Starts 1st 2nd 3rd UDRS Purses All times listed are local. 1. Yannick Gingras 152 42 19 13 .374 $332,877 Friday, February 22 2. Dexter Dunn 154 25 23 17 .282 256,025 7:40p M2 Preferred Trot Trackmaster PPs 3. Andy Miller 150 22 18 16 .249 228,906 8:30p YR6 F&M Open Pace Trackmaster PPs 4. Corey Callahan 149 16 27 21 .255 225,067 9:05p MVR10 Beissinger Mem. Trot final Trackmaster PPs 5. Eric Carlson 102 14 15 14 .265 176,369 Click here to download all Friday PPs Saturday, February 23 Atlanta’s Owners Buy Out Zeron; 8:30p YR6 Open Trot Trackmaster PPs 8:45p MVR9 Dailey Mem. Pace final Trackmaster PPs Burke To Train Mare In ’19 9:05p MVR10 Open Pace Trackmaster PPs “We’re happy with the results. We’re excited. A lot of peo- 9:10p YR8 Open Pace Trackmaster PPs ple think she is a great mare and we believe she is as well.” 9:45p M8 Preferred Pace Trackmaster PPs That’s what Brad Grant told harnessracing.com last Friday Click here to download all Saturday PPs afternoon (Feb. 15) about two hours after he and partners Crawford Farms and Howard Taylor were able retain owner- Visit www.trackmaster.com ship of the 2018 Hambletonian champion Atlanta, who had and subscribe to download been placed up for auction on ongait.com to settle a dispute full cards from your favorite tracks! with partner Rick Zeron, who also trained the trotter. In a quest to buy out Zeron, who owned five percent of At- lanta, the 4-year-old mare was put on the auction block on Tuesday night on ongait.com, with a closing deadline of 1 p.m. on Friday. The opening bid was set at $500,000, but then moved to $1 million. On Friday the bid had jumped to $1.5 mil- lion, and when the auction closed the final bid of $1.55 million went to Michelle Crawford of Crawford Farms. Rene Allard posted on his Facebook account that he was the underbidder. The $1.55 million final bid made Atlanta the most expen- sive ever sold at public auction. That topped the previous mark set by Cameron Hall. Erkki Laakkonen paid $1.1 million for Cameron Hall at the 2001 Tattersalls De- cember Mixed Sale. He had owned her in partnership with Walnut Hall Ltd. of Lexington before the auction. HarnessRacing Weekend Preview In early January, Zeron was suspended six months and fined Kathy Parker Heather Kemper $10,000 for violations as a result of a barn search last summer. [email protected] [email protected] Unmarked medication bottles and counterfeit labels were al- Editor/ General Manager Production Manager legedly discovered, according to the ruling issued by the Alco- Lynne Myers Hannah Reynolds hol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). Zeron was [email protected] [email protected] Advertising Manager Editorial Production also cited for two shock-wave violations as well as alleged Gordon Waterstone Vanessa Flannery bribery of a licensed person. He has appealed the sanctions. [email protected] [email protected] In the weeks after the AGCO ruling, attempts by Crawford Associate Editor Accounting & Circulation Farms, Holland Racing Stable, Taylor and Grant to buy out For mail sent via U.S. Postal Service, either P.O. Box 8480, Lexington, KY 40533, Zeron’s five percent were turned down. While the 95-percenters or 1910 Harrodsburg Rd., Suite 200, Lexington, KY 40503. (859) 276-4026 offered Zeron $50,000, he wanted $200,000, according to © Copyright Horseman Publishing Company. Grant. With the deadline for stakes payments rapidly approach- A product of Horseman Publishing Company, publishers of the website ing, the decision was made to sell Atlanta on ongait.com. Since www.harnessracing.com and The Horseman And Fair World magazine. the ongait.com sale, Holland Racing Stable has opted out of This newspaper may not be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior written permission. the partnership. Ron Burke will be training Atlanta. ”Not often do you pick up a true champion thanks,” posted To sign up for the Weekend Preview please visit Burke, the 2018 Trainer of the Year, on his Twitter account.— www.harnessracing.com/members_sign_up.php By Gordon Waterstone HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 3 of 12 February 22, 2019 www.harnessracing.com New Faces In This Weekend’s in his first appearance, and with the step up in class he’ll Meadowlands Preferreds be starting from the rail. To his right is another 5 year old, Boogie Shuffle. He’ll be making his first start of the sea- The Meadowlands has two Preferred-class races carded son after a strong 1:52.3 qualifying win at the Meadow- this weekend, with trotters following their traditional Friday lands on Feb. 15. appearance and pacers on Saturday. And both races feature Both Funknwaffles and Boogie Shuffle are coming back new match-ups. from long layoffs that began last summer. In Friday’s $21,000 Preferred Trot (Race 2), the three-for- Two of the contenders in the Preferred have been rac- three Trolley was assigned the outside post in the six-horse ing regularly at Yonkers this winter—the Nick Surick- field. Right to his inside will be the 1:50.4 trotter Sutton, trained The Wall and the Amber Buter-conditioned who tuned up for his first start since last July with a 1:53.2 Stormont Czar A. score in a Feb. 15 qualifier. The defending champ in the Preferred, K Ryan Bluechip, Also in the field is the Ron Burke-trained Resita, who has will start from post 9. The Virgil Morgan Jr. trainee won this won three straight conditioned-class races at the Meadow- event the previous week in 1:50.4, albeit from post 2. lands this winter, with his victory on Feb. 15 clocked in Earlier in the night (Race 7), Shamballa will be trying to 1:53.1, a new lifetime best for the 5-year-old son of Manof- find the magic he found at the Meadowlands back on manymissions. Hambletonian Day 2016, when he won the U.S. Pacing The Preferred Pace is carded as Race 8 on Saturday night Championship in 1:47.1. Shamballa fits the non-winners and race secretary Peter Koch has a field of nine, with most of $15,000 in the last six starts class, which is compara- newcomers to this class. ble to where he had been racing at Woodbine Mohawk The 5-year-old Funknwaffles will make his second start last November and December, when he picked up two at the Meadowlands this season after a fifth-place finish seconds.