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Derick Giwner: Facts do not support the fable of negativity, Page 4 Darin Zoccali: April was filled with Photo missed opportunity, Page 6 Call For Rain (4) bested Run The Table in the 1987 Breeders Crown 3-year-old Colt Pace. Papi Rob Hanover wins virtual Breeders Crown; Foiled Again, Sweet Lou lead It is hard to win an argument about who early in Battle of the Decade, Page 8 is the greatest horse of all time. When the parameters of the debate tend to fall in the JAYWALKING Holloway with ample talent in his lines of how many years one has been follow- 15-horse stable, Page 9 ing the sport, it is easy to understand why By Jay Bergman some focus on the last 10 years and others look @BergmanJay On The Backstretch: Profile of trainer further in time. The standards for which we Chris Beaver, Page 11 measure the caliber of horses have changed over time, just as the surfaces, the equipment, racing going forward. From the first crop of Industry Headlines: PA working to and the physical appearance of our horses. Most Happy Fella came Tarport Hap and Silk resume live racing; Tetrick joins USTA For me, it is necessary to go back nearly 50 Stockings. Despite the many years of history BOD; Camluck Classic canceled, Page 13 years, not just to identify the greatest of all to be written, I can’t think of any two fillies by time, but to recall two spectacular fillies that the same sire in the same year that had such Comments? Questions? debuted in 1974. They separated themselves an impact on the sport. Email the Editor [email protected] from the rest and expectations were that they would to change the course of harness CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

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Two-Year-Olds LIBERTY BELL 2020 Early Closing Events For Pennsylvania-Sired 2-Year-Olds BREEDERS CROWN No. 34 -$75,000 Est. in 2020- $600,000 in 2020 -$400- To race Friday, October 30, at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, Anderson, Indiana Colt & Gelding Trot/Pace to be raced Friday, Elimination heats, if necessary, will be raced Saturday, October 23 October 9 at Harrah’s Philadelphia -$600- Filly Pace/Trot to be raced Wednesday, Entrance Fee: $5,000 September 23 at Harrah’s Philadelphia Entrance Fee: $400

THE ELEVATION MATRON SERIES 2020 (for 2-year-olds) -$125,000 Est. in 2020- $692,200 total in 2019 -$500- -$500- Open. To be raced Friday, September 25 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park To be raced Thursday, November 5 at Dover Downs Entrance Fee: $750 Top 8 format. Entrance Fee: $1,000 FOX STAKE No. 94 $55,150 in 2019 RALPH WILFONG No. 83 -$450- $33,383 in 2019 Open. To be raced Wednesday, August 12 at the Indiana State Fair, Indianapolis. One -$400- heat only. Open. To be raced Wednesday, August 12 at the Indiana State Fair, Indianapolis. Entrance Fee: $1,200 One heat only. Entrance Fee: $600 HOOSIER STAKE No. 84 $91,400 total in 2019 W.N. REYNOLDS MEMORIAL EARLY CLOSER -$100- $246,100 total in 2019 To be raced Wednesday, August 12 at the Indiana State Fair, Indianapolis -$300- Entrance Fee: $200 All divisions to be raced Friday, August 28 at The Meadowlands Entrance Fee: $500 KENTUCKIANA STALLION MANAGEMENT PACE/TROT 2020 JOHN SIMPSON MEMORIAL EARLY CLOSER -$200,000 Est. in 2020- $442,400 total in 2019 To race Friday, September 25 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park -$400- -$1,000- Colt & Gelding Trot/Pace to be raced Friday, October 23 at Harrah’s Philadelphia Entrance Fee: $1,500 Filly Trot/Pace to be raced Friday, October 16 at Harrah’s Philadelphia Entrance Fee: $400

KEYSTONE CLASSICS 2020 TOMPKINS-GEERS EARLY CLOSER Early Closing Events For Pennsylvania-Sired 2-Year-Olds $260,700 total in 2019 $339,600 total in 2019 -$300- -$400- All divisions to be raced Friday, July 3 at The Meadowlands Colt & Gelding Pace/Trot to be raced Monday, September 14 at The Meadows Entrance Fee: $500 Filly Pace/Trot to be raced Tuesday, September 15 at The Meadows Entrance Fee: $400 Three-Year-Olds LANDMARK STAKE EARLY CLOSER SUPPLEMENTS (Early Closers) -$42,500 Est. total in 2020- -Colts & Geldings: $250- THE COURAGEOUS LADY FILLY PACE -Fillies: $125- -$125,000 Est. in 2020- To be raced Friday, July 3 at Goshen Historic Track -Supplemental Nomination: May 15 - $3,500- -Colts & Geldings Entrance Fee: $300- To race Saturday, October 17 at Northfield Park -Fillies Entrance Fee: $150- Entrance Fee: $1,500

Make checks payable and send all entries to: THE HAMBLETONIAN SOCIETY Cranbury Gates Office Park, 109 South Main St., Suite 18, Cranbury, NJ 08512-3174 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Where the pair stood in history is up for debate, but looking back from 2020, I would have expected Tarport Hap’s immediate mater- nal family to have branched out over the years and given the sport numerous horses that were at least up to their level and beyond. Tarport Hap’s dam, Tarport Cheer, has to rank up there with the greatest broodmares of all time. The daughter of Tar Heel had a long career and produced 10 fillies of her own, yet to my surprise, only her first foal by , named Tarport Mary Lou, was able to cultivate a family worth remembering. Her daughter, Rain Proof, by Abercrombie, would be mated with Storm Damage (a son of who earned a reputation for being second to Niatross on numerous occasions) to produce the colt Call For Rain, a $22,000 year- ling that would make history. While nearly everyone would put trainer/driver Clint Galbraith’s Niatross at the top of the GOAT argument, it seems few remember the accolades of Call For Rain, who was a giant of a horse in his own Watch Call For Rain winning the 1987 Breeders Crown at right. Pompano Park. A New York Sire Stakes performer predominantly during his juve- nile season in 1986, Call For Rain would go on to capture the Breeders Crown for 3-year-olds in 1987 over pacesetter Run The Table and then nation to overcome obstacles, as all three of those Crown victories would follow up that effort as a 4-year-old taking down pacesetting suggest. At the same time, the group as a whole did not seem to evolve Jaguar Spur in the Aged Crown event. What is captivating about Call to the level of today’s at the extreme nature of racing For Rain, looking back, was an incredible tenacity he showed while four fast quarters in succession. racing in what we would consider today compromised positions. One A year after Cheery Hello, Tarport Cheer’s connections appeared can argue that Clint Galbraith, who drove Call For Rain to both Crown to take a stab towards the future and skip a couple of generations victories as a driver/trainer, was at a disadvantage when competing to get there. By breeding the mare to Nihilator, they theoretically against Hall of Famer John Campbell and Run The Table in the 1987 bred an older mare to a horse that had transitioned the sophomore championship held at Pompano. Tactically, Campbell did line dramatically, at least on the racetrack. While Cheerful Earful everything right on that night and put Run The Table in position to proved an unsuccessful racehorse, her seventh foal and first filly win. But Call For Rain and Galbraith made up a significant amount of by would prove to be the only extension that would ground late to wear down the pacesetter. drive this family near the 1:50 plateau. Advantest has produced In the 1988 Crown, Galbraith again had Call For Rain off the pace 1:50 speed, with Kenneth J at $1.5 million her top earner and Percy and this time Jaguar Spur and Richard Stillings would back the half Blue Chip, the 2018 3-year-old filly Breeders Crown upsetter, to her down to a very soft 58 fraction. This left Call For Rain tracking dull credit. cover as the pace picked up for the final half. While Call For Rain It is a family rich in history, while at the same time mired in its rallied wide on the backstretch, he still didn’t look to have a shot of inability to pass on the characteristics needed to prosper in an era victory with Jaguar Spur accelerating. Call For Rain and Galbraith that requires a different type of horse. looked beaten in the late stages, but still refused to lose. In both Crown victories, Call For Rain rallied into faster final halves for the victory and wore down horses that were clearly best-in-class caliber at the time. Call For Rain was one of only three horses by Storm Damage to earn $1 million during their careers and was the fastest, taking a 1:49 3/5 record at The Red Mile. It’s that 1:49 3/5 record that sticks out since it was taken in 1988. The 1:50 barrier continues to be shattered in this day and age, but in 1988 it meant something and was clearly special as well for Galbraith, who authored the first sub-1:50 performer in Niatross some eight years earlier. It’s hard to believe looking back some 32 years that few from this maternal family would ever get close to breaking that barrier. Only in recent years have a few with maternal roots, dating back to Tarport Cheer, reached prominence on a grand scale. Looking at Tarport Cheer’s production, and more specifically at her first two daughters by Most Happy Fella, Tarport Hap and Tarport Crystal, it could be easier to understand what happened. Tarport Hap died tragically before ever becoming a broodmare and Tarport Crys- tal had but one foal to her credit. That would leave the task of carrying on the line to perhaps less accomplished racehorses with quality bloodlines. That Laugh A Day, a full sister to Tarport Hap, would arrive 10 years later and sell for a $625,000 record price tag in 1983, had to give those expecting further greatness from this mare hope for the future. It did not. Three years later, Tarport Cheer produced a filly in her second mating with Albatross that proved to be her richest foal in the $869K-winning Cheery Hello. In 1989, Cheery Hello swept the field to capture the Breeders Crown 3-year-old filly pace, giving the mater- nal family its third straight year of glory. Once a broodmare, Cheery Hello was unable to produce a foal that would match or exceed her talent. It was clear in the late 80’s, when races weren’t going at the speeds we see today, that Tarport Cheer’s family had the grit and determi-

DRF Harness Weekend | 3 | May 7, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness The facts do not support the fable of consistent negativity