—By Kathy Parker HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 4 of 12 February 22, 2019 www.harnessracing.com Dan Patch Awards To Be Streamed Live Rosen Shingle Creek Photo The name of the 2018 Horse of the Year will be announced Sunday night, Feb. 24, at the annual U.S. Harness Writers Association’s (USHWA) Dan Patch Awards dinner at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Fla. But even if you aren’t among the attendees, you will be able to watch the announcement live via USHWA’s Facebook page. After a cocktail hour and open bar sponsored by McWicked, the awards ceremony gets underway at 7 p.m. and will be avail- able via the Facebook page, sponsored by Crawford Farms and Heather Vitale’s Facebook page can be found here. Heather Crazy Wow. At approximately 10 p.m., emcees Roger Huston Wilder’s Facebook page can be found here. and Jason Settlemoir will announce the winner of the E. Roland As part of the evening, a silent auction will be held, with Harriman Horse of the Year trophy, which follows the revealing more than 30 unique items available. The list includes a pair of the names of the Pacer of the Year and Trotter of the Year. of tickets to a New York Yankees game and a pair of auto- To access USHWA’s Facebook page, please click here. The graphed baseballs, including one from retired pitcher Mari- entire video will also be available on the U.S. Trotting Asso- ano Rivera, recently inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame as ciation’s YouTube page Monday, Feb. 25, by clicking here. its first-ever unanimous selection. Also available are great Post time for the evening is 6 p.m., with a one-hour Red racing and vacation packages, superb artwork, special col- Carpet cocktail reception sponsored by the Southwind Frank lectables and private handicapping lessons. Partners. Also starring on the Red Carpet will be Heather Vi- Some of the items available include: tale and Heather Wilder, with the two Heathers broadcast- • Rosen Shingle Creek Pace ing live on their individual Facebook pages. It’s your • 2019 Preakness Package guarantee to see who’s wearing what and what the atten- • 2019 Gold Cup & Saucer Package dees have to say about the festivities. • New York Yankees tickets Continues on page 5 ›››› CONGRATULATIONS

to all of the Dan Patch Award Winners From

DOUG & BETH YONTZ Located in central Kentucky Anvil And Lace Farm 168 Grays Run Pike, Cynthiana, KY 41031 is an intimate boarding, sales prep and turnout (859) 509-7322 • www.anvilandlacefarm.com facility, specializing in individual quality care. HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 5 of 12 February 22, 2019 www.harnessracing.com • Yankees signed baseballs—Mariano Rivera, Dillon Betances LINDA TOSCANO ...... Hall of Fame • Cam Fella print TED WING ...... Hall of Fame • Foiled Again collection MARK HALL ...... Communicators Hall of Fame • Somebeachsomewhere print and program DAVE LITTLE ...... Communicators Hall of Fame FOILED AGAIN ...... Bergstein Proximity Award Dan Patch Award Winners AARON MERRIMAN ...... Driver/Dash-Winning Driver GIMPANZEE ...... 2-Year-Old Male Trotter RON BURKE ...... Trainer of the Year WOODSIDE CHARM ...... 2-Year-Old Filly Trotter BURKE RACING/WEAVER BRUSCEMI LLC . .Owner of the Year CAPTAIN CRUNCH ...... 2-Year-Old Male Pacer MARCUS MELANDER ...... Rising Star Award WARRAWEE UBEAUT ...... 2-Year-Old Filly Pacer RAY COTOLO ...... Breakthrough Award SIX PACK ...... 3-Year-Old Colt Trotter MICHELLE CRAWFORD ...... Good Guy Award ATLANTA ...... 3-Year-Old Filly Trotter JOHN POLVINALE ...... President’s Award DORSODURO HANOVER ...... 3-Year-Old Male Pacer ORDER BY STABLE ...... Breeder of the Year KISSIN IN THE SAND ...... 3-Year-Old Filly Pacer CHRIS GOODEN ...... Unsung Hero HOMICIDE HUNTER ...... Older Male Trotter SHEILA NAPIER ...... Caretaker of the Year ARIANA G ...... Older Mare Trotter SOUTHWIND SERENEA ...... Trotting Broodmare MCWICKED ...... Older Male Pacer LADY ASHLEE ANN ...... Pacing Broodmare SHARTIN N ...... Older Mare Pacer HEATHER VITALE ...... USHWAn of the Year TBA ...... Pacer of the Year BRAD GRANT ...... Humanitarian Award TBA ...... Trotter of the Year DAVE BRIGGS ...... Hervey Writing Award TBA ...... Horse of the Year BOB HEYDEN ...... Hervey Writing Award Other Award Winners: CHRIS GOODEN ...... Smallsreed Photography Award BLAIR BURGESS ...... Hall of Fame MICHAEL BURNS ...... Smallsreed Photography Award TED GEWERTZ ...... Hall of Fame WOODBINE ENT. GROUP ...... McKee Broadcast Award JOE HOLLOWAY ...... Hall of Fame MARLYS PINSKE ...... HHYF Service To Youth Award JERRY SILVERMAN ...... Hall of Fame FASHION FARM/RON BURKE/TIM TETRICK . . . . .Grand Circuit Congratulations to all the Dan Patch champions, both human and equine!