through wagering, I have some thoughts to add. Let me state first that I am firmly in favor of qualifying races. They EDITOR’S EYE are a necessary tool for handicappers to evaluate form, and in the case of younger horses’ ability. Unlike others, I don’t believe that we By Derick Giwner @harnesseyeguy can rely on a trainer’s report of how the horse is doing as a replace- ment for qualifiers. A trainer’s report is hearsay, while qualifiers are facts. You can’t walk into Judge Judy’s courtroom with a trainer’s report and win a case. You need the charted line! Is the glass half-full or half-empty? Or, as my wife would say, is it The above said, I am 100 percent in favor of allowing horses to half-full with poison? return from the COVID-19 absence without qualifying lines. I know Time after time, I read or hear about the abundance of negativity it seems like a contradictory opinion, but these are special circum- in the sport and it really makes me shake my head. Without a doubt, stances . . . an act of God if you will. Horsemen, owners, caretak- complaining is a form of negativity, so just mentioning it is a bit of ers, racetracks, and others are hurting. There is no need to delay piling on. pari-mutuel racing or force owners and trainers to accrue further There is much more positive press than negative in . costs after some rough months just so I can have a qualifying line to That’s a fact! And I can prove it! evaluate. It just wouldn’t be fair to them and it isn’t in the best inter- Look through the archives of DRF Harness Digest Newsletter. On est of the industry. average, there are five-to-six fresh articles each week. The over- To those that feel they simply can’t wager without seeing qualifying whelming majority are positive or neutral when it comes to slant. lines in the program, I say what’s one more week of waiting. You can Getting even more specific, March was a particularly bad month for jump into the pools the following week. Trust me, the majority will be Standardbred racing. There were several indictments to horsemen betting with both hands if they have money in their pockets or ADW and COVID-19 shut down the sport. Even with all of that bad news, accounts. of the 20 articles that appeared, only five were of the “negative” vari- ety, and this was during one of the worst months the sport has seen in years. While on the wagering subject . . . Just to prove the point further, I chose another random month By the time you read this, it will have been more than three weeks – October 2019. I found 36 articles during the month and two that since my last wager and north of five weeks from the last time I sat could possibly be construed as negative. They were far from “attack” down to handicap an entire card of races. While it is certainly not my stories, but they did cover a negative subject. longest absence from wagering in the last two decades, it is definitely There is no doubt that people and companies do not enjoy reading in the top five. articles that say they are doing a bad job. No one likes to be criticized. I would be lying if I said the free time at night wasn’t enjoyable. It is By the same token, how are we as a society supposed to learn if no one nice to walk away from the computer at 6PM or so and power down the ever points out flaws in the way things are done? brain for a little while. But, there is no doubt that I’m looking forward I’ll admit, there are many ways to expose a sensitive issue and to the return of Harness Racing somewhere in North America, prefer- different writers have different styles. I always try to bring a solu- ably at a track I follow regularly or feel comfortable enough to support tion when I present a problem, because we need solutions, not more through the windows. problems. Familiarity is going to be the key to wagering when racing fires If my words above leave you with any lasting thoughts, hopefully, it back up. I’m thrilled that Red Shores in Charlottetown in planning is to remember all of the good stories rather than lamenting the bad to return June 4 and I hope many people will watch and wager on the ones. I guarantee that if you examine the scorecard of hundreds of product, but I simply do not know enough about the horses, trainers articles at the end of the year, fewer than 10 percent will have any sort and drivers competing on that circuit to dig in. of a negative message. The smart thing to do when tracks began to trickle back into action Hmmm, I wonder if this column will be considered negative? is to stick with what you know. There will be many unknown vari- ables – more than usual – to consider and the last thing you want to do is step outside your comfort zone. Sure, if you want to play around To qualify or not to qualify? with 10 or 20 percent of your typical bankroll just to get some action I read a number of comments last weekend about whether quali- on an unfamiliar track, go for it! But don’t let the itch to play override fying races would be necessary when live racing ultimately returns logic and your ability to make money. to North America. As a person who regularly supports the industry

DRF Harness Weekend | 4 | May 7, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness

April was filled with missed opportunity for Harness Racing

I get it, none of this could have ever happened in with- out the Governor’s permission, which he was not going to give. Yet at the track there are racetracks that are still conducting meets without an issue, so it could have been explored further by those in the government that By Darin Zoccali AtTheTrack7 make decisions. I am also not naïve to the fact that The Meadowlands is in the middle of the hotbed of this pandemic. I’m not naïve to that fact because I am We continue to navigate through the unchartered waters of COVID- in the middle of it as well. We have lost a family member. A friend 19. Thoroughbred racing has remained on a limited basis, while of ours has lost a father. Where I live in Staten Island, we have the Harness Racing has been on hold for over one month at this point. fourth-worst rate of infection per capita in the country. In my zip While nothing related to this pandemic should be viewed as opportu- code, one out of every 39 people have tested positive. My neighbors, nistic, it does appear as though Standardbred racing has missed an who live yards away from me, have tested positive. So yes, I get it. opportunity in the month of April, through no fault of its own. But, the people at The Meadowlands are smart and I am confident that Thus far, the evidence has shown that several thoroughbred race- given the opportunity, much like the racetracks that are still racing tracks have been able to conduct racing without an issue related to today, they could have executed a plan that could have worked. COVID-19. The five thoroughbred racetracks that operated through- For example, golf courses in New Jersey and Pennsylvania were out the month of April were Will Rogers Downs, Fonner Park, Gulf- allowed to open this past Friday. I played a round with two friends stream Park, Oaklawn Park and Tampa Bay Downs. over the weekend. The reservation, payment and check-in process In April of 2019, those five racetracks combined to handle $120.3 was all electronic. There was one person (with a mask and gloves) Million in wagers. This April, the handle for those five racetracks who provided the golf cart (one person only allowed). There were no was $275.1 Million. ball-washer apparatus’ at the tee boxes. There were no rakes in the Fonner Park’s handled jumped from $5.2 Million to $28.8 Million over sand trap. The flag stick had a piece of a foam pool noodle round the 12 days of racing. Average handle went from $433,000 to $2.4 Million. bottom, within the hole, so that the ball would sit on top of that foam Will Rogers Downs also conducted 12 racing dates, with its handle and not fall into the hole, ensuring that retrieving the ball from the increasing from $2 Million to $28.3 Million. Average handle skyrock- hole did not result in any potential cross-contamination. The flag- eted from $166,000 to $2.35 Million. sticks were not to be removed. Gulfstream Park increased from $53.7 Million to $113.2 Million, Tampa Bay Downs climbed from $26.2 Million to $46.8 Million, with one less day of racing, and Oaklawn Park soared from $33.3 Million to $57.9 Million. The track seeing the smallest of these increases (if we can even call Changes coming to Little Brown it that) was Oaklawn Park at 74%. Would that same increase have been realized in Harness Racing? We can debate that, but there is a Jug and Jugette conditions reasonable comparison within these numbers to a harness racetrack. Tampa Bay Downs conducted 15 days of racing in April of 2019, for an average daily handle of $1.75 Million. The Meadowlands average Little Brown Jug Society president Tom Wright has announced handle in April of 2019 was $2.8 Million. Tampa Bay Downs’ average some sweeping changes to future Little Brown Jugs and its filly daily handle nearly doubled to $3.34 Million. That is despite racing companion event, the Jugette. directly against the other Thoroughbred signals simultaneously. In 2022, the Little Brown Jug will start accepting supplemental I cannot help but wonder, had The Meadowlands continued to race entries with a payment of $45,000 (Jugette supplements would pay (something that was completely beyond its control), what would its $15,000). Horses will no longer have to win either the , numbers have looked like? the Messenger, the North American Cup or the There was no California thoroughbred signal, so The Meadowlands to supplement. Supplemental entries will be due using a five-day racing program would have commenced after all the thoroughbred box and would be the first horse(s) eliminated should the field tracks had concluded their racing programs. It would have liter- exceed the 24-horse maximum. ally had the entire racing platform to itself on Friday and Saturday Future eliminations of the Jug will be raced for a purse of evenings, with the exception of two quarter-horse signals. $50,000 each ($25,000 in the Jugette), with the balance remaining In that environment, is it outside the realm of possibility that The for the second heat. Meadowlands handle could have doubled? Based on the data I listed All of the starters in the second heat will receive at least 1% of above, I would even suggest that would be a conservative projection. the second heat purse (starting with the 2020 LBJ). Tracks like Will Rogers Downs and Fonner Park saw their handle The second heat will now allow for Also Eligibles. Horses will increase month-over-month 455% and 1,320%. Why? Simple, because be ranked based on their elimination finish position and then by they raced on Monday and Tuesday afternoons and early evenings highest lifetime earnings. with no other competition. “We hope these changes will allow the best horses available to Now take a signal that is already considered a major signal, put it compete in the Little Brown Jug. Our goal is to make sure we have on Friday and Saturday nights where nobody is going out to dinner, to full fields and put on a great event for our fans,” noted Wright. the movies, to sporting events, etc., and I believe that handle explodes. The changes were finalized by the LBJ Society executive Based upon the handle figures in Thoroughbred racing, I believe committee and approved by the entire board. that The Meadowlands would have handled somewhere between The new conditions will start with the 77th Little Brown Jug to $7 Million and $8 Million each racing night. On the top end, an $8 be raced in 2022. The Yearling Nomination Payment for the Jug Million handle, all through export signals, would have produced in and Jugette remain $50 and are due May 15. the neighborhood of $320,000 in revenue each night to be split between A copy of the new conditions can be found at LittleBrownJug. operations and purses, and purses are already being subsidized by com. the state as well. May 15th Payments Due Date Remains Beyond just the numbers, The Meadowlands would have been Besides the Yearling Nomination Payment for the Little Brown exposed to a huge number of bettors that have not even watched a Jug and Jugette, the 2022 Old Oaken Bucket and Buckette ($25) harness race before. If you don’t believe that, I can personally speak and the 2021 ($25) are also due on May 15. Payment about a handful of my own friends who are now betting on horse forms can be found on LittleBrownJug.com. racing simply because there is nothing else to do and they were never -edited release (Little Brown Jug Society) horseplayers before this.

DRF Harness Weekend | 6 | May 7, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness IMPORTANT NOTICE TO BREEDERS The Breeders Crown No. 35 Yearling Payment of $150.00 For foals of 2019 is due on May 15, 2020. This payment makes yearlings by the following stallions eligible to race in the Breeders Crown as 2-year-olds in 2021 and 3-year-olds in 2022, subject to the conditions and payments in those years. Stallion Nominations for Breeders Crown No. 35 A Rocknroll Dance Credit Winner Luck Be Withyou So Surreal Always A Virgin Dejarmbro Maharajah Devious Man Manningly Southwind Frank American Ideal Deweycheatumnhowe McArdle Sportswriter Andover Hall Donato Hanover Mister Big State Treasurer Andoversure Domethatagain Mr Web Page Straight Shooting Angus Hall Dover Dan Mr Wiggles Sunshine Beach Aracache Hanover Downbytheseaside Swan For All Archangel Dude's The Man Muscle Mass Sweet Lou Art Official E L Rocket Muscle Massive Tellitlikeitis Artiscape E L Titan Muscles Yankee Text Me Artspeak Encore Encore My MVP Thinking Out Loud Bar Hopping Explosive Matter Nuncio Third Straight Betterthancheddar Father Patrick Odds On Equuleus Triumphant Caviar Betting Line Fear the Dragon Panther Hanover Trixton Bettor's Delight Fred And Ginger Pet Rock Uncle Peter Big Jim Glidemaster Ponder Up The Credit Bolt The Duer Guccio Possess The Will Villiam Break The Bank K He's Watching Prestidigitator Walner Bring On The Beach Heston Blue Chip Racing Hill We Will See Cantab Hall Holiday Road Real Desire Well Said Captaintreacherous Huntsville Resolve Western Ideal Cash Hall JK Endofanera Rock N Roll Heaven Western Vintage Chapter Seven Justice Hall Rockin Amadeus What The Hill Class Included Kadabra Rockin Image Whataworkout Classic Card Shark Lionhunter Roll With Joe Wheeling N Dealin Control The Moment Lis Mara Royal Mattjesty Winning Mister Conway Hall Long Tom Royalty For Life Wishing Stone Crazed Lost for Words Sebastian K Yankee Cruiser Creatine Love You Shadow Play Yankee Glide

The above list is subject to omissions and corrections Foals of 2019 by the above stallions will be eligible to the open division (for 3-year-olds and older) of the Breeders Crown in 2022 and to the Breeders Crown open division in subsequent years upon payment of the advertised fees for the specific year’s open event. Owners of eligible 3-year-olds will have the option of entering either or both the 3-year-old and the open event by making the 3-year-old payment due February 15, 2022. Conditions for Breeders Crown No. 35 are available from The Hambletonian Society website: www.hambletonian.com or in the 2020 U.S.T.A. Stakes/Futurities Nomination Booklet.