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To subscribe call toll free 1-800-860-8199 or subscribe online at www.harnessracing.com HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 6 of 12 February 22, 2019 www.harnessracing.com Despite Inside Posts, Pride Ofthe Family Manchego In Training With Still Looking For First Win Johansson For 2019 Campaign The 5-year-old gelding pacer Pride Ofthe Family has made Contrary to plans made late last fall, the trotter just 15 starts over his career, and has just a second and a Manchego, winner of the 2018 , is in third and $2,807 to show for it. What’s frustrating for Paul training for a 4-year-old racing campaign. Jessop, who trains the homebred son of Artiscape for Larry Trained at ages two and three by , Manchego Auerbach, is that Pride Ofthe Family has been unable of tak- made the last start of her 3-year-old season in the Breeders ing advantage of inside post positions. Crown, finishing seventh after racing parked the mile. Her Pride Ofthe Family’s 15 starts have all come at Freehold owners at the time, Barry Guariglia’s Black Horse Racing, Raceway and all in the same condition: non-winners of Herb Liverman and John Fielding, intended to breed her, $1,000 last five starts. According to Jessop, maidens are as- but then Black Horse bought out Liverman and Fielding. signed the inside post, which is why Pride Ofthe Family Guariglia made plans to breed Manchego, a daughter of started from post 1 nine consecutive times from last Dec. 1 Muscle Hill out of a Cantab Hall mare, to Walner. through Feb. 9. The streak was broken last week when an- “That was my intention, but then after she came back in other maiden snuck into the one hole, after being turned out, Jimmy looked at her and she had “He can’t race leaving Pride Ofthe Family stuck “out- grown taller and wider, so we decided to go another year,” his own kind side” in post 2. With regular driver Pat shared Guariglia. “So far, so good. If we could get her (maiden) so Berry, Pride Ofthe Family finished fifth over $2 million, that would be great.” he’s racing in his latest outing. Manchego owns a mark of 1:50 and has money-win- professional “It’s a shame because the horse is nings of $1,537,942. horses.” alright, but he has no shot,” said the “Jimmy did the staking; he’s the manager, I guess you –Paul Jessop native Australian Jessop. “He can’t could say, while Nancy (Johansson) is training her,” added race his own kind (maiden) so he’s Guariglia. “She’s pretty much staked to all the big races, racing professional horses. Pat said the other day he was a but we don’t want a ton of starts. We just want her to be little better, but he’s just getting swallowed up.” at her best when she races.”—By Kathy Parker Jessop said Pride Ofthe Family’s long gait is why the pacer has had just a limited career. After making just three starts as a 2 year old in 2017 and seven starts last year, Pride the farm and he’s alright, but I don’t think he’s ever going to Ofthe Family will be making his seventh start of 2019 on be alright in that classification.” Saturday at Freehold. And he’ll be starting from post 1. Although Pride Ofthe Family has been sent off at single- “Because he’s a really big horse I was just trying to give digit odds three times in his career, Jessop said the horse him time,” Jessop explained about Pride Ofthe Family’s ab- should be doing better. breviated career. “I’m a Down Under man and time helps. “Pat said if a horse pulls on him he won’t let him go by,” “The thing is, he has a huge gait on him and I’m always said Jessop. “He’s a tough horse. He just has no desire, but waiting on him to wake up. I can wake up him especially at he could have.”—By Gordon Waterstone

Place your order now for THE HORSEMAN’s BREEDERS BOOK STALLION DIRECTORY Single copies (including postage & handling) are available U.S. $30.00 • Canada $45.00 • Foreign $50.00 Or subscribe today! 1 YEAR TION: SUBSCRIP Click here to $58.00 (U.S.) - Includes the Breeders Book order now! Stallion Directory U.S. FUNDS ONLY HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 7 of 12 February 22, 2019 www.harnessracing.com NJ Gov. Signs Appropriation; Planning Begins For Using Funds Winter Winning Winter reminded folks in the Saratoga Springs, N.Y., area The Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of that it had not yet left, with horses racing through the New Jersey (SBOANJ) issued a press release clarifying to snow at Saratoga. Havefaithinme N won the $12,000 Open all horsemen, owners and breeders how the $20 million ap- Pace for driver Larry Stalbaum and trainer Jose Godinez. propriation, signed into law by New Jersey Gov. Phil Mur- Melissa Simser-Iovino Photo phy