For more information contact for more information contact:

BREEDERS CROWN at (609) 371-2211

Checks payable to and mail to: Owned & Serviced by THE HAMBLETONIAN SOCIETY, INC ® THE H AMBLETONIAN S OCIETY, INC. Owned and serviced by 109 South Main St., Suite 18 Supporting and encouraging the breeding of Standardbred THE HAMBLETONIAN SOCIETY, INC. Cranbury, New Jersey 08512-3174 horses for more than 95 years www.hambletonian.com Papi Rob Hanover wins Catch Driver virtual Breeders Crown Foiled Again, Sweet Lou capture opening legs in Best of the Decade series

By Derick Giwner The Meadowlands Pace was contested 645 times, with 10 of those miles completed in 1:49 4/5, the fastest time for the race. Sweet Lou (7 There has not been a single Grand Circuit stake for 3-year-old colt wins), Lather Up, Won The West and Captaintreacherous all shared pacers in 2020, but in the virtual world, the season is complete and the the record. Vinco lo took home first-place in terms of driving wins results are official. Papi Rob Hanover is the Catch Driver Breeders with 19. Crown winner. Here are the Meadowlands Pace results: A total of 709 races were contested over the virtual Hoosier Park surface as the best sophomore colt pacers battled it out. Papi Rob Horse Wins Win % Avg. Post Hanover won 213 times (30%) to soundly defeat Tall Dark Stranger, Elver Hanover and Major Betts, who all finished at 16%. Papi Rob Sweet Lou 174 27.02% 5.44 Hanover also recorded the fastest mile, crossing the wire in 1:48 4/5 Lather Up 144 22.36% 5.58 twice. Fabio Martinez drove the colt in one of those record miles and aptaintreacherous also dominated the battle for most wins in the race with 31 victories C 133 20.65% 5.46 and a solid 23% win rate. Won The West 128 19.88% 5.55 While Papi Rob Hanover was a clear-cut winner, it should be noted Betting Line 21 3.26% 5.34 that he enjoyed an extreme advantage in terms of post-position, as his average starting spot was 4.6 compared to over 5.0 for his nearest Bettors Wish 17 2.64% 5.45 competitors. Below is a breakdown of the horses and wins. All Bets Off 13 2.02% 5.49 Courtly Choice 11 1.71% 5.48 orse ins in vg ost H W W % A . P Downbytheseaside 2 0.31% 5.56 api ob anover P R H 213 30.08% 4.63 Freaky Feet Pete 1 0.16% 5.60 Elver Hanover 120 16.95% 5.10 all ark tranger T D S 117 16.53% 5.06 Three more stakes races will be offered this weekend on Catch Major Betts 116 16.38% 5.08 Driver. The series continues on May 8 with the Gerrity Memorial Captain Nemo 66 9.32% 4.93 from Saratoga Raceway on Friday, followed by the Canadian Pacing Derby on May 9 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and concluding on Sunday Capt Midnight 35 4.94% 5.19 with the Ewart Memorial from Scioto Downs. The top horses in total Catch The Fire 18 2.54% 4.95 wins throughout the series will return for a Breeders Crown show- down on May 15 at the virtual Hoosier Park. Force N Fury 19 2.68% 5.05 Each of the stakes events start at 10AM E.D.T. and the fields are as Father Nuno 4 0.56% 4.95 follows: Gerrity Memorial (May 8) Best of the Decade Compete Minutes after the final Breeders Crown race crossed the virtual All Bets Off Bit Of A Legend N wire, a new series for the best male pacers of the last decade got underway. Nineteen of the best equine athletes from 2010-19 raced in Dorsoduro Hanover Foiled Again the Ben Franklin at The Downs at Pocono and the Sam McKee at The Meadowlands. Jimmy Freight Pet Rock Taking home top honors in the Ben Franklin was Foiled Again, Won The West who won 25% of the 773 races to beat out Always B Miki and Wiggle It Jiggleit. The fastest winner was Always B Miki at 1:47 4/5 from post four. Durwin Morris picked up 29 wins to secure a spot as the top Canadian Pacing Derby (May 9) driver in the Franklin. Below are the complete results from the Ben Franklin: Always B Miki Betting Line

Horse Wins Win % Avg. Post Bettor’s Wish Captaintreacherous Foiled Again 193 25.00% 5.14 Courtly Choice Freaky Feet Pete Always B Miki 157 20.34% 5.03 Lather Up McWicked Wiggle It Jiggleit 135 17.49% 5.02 Rock N Roll Heaven Sweet Lou McWicked 106 13.73% 4.86 Bit Of A Legend N 64 8.29% 4.96 Ewart Memorial (May 10) Rock N Roll Heaven 57 7.38% 4.96 Always B Miki Captaintreacherous Pet Rock 52 6.74% 4.90 Jimmy Freight 4 0.52% 5.04 Downbytheseaside Foiled Again Dorsoduro Hanover 4 0.52% 5.05 Lather Up McWicked Rock N Roll Heaven Sweet Lou The scene switched to The Meadowlands for the second leg of the Best of the Decade series, with 10 fresh faces going behind the Catch Wiggle It Jiggleit Driver gate. The great Sweet Lou proved best, winning 27% of his races to beat Lather Up at 22% and Captaintreacherous at 20%.

DRF Harness Weekend | 8 | May 7, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Trainer Joe Holloway has ample talent in his 15-horse stable