last Thursday (Feb. 14), will be utilized. The amounts will be allocated by the New Jersey Racing Commission equally between the Thoroughbred industry and the Standardbred industry. Of the funds allocated to the Standardbred industry, 60 per- cent will be allocated to the Meadowlands overnight purses; 16 percent to Freehold overnight purses; 12 percent to the New Jersey Sire Stakes purses; 12 percent to purse bonuses for New Jersey-sired horses and for breeders awards programs. Additionally, the Meadowlands purse account will receive a minimum of $1 million per year from the Meadowlands sports betting revenue. “This legislation will supply the New Jersey Sire Stakes with an additional $1.2 million that will be applied to purses for both In addition, the Meadowlands announced it will increase the Premier Division and the Standardbred Development Fund,” overnight purses by $40,000 per card beginning the first noted Sire Stakes executive director Chris Castens. “This will weekend in March, then institute another $40,000 nightly in- allow us to increase our total purse distribution by an estimated crease the first weekend of April. 75 percent over the amount distributed in 2018. There will be The continuation of the purse subsidy is contingent on across-the-board increases for each division. Final purses for di- their satisfaction that these monies are being well allocated visions in each program will be established later this year.” to the horse racing industry in the Garden State, the Mead- The SBOANJ’s breeders committee will be meeting shortly owlands has reminded horsemen that is important to sup- to determine the best way to fund the breeding programs. port the track with entries. HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 8 of 12 February 22, 2019 www.harnessracing.com New York Horseman possible and to build a stable of his own—and on his own Eddie Dunnigan Dies terms. Dunnigan took a prestigious position as second trainer for The global family has lost an- the late great W.R. Haughton Stable in the other pioneer. Ed “Eddie” Dunnigan, 80, went late 1960s and relocated to Margate, Fla., to join his friends and fellow horsemen on the with his young wife and family. He spent backstretch way up north Monday, Feb. 11, fol- days and nights flying from track to track for lowing a 10-plus year battle with cancer. the Haughton Stable, often racing two cards A consummate horseman, classic race- a day. There he piloted the likes of Laverne track character, father of four and fun friend Hanover and Rum Customer for Haughton’s to all, Dunnigan played a role in the har- “Green Wave” of well-bred winners prior to ness racing community for the better part venturing out on his own with a large public of seven decades. stable of 60-plus head in the early 1970s in His obsession with horses started with a Pennsylvania. shaggy Shetland pony named Scout. As Dunnigan had solid early success during the son of a respected racetrack owner/op- that era and frequently found himself at or erator and grandson of the New York State near the top of the leaderboard at tracks Senator who legalized pari-mutuel wager- including Liberty Bell, Brandywine and The ing in New York, racing and gaming was in Meadows. Dunnigan’s DNA. He ultimately abandoned the large-scale With no interest in the business side of rac- public stable in the mid-70s in favor of a ing, the high school sophomore ran away small but quality private stable which he from boarding school to chase his dreams of took west for a quality of life change and to the Grand Circuit. Living in stalls and tack Eddie Dunnigan support his father’s efforts to expand the rooms, he was fortunate enough to rub then-blossoming west coast harness racing blue-blooded stock and to learn from some of the most scene. With more horses than opportunities on the west well-respected horsemen in the business. coast, Dunnigan would ultimately return east to compete A steadfast student anywhere but inside of a classroom, during early days at the Meadowlands, while also spending he studied under, competed against and befriended many time racking up respect and some returns at Yonkers, Roo- of the early masters of the sport. The list of allies, idols, sevelt, Vernon, Monticello and Pocono. employers, mentors, friends and partners in plenty of Dunnigan’s two favorites included champion free-for-all- pranks reads like a Who’s Who in Harness Racing. Last trotter and Aged Trotting Mare of the Year Petite Evander, as names were household names for Dunnigan and in- well as the formidable and fiery open pacer and CanAm Se- cluded, but were not limited to, Haughton, O’Brien, ries winner Skedaddle N, both of New Zealand. The two