By Jay Bergman

For most trainers during this period of time, it is business as usual early in the day. Trainer Joe Holloway is no exception as we contacted him on Tuesday morning at Gaitway Farms. “I’ve got a few more miles to go. I’ll call you back,” said Holloway while touring the oval with the 3-year-old Discoforadollar. “I had her ready to go qualify at Dover Downs on a Wednesday but they shut everything down on the Monday,” said Holloway of the filly by American Ideal that suffered a stress fracture as a juvenile but has come back nicely this year. “I think she could be something.” While unraced, there is enough pedigree to support Holloway’s belief in the $80,000 Lexington Selected yearling from 2018. Discofo- radollar is the second foal from Eighthunrdolarbill, a Bettor’s Delight mare with $362K in career earnings. The dam is also a full sister to the rugged $1 million-winning mare Medusa, as well as last year’s standout juvenile in Ontario by the name of Alicorn. Another of Holloway’s 2019 2-year-olds returning from an injury is the Father Patrick-sired Stay Close. A winner in a division of the Kindergarten series early in the season at The Meadowlands, Stay Close would take a 1:54 3/5 record and finish second in a Peter Haugh- ton elimination race. He ended his season the following week with an off-the-board performance in the final. “He’s suffered a broken hock,” said Holloway, explaining the short- ened campaign. Stay Close would be ready to qualify, if there was such a thing, in the first week of May. “I’ve trained him in 1:57 and he feels good so far,” said Holloway. Stay Close is a half-brother to the 2016 Hambletonian finalist Milligan’s School. The 4-year-old mare Zero Tolerance is approaching $1 million in career earnings after impressive 2- and 3-year-old campaigns in New York and beyond. Holloway lamented how last year ended for the daughter of Heston Blue Chip. “She bled in those last few starts,” Holloway said. “Before that, she never put in a bad race.” Zero Tolerance has been 21 times first or second in just 27 career starts heading into 2020, giving Holloway, along with owners Marty Granoff and Ted Gewertz, plenty of reason for optimism this year. “It’s a difficult transition but I think she’s up to it,” said Holloway of Joe Holloway Photo tackling older mares. With the help of Ingrid Wolfenden, trainer Joe Holloway has While Holloway’s 3-year-olds and older are ready to go once tracks trimmed down 75 pounds over the winter. open, his 2-year-olds are still about a month or more away. The Hall of Fame conditioner, responsible for some of the sport’s elite perform- we wouldn’t baby race him until the end of June.” ers, such as Jenna’s Beach Boy and She’s A Great Lady, conditioned Right now, Perfect String is part of a pair of Always B Miki- two of the fastest performers the sport has seen over the last 10 years. sired colts that Holloway is high on. The other half is Texas Miki, The world champion Shebestingin took a 1:47 mark at The Red Mile a $120,000 yearling purchase that’s the first foal from the half- in 2013. Her stablemate in Holloway’s stable that year was the 2-year- million-dollar-winning Momas Got A Gun. The dam is a full sister old Always B Miki, who years later would go on to become the all- to a pair of sub-1:50 performers in Limelight Beach and Manhattan time fastest horse in harness history with a 1:46 mark, also at The Beach. Red Mile. Holloway also has a few pacing fillies that he’s expecting good In 2020, Holloway may have the best of both worlds in a colt named things from, but he preferred to let those remain nameless. Perfect Sting, the third foal of Shebestingin from the first crop “You find out what they’re made of the first time they get tired,” of Always B Miki. “I think he looks more like Shebestingin at this said Holloway, who has been around long enough to understand how point,” said Holloway. the best training 2-year-olds don’t always live up to expectations. At Perfect Sting is a homebred of Marty Granoff’s Val D’Or Farms the same time, the trainer has a long history of developing champion along with George Segal’s Brittany Farms LLC. “I was glad they gave horses and there’s a good chance a few of the 15 in his stable could be me the horse to train,’ said Holloway. “I promised George (Segal) that headed in that direction.

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DRF Harness Weekend | 9 | May 7, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness YEARLING PAYMENTS Due MAY 15* One list and one check keeps your yearlings eligible to these top events. *per USTA rule 12.02 all payments must be postmarked by midnight Monday, May 18 Don’t forget to stake your yearling!

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Make checks payable and Be sure to check our website send all entries to: for complete conditions, The Hambletonian Society® race dates & payment forms! Cranbury Gates Office Park • 109 South Main Street, Suite 18 • Cranbury, NJ 08512-3174 Phone: 609-371-2211 • Fax: 609-371-8890 • Web: hambletonian.com Did you ever want to know more about the people involved in the harness industry? Editor Derick Giwner combs the harness landscape each week to profile a new personality from the sport.

Conrad Photo Chris Beaver’s barn earned $2.9 million in 2019, the seventh straight year his stable earned more than the previous year. trainer chris beaver What kind of car do you drive? Was the decision to give up being a vet a good one? I think vets work pretty hard too, so it was probably a good deci- Dodge Challenger. sion. I kind of grew up thinking I would have a vet degree and I Favorite dinner meal? Snack? could do the horses for fun, because the horses were something I grew up in, were fun, and something I wanted to do. My parents al- Pasta; Ice Cream. ways told me I couldn’t make a living at it (training), so I was going to be a vet. It wasn’t easy a lot of years, but I don’t think vet school What is your favorite track to race at? and being a vet is an easy life, either. Things worked out well. Red Mile – It is fun to go down there at the end of the year. You What is one word that describes harness racing for you? can stretch your horse out on the clay and don’t have to worry about the rigging so much; you can just let them get out there Life. and go. How did you get started in the sport? What is your favorite big event in racing? I grew up in it. My dad was a part-time trainer and became a Jug Week in Delaware. It is local. I pretty much race everything full-time trainer as I got older. He also had a meatpacking plant. there. I always have a lot of fun that week. He figured out early that neither me or my sister had any inter- est in the family business. He ended up transitioning to being a How often is racing on your mind? full-time horseman and I kind of followed him into that. Every day, though probably a little less since the pandemic. I try From 2012-19, your stable has increased in not to obsess too much about it because there is nothing we can starters and earnings every year. Is that a sign that you do about it right now. have “made it”? What is your favorite thing to do outside of racing? I think I had a lot of years where I was up-and-down. I had to I like to go on vacations and travel. I don’t get to do a lot of it, but move to Canada to survive. It is hard to move somewhere. My that would be my favorite thing to do. stable started to get big up there, but my wife at the time didn’t like living away from home (Ohio). We got divorced and she Did COVID-19 affect your vacation plans at all this year? moved home with my kids, so I came home. It ended up working out better than I could possibly imagine. It was right about when Not really. I send horses to Florida in the winter and I also have Ohio was getting slots at the racetracks. I bought one Ohio-bred a big stable of young horses in Ohio. I go to Florida quite a bit yearling that year for $4,000 and she won the Sire Stakes final during the winter and train there. We were going to take my for $225,000, so I was able to really increase the Ohio-breds I kids down during spring break, but we didn’t do it. bought after that. It took off pretty quick. I feel pretty secure now in racing, at least until this came up with the pandemic. I What is your favorite sport to watch? Team? went 20 years before that where I had to really struggle and the only way I kept going in the business was to own horses. I didn’t Probably college football, though not a lot; Ohio State Buckeyes. have a huge bunch of owners. It was me owning with a few people. Things really changed when I moved back to Ohio. What is one thing about you most fans/bettors don’t know? Obviously Harness Racing deals with trotters and pacers, but are you a “trot” guy? That I was almost a Veterinarian. I was about to go to vet school and I ended up buying a yearling and sold her for a half-million. 95%. I train a few pacers every year, but this year, for instance, I majored in biology in college. I was in the process of applying I have 40 2-year-olds and 36 are trotters. My dad had about 50/50 to vet school when I got that horse. I decided to train horses (trotters to pacers), but I always liked the trotters because I felt instead when she came around. CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