Cruise, Caton, White, Chapman, Cameron, Miller, Sholty, campaigned coast to coast and Petite represented New Arthur, Simpson, Dancer, Beissinger, Gilmore, Insko, Gar- Zealand internationally. nsey and Filion, to name but a few. With early luck with Kiwi breds and a love of the Down- Dunnigan trained and drove at dozens of tracks from Under lifestyle, Dunnigan moved to New Zealand and sub- coast to coast and throughout Europe and Scandinavia, sequently embarked on what was surely the most as well as New Zealand, during the better part of his tour aggressive export of New Zealand horsehide to the U.S. at of duty. the time. In the process, he helped to make a mark for the He originally cut his teeth learning to drive under the breed in the U.S. watchful eye of the late John Chapman. He won his first Dunnigan guided one of his last winners in 2012 at the age race, however, in the 1950s driving for Jimmy Cruise at Bay of 64 with his first grandson’s namesake Aidan Joseph in a Meadows in San Mateo, Calif., before stints at tracks from New York Sires Stakes event at Saratoga. He then took roles coast to coast and everywhere in between. Maywood, training for Howie Okusko in Vernon, N.Y., in the summers Sportsman’s, Hollywood, Del Mar Harness, Northfield, and for Mickey Burke in the winters in Astor, Fla. Batavia, Vernon and Phoenix Trotting Park were but a few Okusko and Dunnigan became fast friends and ultimately, stops on the journey for the seemingly tireless trotting man seemingly inseparable. A generation his junior, Howie kept in his formative years. Eddie on his toes while his wife Jessica kept him on track One of Dunnigan’s first big breaks came in his early ‘20s with his cancer treatments. with an offer from Mr. Leonard Buck’s Allwood Stable. He Dunnigan won thousands of races and millions of dollars traded in the chance to rub elbows with titans of industry, in those undocumented portions of his career. To be sure politicians and even a future U.S. president, however, for though, this was not Eddie’s benchmark of success. His was the chance to tour the oval as fast and frequently as often as Continues on page 9 ›››› HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 9 of 12 February 22, 2019 www.harnessracing.com measured in laughs, lies and legend. The journey along the Meadowlands May Be way was far more noteworthy for Eddie than the destination Carding More Claimers and he amassed a lifetime of adventures unrivaled save for a select few. From beers with kings, flights with heavy- The condition sheet is out, and everybody who cares about weight boxing champions, offers from actors, appearances racing at the Meadowlands—be they management, employee, in movies, books, TV series’ and commercials and write ups horseman or bettor—has an awful lot to be excited about. in magazines newspapers, there is not much Dunnigan did Beginning Friday, March 1, purses at the Big M—thanks to not see or do. As a result, it was rare that he could not con- the recent purse appropriation legislation signed into law nect with even a stranger through a joke, a story or a beer. by Gov. Phil Murphy—will get a $40,000 per-card boost. His vast circle of friends, and the outpouring of support in Purses will get another $40,000 jolt on March 29. After a the wake of his passing, shows the true depth and breadth Saturday (Feb. 16) night program that saw a 2019-best of impact of this simply complex character. $3,166,920 in all-source wagering, there is reason for great Many will miss Dunnigan’s warm smile, his quick Irish wit, optimism at the East Rutherford mile oval. his endless stories, opinions and advice and his resounding In recent years, the Big M has experienced a lull in horse- reply of YES anytime there was fun to be had. man interest once the Pennsylvania tracks opened in March, One of his many goofy, yet endearing, sayings was, “If I but the playing field has now been leveled with a swipe of don’t see you in the future I’ll see you in the pasture.” Gov. Murphy’s pen. Let’s all keep an eye out for Eddie in our future adventures “As far as competing with area tracks for horses,” said Big and, if you are fortunate enough to run into him, be sure to M Director of Racing Pete Koch, “it certainly puts us back in buy him a beer, because he won’t likely buy you one. And the ballgame. We paid attention to the non-winners of two, trust that it will be memorable, if nothing else. three and four classes, and we’ve written some races for Dunnigan is survived by his four children, John, Joe, Mark higher-priced claimers.” and Mary. He was predeceased by his brothers Jimmy Jr., On Feb. 9, Castle Flight was claimed by Dylan Davis for Richard and Jack. $50,000, and he came back one week later to finish second to There will be a small private service for Eddie with his K Ryan Bluechip in the $21,000 Preferred Handicap for pacers, family in Arizona and plans are being made for a larger a race that five weeks from now will offer a $30,000 purse. gathering open to everyone in the spring in Vernon, “With the drop off in purses in recent years,” said Koch, “the N.Y.—By Joe Dunnigan higher-priced claimers have evaporated. With additional funds, we are hoping to bring them back. The $50,000 claim on Castle Flight was probably our highest in six or seven years.” “Carding more straight claimers,” said trainer Bob Louns- KY approves study to develop bury, “it’s very interesting to me and a lot of my owners. A test for micro dosing lot of my owners just want claiming horses. If we get beat, The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has approved fine. But then we want the chance to take the winner. Com- $147,000 from the Kentucky Equine Drug Research Coun- bining claimers with conditioned horses is tough because cil fund to develop a test to detect if a horse has been the conditioned horses have an advantage. given small levels—microdoses—of a blood-doping “I have some guys right now who want to claim a $30,000 or agent such as erythropoietin (EPO) or darbepoetin. more $40,000 horse (a class that is offered on next week’s condition sheet). As a matter of fact, I had a couple of owners claim some Youth Foundation needs sponsors horses last week. Both said the same thing: ‘If there are going Summer is right around the corner, which means the Har- to be bigger purses, then we have to claim something.’ It might ness Horse Youth Foundation (HHYF) is getting ready for take a couple of weeks to get going, but it should work, and me another full season of fun with its Trottingbreds—events in and my people are going to support the Meadowlands.” Indiana, Ohio, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jer- It will take not only horseman support but fan participa- sey are on the schedule with a few more to add. more tion as well to make this thing work. “With the increased purses, we are encouraging horse- Dual career with gymnastics, horses men to race with us,” said track Chief Operating Officer and Early in the morning, Dave Kuzara teaches his pupils General Manager Jason Settlemoir, “because for the sup- not to jump. Later in the day, he wants his students to plement to continue into the future, we need to show some jump as high as they can. Strange? Not really, because handle gains to fulfill some of the parameters of the sub- Kuzara has chosen a career combination that may be sidy. As last weekend proved, bigger fields mean bigger unique. He’s a part-time trainer at The Meadows and handle, and we have a positive outlook moving forward.” full-time assistant coach for the University of Pittsburgh (To see the condition sheet, go to http://horsemen.ustrot- women’s gymnastics team. more ting.com/conditionsheet.cfm?condition_sheet_id=70660) (Meadowlands) HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 10 of 12 February 22, 2019 www.harnessracing.com Balazsi To Be In Florida Order By Stable’s 2019 Yearlings To Accept Breeder Of The Year Award Colt, Muscle Hill-Amour Heiress (second foal; first, a full brother, sold for $110,000 in 2018) The big Dan Patch Night of Colt, Muscle Hill-Beyond Blue (half brother to Seven Champions in Orlando on Sunday Iron 3, 1:54.2—$222,923) will honor the top performers of the 2019 racing season, and Filly, Muscle Hill-Hemi Blue Chip (half sister to the Chap- among them will be breeder Ste- ter Seven-sired Atlanta) fan Balazsi. Balazsi will be in Or- Filly, Muscle Hill-Order By Wish (a yearling full brother lando to accept the Breeder of the sold for $155,000 in 2018) Year Award earned by his Order Colt, Muscle Hill-Thatsnotmyname (half brother to By Stable. Basquiat 3, 1:51.2 and Future Secured 3,Q1:55.3f; full In 2018, the Order By Stable- brother to $500,000 yearling filly Fifty Cent Piece) bred Atlanta won the Hambleton- ian on the way to being voted the Dan Patch 3-Year-Old Colt, Cantab Hall-Big Barb (half brother to $150,000 Trotting Filly of the Year, and Gimpanzee, another horse it yearling colt by Ready Cash) bred, was voted 2-Year-Old Colt Trotter of the Year honors. Filly, Cantab Hall-Could It Be Magic (dam is a Kadabra Balazsi lives and works in Europe and boards his full sister to 2018 Hambletonian Oaks runner-up mares at Concord Stud Farm in New Jersey. In an email, Magic Presto) he modestly says he is “just a paper farmer,” giving the Colt, Cantab Hall-Galloway (first foal from a Credit Win- credit for raising and taking care of his horses to David, ner granddaughter of M Stewart, dam of $2 million Robin and Julie Meirs, who are the hands-on operators winner Maven) of Concord. Balazsi, who lives in both Sweden and Spain and has Colt, Chapter Seven-Final Countdown (full brother to an IT business, said he became interested in the trotting Alarm Detector 2, 1:52.4) sport at the age of 18, when he went to the track with Filly, Chapter Seven-Steamy Windows (full sister to Dan friends who had horses. His first horse in the U.S. was Patch 2-Year-Old Colt Trotter of the Year Gimpanzee 2, Royal Pine, who did not race. Although Balazsi has 1:54.3—$591,358) owned successful racehorses such as Merrie Annabelle Colt, Muscle Massive-Order By Credit (half brother to winner Thatsnotmyname and 2010 Hambletonian cham- Golden Kronos 3, 1:54.4) pion Muscle Massive, he said he always knew he wanted to breed horses. “I had that in my mind from the first day I started to buy Through 2017 Cash Hall had sired 478 horses, with win- horses in the U.S.A.,” he said. ners of $25.3 million. His fastest offspring is Smalltown- Although Balaszi declined to share information about mat- throwdown 5, 1:51.1f ($865,383). In 2018 he was ings for his mares this breeding season, a look at his 2019 represented by two big 2-year-old winners, the Ohio Sires yearling crop shows he has the table set for a big payday Stakes 2-Year-Old Filly Trot champion Only Take Cash 2, later this fall. In 2018, Order By sold the Muscle Hill yearling 1:56f, a winner of eight of nine starts, and the colt Chin filly named Fifty Cent Piece for $500,000 at the Standard- Chin Hall 2, 1:54.4—BT1:52.4, who was the runner-up in bred Horse Sale in Harrisburg. the Valley Victory Trot. In other breeding news, Walnut Hall Ltd. has announced A son of Self Possessed, Cash Hall made big headlines that its stallion Cash Hall, now 18 years old, has been re- back in 2006 when he set a 1:51.1 half-mile track world tired from breeding. record at the Delaware, Ohio, County Fair.—By Kathy Parker HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 11 of 12 February 22, 2019 www.harnessracing.com

Harness Racing Leaders Leading Breeders Compiled by the USTA—through February 20, 2019 Breeder Starters Winners Wins Earnings Leading North American-Based Money-Winning Horses Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. 403 129 169 $1,863,430 Winbak Farm 374 125 170 1,577,322 Sts. W P S Earnings Brittany Farms LLC 102 43 67 655,820 Don Domingo N (7pg) 6 5 0 1 $66,550 Robert J. Key 84 27 34 343,936 Delightfulmemphisn (6pm) 5 4 1 0 61,250 Robert McIntosh Stables Inc. 70 24 35 340,392 Smalltownthrowdown (6tg) 4 1 2 1 49,280 Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. 85 27 39 327,761 Aldine Hanover (4pm) 6 2 2 1 48,750 Seelster Farms Inc. 94 25 34 326,953 Betterb Chevron N (6pm) 4 3 0 0 48,000 Bulletproof Enterprises 62 22 30 310,379 Dw’s NY Yank (10tg) 4 2 0 0 47,520 Midland Acres Inc. 71 22 34 280,741 Fan Of Terror (7pg) 5 4 0 1 47,100 Perretti Farms 56 21 32 260,574 Fearless Man (9tg) 5 4 0 0 45,095 Frederick Hertrich III 60 15 23 252,471 Sintra (6pg) 4 4 0 0 43,875 White Birch Farm 64 18 23 226,886 Bettors Fire N (11pg) 4 1 1 2 43,560 Victory Hill Farm Inc. 51 18 32 222,649 Itty Bitty (5pm) 6 1 2 1 42,655 Steve Stewart 72 18 23 222,038 Shneonucrzydiamnd A (6pg) 4 3 0 0 42,340 Spring Haven Farm 58 18 22 216,352 Kendall Seelster (4pm) 5 3 1 1 42,261 Swapportunity (7pg) 5 2 2 1 41,875 Empress Deo (8pm) 7 2 2 0 41,636 Leaders Of The Week Ranked by wins for Feb. 13-19 from results at major North American pari-mutuel tracks. Leading Money-Winning Drivers Drivers Starts W-P-S Sts. W-P-S UDR Earnings (wk. diff) Aaron Merriman ...... 79 ...... 18-14-6 Jason Bartlett 295 66-55-45 .378 $1,133,112 ($170,540) Brett Miller...... 62 ...... 17-8-11 George Brennan 280 58-43-28 .326 927,257 (221,250) Ronnie Wrenn Jr ...... 70 ...... 17-13-5 Tim Tetrick 356 102-64-47 .430 895,287 (118,475) George Brennan ...... 51 ...... 15-5-6 Jordan Stratton 301 50-34-48 .282 866,887 (140,310) Tim Tetrick...... 48 ...... 13-11-4 Trace Tetrick...... 60 ...... 12-12-2 Aaron Merriman 567 116-81-83 .333 861,741 (149,465) Austin Siegelman ...... 60...... 11-6-11 Matt Kakaley 298 34-51-50 .265 803,447 (89,975) Wally Hennessey ...... 34 ...... 11-5-2 Trace Tetrick 338 85-42-34 .354 733,426 (113,080) Chris Page ...... 61 ...... 10-10-4 Brett Miller 379 66-70-47 .318 694,807 (147,070) Dave Palone ...... 32 ...... 10-6-3 Ronnie Wrenn Jr. 456 86-74-60 .323 656,880 (128,471) Dexter Dunn...... 56 ...... 10-7-9 Dan Noble 327 56-49-45 .300 629,457 (85,865) Jim DeVaux...... 42 ...... 10-7-4 Simon Allard...... 35 ...... 10-6-4 Dexter Dunn 313 49-50-43 .291 625,481 (123,152) Yannick Gingras...... 46 ...... 