DRF Harness Weekend | 11 | May 7, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 like you could gain an advantage by using your mind and figuring them out. So I fixated on trotters and for that reason I ended up with what I was better at. You have 91 career driving wins. Did you know that? If so, do you want to get to 100? Linscott Photo Pure Chance is a mare Chris Beaver hopes will race big in 2020. I would expect I’ll get to 100 because I drive a few that are having troubles here or there. I did not know where I stood with the number. There was a time early on in my 20’s where I thought I would be a Which are the horses you are most looking forward to racing trainer/driver. Eventually I figured out that it wasn’t going to work in 2020? for me. I didn’t have the connections to do that and I was a little tall. I always weighed over 200 pounds, so I figured I didn’t give horses any Pure Chance is coming back. She finished the year pretty good at advantage. I do still drive young ones when I’m figuring them out or the end of her 3-year-old season. Then I would say my 2-year-olds in even at fair races sometimes. general get me excited because you don’t know what you have until they start racing. Probably the one that looks the best in the barn is You have 1,037 career training wins. How hard is it to win a Trixton colt called Kildare King. He’s been training the best so far that many races? of my 2-year-olds. I’ve got several Trixton’s and a Muscle Hill in New Jersey. It is not hard at all when you start racing 600-700 starts a year. If you would’ve asked me 10 years ago, I wouldn’t have thought it could hap- [EDITOR’S NOTE: Pure Chance finished second by a half-length pen. Ten years ago, I had a 12-horse barn. I got close to a 30-horse barn timed in 1:58 at Spring Garden Ranch on April 29 with Chris Beaver up in Canada and when I moved home, I lost a lot of owners. I remem- driving.] ber the first winter I was home, I was doing 12 horses by myself. If you would’ve asked me then, I would’ve said 1,000 wins was impossible. How has COVID-19 affected your life and business? Once you start in a lot of races, the wins are going to come. With business it has affected me a lot. In Ohio, we are typically up and running with stakes in early April. I would say the stable prob- What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten about harness racing? ably made about a quarter-million in stakes races by this time last It is advice I haven’t followed enough – Take the money when you can year. We’ve got the Hackett, the Scarlet and Gray and the first leg of get it. When you have a horse that is racing really well and get a big the Sire Stakes. I was racing about a dozen in Ohio-breds. I can’t say offer on it, take it. I did it once like 20-25 years ago and ever since I’ve we would’ve raced too much outside of Ohio, but the horses all had always wanted to keep the horse rather than sell it. over a $100,000 to race for in April and early May in Ohio. Personally, you kind of go stir-crazy not being able to race or do anything. You What was your favorite moment in harness racing? kind of obsess with the horses because there are no distractions. Way up there was setting a world record in Delaware with Trium- If you had the power to change one thing in the sport, what phant Caviar (2009, Old Oaken Bucket, 1:54 2/5). We were at home would it be? and he was a horse I picked up and developed. He didn’t cost much and still set a record in my hometown. Probably the very first thing that comes to mind is the whole integ- rity issue. It was really tough to see all of the indictments that came Which is the best horse you ever trained? out and to know that is how the world perceives us. If I could fix the bigger image problem we have, that would obviously be the best Custom Cantab. She would probably be the best I’ve trained. She’s thing to happen to the sport. made over a million through her 4-year-old campaign. She was race- timed in (1:)49 and change at The Meadowlands last year and she How do you view the future of harness racing? had a couple of tough breaks. She came within a nose of winning the Hambletonian Maturity and they set her back for interference. When I’m worried about it right now. The Thoroughbreds are still racing she was in top form, she was nearly as good as Manchego or Atlanta. and in the public’s eye. As time goes on, not only do we have no rev- She was within a length or two of them during the summer. We are enue from the casinos to support the purses, we have the bad public- bringing her back right now. She had a little injury behind at the end ity from the indictments, and we are going to have terrible sales this of last year. So far she looks good this year. fall, I would imagine. I’m usually pretty optimistic, but I’m worried right now about it all. How many horses do you have in your barn? If you had one wish in life, what would you wish for? 67. To get to the point where I feel content with what I’ve done. You qualified 17 horses at Spring Garden Ranch last week. Does that mean your barn is ready to go? Time for the stretch drive: Yeah, I’d say they are ready to go, and the 2-year-olds are getting Best Horse You Ever Saw: Muscle Hill close as well. It is a little scary, everybody is ready to go. I can imag- Best Driver Ever: Ron Pierce ine racing will be incredibly tough when all of the trainers have had nothing to do for the last two months other than hone on their horses Lasix – Yes or No?: Yes and get them ready to go. When people are qualifying, they have them ready. Favorite TV Show?: Ozark or Black Mirror