10-6-4 Corey Callahan 414 46-57-58 .234 624,999 (87,490) Andy Miller ...... 33 ...... 9-4-4 Yannick Gingras 268 59-33-23 .317 570,167 (101,696) Jim Pantaleano ...... 39 ...... 9-4-5 Jim Marohn Jr. 328 36-40-42 .220 564,209 (128,743) Joe Bongiorno...... 46 ...... 9-8-2 Chris Page 311 41-39-40 .244 506,022 (115,722) Mike Wilder ...... 47 ...... 9-5-8 Dan Noble ...... 55 ...... 8-7-11 Leading Money-Winning Trainers Jim Marohn Jr...... 55 ...... 8-7-5 Sts. W-P-S UTR Earnings (wk. diff) Jordan Stratton ...... 57 ...... 8-6-9 Shawn Gray ...... 28 ...... 8-7-2 Ron Burke 229 71-43-28 .455 $760,199 ($223,415) Art Stafford Jr...... 28 ...... 7-2-4 Rene Allard 149 28-27-20 .333 493,338 (113,514) Corey Callahan ...... 42 ...... 7-3-10 Carmen Auciello 231 27-43-41 .279 424,603 (78,129) Mike Cole ...... 41 ...... 7-7-3 Scott Di Domenico 140 32-16-21 .342 401,483 (74,601) Trainers Wins Nick Surick 248 52-40-30 .340 354,968 (67,371) Ron Burke...... 20 Richard Moreau 178 30-33-23 .315 331,852 (77,363) Nick Surick...... 12 Jose Godinez 103 20-18-16 .343 308,693 (43,548) C. Brian Loney ...... 10 Richard Banca 97 15-16-10 .281 306,822 (55,210) Joseph Columbo...... 7 Joseph Columbo 135 22-22-21 .305 264,704 (65,459) Rene Allard ...... 7 Michael Hall 93 18-20-5 .331 259,767 (26,135) Carmen Auciello...... 5 Andrew Harris 75 15-11-9 .321 255,643 (35,499) Richard Moreau ...... 5 Ricky Bucci ...... 5 Lance Hudson 40 14-6-6 .483 235,075 (50,560) Scott Di Domenico ...... 5 Virgil Morgan Jr. 103 20-12-13 .301 230,206 (57,741) Virgil Morgan Jr...... 5 Wayne Givens 74 14-13-13 .345 222,053 (22,455) Joseph Hundertpfund Jr ...... 4 Joe Hundertpfund Jr. 111 23-20-11 .340 219,648 (49,048) Leon Smith...... 4 March 2 019

sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday 24 25 26 27 28 1 2

USHWA Dan Patch Awards banquet in Orlando, Fla. Paver Sr. Mem. OT (MVR) Coven Jr. Mem. OMP (MVR) Williams Mem. OP (MVR) 3456789

Mardi Gras Williams Mem. OP (MVR) Paver Sr. Mem. OT (MVR) Sagamore H&G Pace (YR) Ash Wednesday USTA annual meeting begins Dunn Mem. F&M Pace (Mea) Petticoat F&M Pace (YR) Weaver Mem. H&G Trot (Mea) Wohlmuth Mem. H&G Trot (Mea) Coven Jr. Mem. OMP (MVR) in Columbus, Ohio 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Levy Memorial OHP (YR) Secretary’s HP (PcD) Williams Mem. OP final (MVR) Daylight Savings Time begins Paver Sr. Mem. OT (MVR) Sagamore H&G Pace (YR) Blue Chip Matchmaker OMP (YR) The Downs at Mohegan Sun Dunn Mem. F&M Pace (Mea) Petticoat F&M Pace (YR) Weaver Mem. H&G Trot (Mea) Wohlmuth Mem. F&M Trot (Mea) Coven Jr. Mem. OMP (MVR) Pocono opens 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Blue Chip Matchmaker OMP (YR) Dr. Mossbarger Mem. OMP (MVR) Dunn Mem. F&M Pace final (Mea) Brown Mem. OT (MVR) Dr. Farwick Mem. OT (MVR) Weaver Mem. H&G Trot final (Mea) Levy Memorial OHP (YR) St. Patrick’s Day DSBF 3CT/3FT (DD) Hiteman Mem. OHP (MVR) First day of Spring Wohlmuth Mem. F&MT final (Mea) Secretary’s HP (PcD) Owens Mem. OMP (MVR) Petticoat F&M Pace (YR) Sagamore H&G Pace (YR) DSBF 3FP (DD) DSBF 3CP (DD) Northville Downs opens Tharps Mem. OHP (MVR) 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Blue Chip Matchmaker OMP (YR) Levy Memorial OHP (YR) Brown Mem. OT (MVR) Dr. Farwick Mem. OT (MVR) Dr. Mossbarger OMP (MVR) Tharps Mem. OHP (MVR) Owens Mem. OMP (MVR) DSBF 3CT/3FT (DD) Hiteman Mem. OHP (MVR) Harrah’s Hoosier Park opens Secretary’s H&G Pace (PcD) Secretary’s OT (PcD) Petticoat F&M Pace final (YR) Sagamore H&G Pace final (YR) DSBF 3FP (DD) DSBF 3CP (DD) Harrah’s Philadelphia opens Scarborough Downs opens 31 1 2345 6

Levy Memorial OHP (YR) April Fool’s Day Secretary’s H&G Pace final (PcD) Brown Mem. OT final (MVR) Dr. Farwick Mem. OT final (MVR) Blue Chip Matchmaker OMP (YR) Shake It Cerry 3FT (M) DSBF 3CT/3FT final (DD) Hiteman Mem. OHP final (MVR) Dr. Mossbarger OMP final (MVR) Tharps Mem. OHP final (MVR) Owens Mem. OMP final (MVR) Secretary’s MP (PcD) Weiss F&M Trot (PcD) Walner 3CT (M) Weiss H&G Pace (PcD) Secretary’s 4&up OT (PcD) Weiss F&M Pace (PcD) YR/SOA Bonus OT (YR) DSBF 3FP final (DD) DSBF 3CP final (DD) Wiggle It Jiggleit 3CP (M) Worldly Beauty 3FP (M) HOOSIER CLASSIC SALE COMPANY LLC THREE SALES IN 2019! BUCKEYE CLASSIC HOOSIER CLASSIC MICHIANA CLASSIC YEARLING SALE SELECT YEARLING SALE YEARLING SALE Foals of 2018 Indiana sired foals of 2018 Foals of 2018 Tuesday, September 24 Friday, Oct. 25 & Saturday, Oct. 26 Saturday, November 23 Champions Expo Center, Springfield, OH Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis, IN Michiana Event Center, Shipshewana, IN Entry deadline: June 15 Application deadline: April 1 Entry deadline: August 1 www.buckeyeclassicsale.com www.hoosierclassicyearlingsale.com www.michianaclassicsale.com