DRF Harness Weekend | 12 | May 7, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness NEWS FROM AROUND THE HARNESS INDUSTRY

her passion regarding horse aftercare. Pennsylvania tracks working towards reopening “It is an honor to be a part of the U.S. Trotting Association as a board member,” said Tetrick. “After attending my first USTA annual meeting, In a letter from the Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding to Penn- I was inspired and wanted to use my knowledge to help our sport. John sylvania Governor Tom Wolf sent earlier this week, a request was made Brennan and I were very good friends and for many years he suggested on behalf of the PA Racing Commission to allow live racing to return in that I take the leap to be on this board. Through his passing, I hope that I the state. can become an asset to our business and make him proud.” According to PlayPennsylvania.com, all of the state’s racetracks have Tetrick joins Gregory, Ingrassia, Chris McErlean and Jason Settlem- been asked to provide reopening plans by May 8 and the Governor is oir on the USTA Board of Directors for District 12. expected to make further decisions on what may reopen on the same -edited release (USTA Communications) date. To read the full article, click here. Additionally, the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association sent Camluck Classic canceled for 2020 the following letter to its members: Greetings Members: After much consideration, management at The Raceway at West- I wanted to take a moment to update our membership on the potential ern Fair District has made the decision to cancel the Camluck Classic resumption of racing at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono and Harrah’s Invitational, which was scheduled for Friday, May 29. The $150,000 Philadelphia. race is slated to return in 2021. Last week, horsemen’s groups, including the PHHA, met with racetrack The City of London Series, which had finals slated for the same operators and the State Commission via teleconference to night as the Camluck Classic, has been postponed and will be worked discuss protocols which would allow racetracks in the Commonwealth to into the schedule when live racing resumes at The Raceway. begin the process of safely re-opening. The Camluck Classic is traditionally the final program of the meet Another teleconference is set for late this week to continue the discussion at the London oval and as indicated by Ontario Racing, it is not antici- of these protocols. pated that there will be any live racing in the province during the As everyone is aware, the Governor’s Commonwealth-wide Stay-At- month of May. Home order is set to expire on May 8th, with the administration gradually -release (Western Fair) opening up specific regions and counties. At a recent press conference, the Governor was asked about the resumption of horse racing and he indicated that the return of live racing is under consideration upon expiration of the Preferred Equine unveils new website Stay-At-Home. The PHHA is working with horsemen’s groups from across the Common- Despite this generally static time in the horse racing business, wealth, alongside legislative leaders, as well as our lobbying groups to move there’s one thing that’s new and improved for industry participants, towards a safe re-opening of live racing. Additionally, last week the State and that’s the attractive, redesigned website recently unveiled by the Horse Racing Commission unanimously authorized a letter to be drafted sport’s number one sales agency, Preferred Equine Marketing. asking Governor Wolf to re-open horse racing in the Commonwealth. “Our website, preferredequine.com, is the storefront of our As the pandemic continues and all of us continue to cope with the impact, company,” said owner David Reid, “and it was time for remodeling the PHHA would like our members covered under the health care plan to both at the entrance and inside the premises. Although our original know that we will not be billing for June health insurance premiums. site served us extremely well since the early days of the internet, it Please stay healthy, practice social distancing, and know that we join was time to not only freshen the look and add some features, but to with the other Pennsylvania horsemen’s groups in seeking an approved make it more readily accessible over all devices.” plan for the re-opening of live racing as soon as possible. Reid said he and his staff are very pleased with how it all turned Samuel A. Beegle President, PHHA out, and expects that clients and customers will be pleased as well when they see it offers an even easier-to-use interface than before. While maintaining previous features like sale entry forms and Ashley Tetrick to replace Brennan in USTA District 12 online catalogs, the updated site adds enhancements like a “Hall of Fame” of both yearling and mixed sale graduates, a section on the District 12 of the U.S. Trotting Asso- clients the agency proudly represents, and expanded information on ciation Board of Directors announced company offerings. Tuesday (May 5) that Ashley Tetrick Also new to users is a section of the website dedicated to Preferred has been selected to replace John Bren- Equine’s Thoroughbred sales and bloodstock business, with Philip nan as a director for the organization. Antonacci heading up growth and development of that recently Brennan, who was a USTA director for formed addition to the company. 23 years and chairman of District 12, Antonacci, from one of harness racing’s most prominent families, died March 10. is a graduate of the Thoroughbred industry’s Godolphin Flying Start Tetrick’s term will begin immedi- program and came to his position after working with a number of ately and will run until the next District that breed’s most respected horsemen and women, including Wesley 12 meeting, which has yet to be deter- Ward, Todd Pletcher and Gai Waterhouse. mined, but typically is held in late fall. “Our whole team is excited to continue our expansion and further “Ashley mentioned to Jacquie (Ingras- involvement in the Thoroughbred marketplace,” Antonacci said. sia) that she would be interested,” said Derick Giwner “Preferred’s 30 years of experience in the Standardbred business—in new District 12 Chairman Jeff Gregory. Ashley Tetrick will be on which 22,000 horses have been sold—instills a certain degree of confi- the USTA BOD until the “We discussed it, and both felt that she dence that we can offer a level of service to new Thoroughbred clients next District 12 meeting. would be a good fit. She’s young, has and crossover clients that can rival any sales agency.” fresh ideas and is not afraid to speak her Reid said the expansion is a natural that will serve to complement mind and she’s replacing a guy who also wasn’t afraid to speak his mind. their ongoing commitment to harness racing. “The goal at Preferred is “She’ll fit into the seat very well because she’s well-versed and knowl- to not only create value for our customers across the horse racing indus- edgeable about our industry and wants to participate,” added Gregory. try, but to offer shared ideas and the best in service and amenities. An owner and breeder, Tetrick is the wife of Hall of Fame driver “Our business model—along with an improved experience while . She is well known for creating and managing the highly using our website—are ways to help accomplish that.” successful Tetrick Racing brand and social media platforms as well as -release (Preferred Equine Marketing)

DRF Harness Weekend | 13 | May 7, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness