ENTER NOW a Stable of 16 on the East Coast, Who Are Based at Gaitway for the Hottest Sale This Winter Farm in New Jersey Under the Watchful Eye of Paul Stratton

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2014

©2014 HORSEMAN PUBLISHING CO., LEXINGTON, KY USA • FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION CALL (859) 276-4026 Morgan Brings War Horses To Meadowlands While trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. is busy training 60 racehorses and 20 babies at his base at Scioto Downs, he also campaigns ENTER NOW a stable of 16 on the East Coast, who are based at Gaitway for the hottest sale this winter Farm in New Jersey under the watchful eye of Paul Stratton. Four of the “East Coast 16” are scheduled to race at the Meadowlands this weekend, including War Cry Hall on Fri- day night in search of his sixth win of 2014, and Cobalt Man, Fritzie Pic Up Man and Rockin Wizard on Saturday night, all six-time winners themselves this year. All four will have “He’s a better David Miller in the sulky. horse (at the First up for the Morgan barn on Fri- day is the 5-year-old gelding trotter February 9 & 10 Meadowlands) as long as you War Cry Hall, who brings into the classify him $11,000 C-1 event (Race 11) career ENTER ONLINE at www.bloodedhorse.com properly.” earnings of $343,310 from 86 starts. Don’t be shut out...Entries will close The son of Cash Hall made consecu- around January 10! – Virgil Morgan Jr. tive breaks in November at Harrah’s on Rockin Wizard Philadelphia which sent him to the qualifiers, and then in his first start back on Dec. 5 he again went offstride at the Meadowlands. War Cry Hall didn’t have to qualify again though because the track was rated “sloppy.” “Last week there was a recall and there was a pylon down and he jumped it,” explained Morgan. “He was very good after that once he got back flat. He was extremely good after the “There’s No Substitute for Experience” break. He’s had some bad racing luck, but he’s a pretty honest JERRY HAWS • P.O. Box 187 • Wilmore, Kentucky 40390 Phone: (859) 858-4415 • Fax: (859) 858-8498 trotter. I will be very surprised if he makes a break (on Friday).” Cobalt Man will kick things off for the barn Saturday at the Big M in Race 2, a $20,000 B2/B1 event. The 6-year-old gelded WHAT’S INSIDE . . . son of Rocknroll Hanover will be making his third start under King Leonidas heads to Woodbine—pg. 2 the Morgan banner after being purchased at Harrisburg for $50,000. After being scratched “sick” out of his first start in Horse of the Year announced Dec. 18—pg. 3 his new barn, his next two starts were at Yonkers. He returns Dave Briggs’ Stretch Call—pg. 5 to the Meadowlands on Saturday, where earlier this year he Simulcast impasse affects Big M—pg. 6 paced to a career best-equaling 1:49.4 score. “He had a few problems with his blood count when we class he fits. He’s a better horse (at the Meadowlands) as first got him, and now that’s headed in the right direction,” long as you classify him properly. He’s just ultra-consistent.” Morgan said of Cobalt Man, who has had 123 career starts, Due to what Morgan said was “immaturity,” the 3-year-old with $337,497 in earnings. “He is just an old war horse. He’s gelding Fritzie Pic Up Man made just two starts last year at just a classy horse.” two. This year the son of Always A Virgin has six wins in 21 Starting in another division of the same class (Race 7) is starts, including a mark of 1:51.3f at Harrah’s Philadelphia, Rockin Wizard, who needs a top three finish to reach the and earnings of $51,195. Fritzie Pic Up Man will start from $200,000 mark in career earnings. The 4-year-old gelded son post 6 in Race 6, a $16,000 B2 race for 3 year olds. of Rocknroll Hanover has earnings of $118,170 this year, “He’s a young horse who is getting better every start,” said with a career-best 1:49 at the Meadowlands. Rockin Wizard Morgan. “He’s just shown a lot of progress in the past two comes into the race after a pair of starts at Yonkers, includ- or three months. He’s a little more of a racehorse now. ing a 1:55.2 win last time out over a “sloppy” track. When we first got him he just wanted to do all the work all “He’s a big horse and prefers the bigger track,” said Mor- the time, so we’ve tried to make him a racehorse and fol- gan. “We just raced him at Yonkers to take advantage of the low. He’s started to come along.”—By Gordon Waterstone HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 2 of 11 December 12, 2014 www.harnessracing.com

King Leonidas Heads To Woodbine FREE In Search Of Victory Program THIS WEEK’S King Leonidas has been able to savor victory on his throne Pages FEATURED RACES three times in his 22-start career, but recent form for the 3- year-old pacer shows number four may not be too far away. Friday, Dec. 12 All times listed are local. However, with his third and second in his last two starts in 8:50p YR6 F&M Open Pace Trackmaster PPs $2,900 and $2,100 conditioned races at Sports Creek Race- way in Michigan, it might be a matter of finding the right 9:02p M6 B1/A1/FFA Trot Trackmaster PPs class at Woodbine Racetrack to make that happen. Click here to download all Friday PPs Owned by Michiganders Don and Kate Marotta (who does Saturday, Dec. 13 the training), King Leonidas starts from post 9 in a $15,000 7:45p Wdb2 Preferred Trot Trackmaster PPs claimer Friday night at Woodbine, racing for a $22,500 tag with his allowance. Jody Jamieson, the leading dash-win- 8:50p YR6 Open Pace Trackmaster PPs ner at the combined Woodbine meets, has been named to 10:50p M11 A2/FFA Pace Trackmaster PPs drive in the $9,000 race. Click here to download all Saturday PPs Because of the declining state of harness racing in Michi- gan—there were just 30 dates raced in 2014, divided equally Visit www.trackmaster.com between Northville Downs, Hazel Park and Sports Creek— and subscribe to download the Marottas sometimes lead a nomadic life as they try and full cards from your favorite tracks! find spots to race their small stable that is based on their farm in Fowlerville, Mich., where they have a one-third mile training track. HarnessRacing Weekend Preview Besides King Leonidas, the Marottas started the 2-year-old Kathy Parker Heather Kemper filly pacer Fly Amelia Fly this year, and the 19 combined [email protected] [email protected] Assistant Production Manager starts have come at five different racetracks: Hoosier Park (9), Editor/ General Manager Suzy Hall Leamington (4), Mohawk (3), Sports Creek (2) and Sarnia (1). Lynne Myers [email protected] [email protected] A $4,200 yearling purchase at the 2012 Hoosier Classic Sale Advertising Manager Production & Design by the Marottas (as Junk N Disorderly, which was changed Gordon Waterstone Stephanie Condron-Hall to King Leonidas, one of their son’s favorite characters in [email protected] [email protected] Editorial Art Director 300), King Leonidas is a son of Always A Virgin out of the Associate Editor Vanessa Flannery Bettor’s Delight mare Cannae Delight. His third dam is a full Jay Hochstetler [email protected] [email protected] Accounting & Circulation sister to the two-time Pacer of the Year Jenna’s Beach Boy. Intern King Leonidas won once in eight starts as a 2 year old, For mail sent via U.S. Postal Service, Suzanne Starbuck either P.O. Box 8480, Lexington, KY 40533, that being a 1:56 victory at Hoosier Park. This year he has [email protected] or 1910 Harrodsburg Rd., Suite 200, Lexington, KY 40503. (859) 276-4026 two wins, the first coming on June 30 at Mohawk—a career- Production Manager best 1:53.4—and the second coming on Sept. 6 at Hiawatha © Copyright Horseman Publishing Company. A product of Horseman Publishing Company, publishers of the website Horse Park in Sarnia, Ont. King Leonidas then went five www.harnessracing.com and The Horseman And Fair World magazine. consecutive starts without earning a check before finding This newspaper may not be reproduced in any form or by any means, his form in his last two starts at “The Creek.” electronic or mechanical, without prior written permission. “They have lots of classes up there,” said Kate Marotta about finding the right level for King Leonidas. To sign up for the Weekend Preview please visit Marotta said while she is doesn’t expect anybody to claim www.harnessracing.com/members_sign_up.php King Leonidas on Friday night, an offer to sell might be coming her way. New Image Media Photo “I had somebody at the Creek last week wanting to buy him; somebody from out of state,” said Marotta, whose husband is the son of the late Frank Marotta, who was instrumental in the building of both Sports Creek and Muskegon Race Course. As for other trainers hoping to ship horses to Woodbine, race secretary Scott McKelvie said there are no proprietary rules in place. “Normally we accept them,” said McKelvie. “We’ll allow them to race where they enter and then see how they do.”— By Gordon Waterstone King Leonidas HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 3 of 11 December 12, 2014 www.harnessracing.com Horse Of The Year Announced Live Dec. 18 The announcement of the 2014 Pacer of the Year, Trotter of the Year, and Horse of the Year will be made in a special live webstream on Thursday afternoon, Dec. 18. The announce- ments will be made at a press luncheon at the Victory Sports Bar at the Meadowlands and streamed live on the racetrack’s website, www.playmeadowlands.com. Voting for the 2014 Dan Patch Awards, which honor the champion harness horses of the year as voted by members of the U.S. Harness Writers Association (USHWA) and the American Harness Racing Secretaries, will close on Tuesday morning, Dec. 16. The six trotting divisional Dan Patch winners will be announced via a press release at noon on Dec. 16, with the six pacing divisional Dan Patch winners announced at noon on Wednesday, Dec. 17. The final three awards will be an- If you are able to attend the Dec. 18 press luncheon, please nounced at 1 p.m. at the press luncheon. contact Jenn Bongiorno at the Meadowlands at (201) 843- USHWA will also announce in the coming weeks its 2446 or [email protected]. If not, remem- human award winners, including the Proximity Award, ber you can watch the live streaming at which is second only to induction into the Hall of Fame. www.playmeadowlands.com at 1 p.m. While Yannick Gingras has already been named the All honorees will be recognized at USHWA’s annual unanimous winner as the 2014 Driver of the Year , other awards dinner scheduled for Sunday night, Feb. 22, 2015, at awards still to be announced include Trainer, Owner, the Doubletree Hilton at Sea World in Orlando, Fla. For Breeder, Good Guy, Unsung Hero, Rising Star and more information, including directions on making hotel Breakthrough. reservations, please go to www.ushwa.org.

HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 5 of 11 December 12, 2014 www.harnessracing.com voters take nationality into account too much, especially in what is essentially a borderless industry in which Americans frequently make an incredible contribution to the racing in Canada. Takter, a Swedish-born American citizen is a great exam- ple. In the last 20 years, he’s won well over 40 major stakes races in Canada—including 10 Breeders Crowns, four Fan Hanovers, three Canadian Trotting Classics, three Elegantim- A Case For Takter As ages, two She’s A Great Ladys and a Metro Pace. He’s Canada’s Trainer of the Year earned more than $25 million of his career total of $92 million in Canada. That’s more than 27 percent of his total haul Should Jimmy Takter be named the first non-Canadian to despite the fact just 15 percent of his career starts have oc- win that nation’s trainer of the year award? Absolutely, if curred in Canada. He also trains for a number of prominent we’re judging the award on merit not citizenship. Canadian owners. The criteria for the O’Brien Awards is to select the person After Takter, the trainer that makes the strongest case for who made the greatest contribution to Canadian racing. De- Canadian trainer of the year is five-time winner Casie Cole- spite being based in New Jersey, Takter not only led all man. Like Takter, she didn’t race a lot in Canada this year— trainers in earnings on Canadian soil with over $2.6 million just 45 times—but when she did she made a big impact. made, he did so in just 65 starts from a phalanx of equine She gets considerable points for maintaining a stable in stars. Racing analysts have already gushed over the fact Canada in the summer and for standing leading young On- Takter’s average earnings per start in 2014 is an enviable tario Sires Stakes stud Sportswriter in the province. $18,831. That’s nothing compared to his stats north of the Coleman is also the highest-ranking Canadian-born trainer border. In Canada, Takter’s horses averaged more than twice on the North American earn- I just don’t think as much—an out-of-this-world $40,688 per start. ings list with $4.5 million, sit- being Canadian His stable also won eight major stakes races in Canada in ting fourth behind Burke should be the criteria 2014 with a diverse cast of equine characters, including the (with a mind-blowing $28 that trumps what is nation’s richest events for: sophomore trotting colts (Cana- million), Takter (with a per- accomplished on the dian Trotting Classic—Father Patrick); 3-year-old pacing fil- sonal best $13.3 million) and track in Canada. Not lies (Fan Hanover—Uffizi Hanover); 3-year-old trotting fillies Erv Miller with $4.58 million. when Jimmy Takter (Elegantimage—Shake It Cerry); 2-year-old trotting colts Her average earnings per had the best year (Valley Victory—Pinkman); and freshman trotting fillies start in Canada of $35,415 is north of the border. (Goldsmith Maid—Smexi). closest to Takter’s ($40,688), By comparison, reigning Canadian trainer of the year but Takter earned more than $1 million more than Coleman Richard Moreau, who is second to Takter in earnings north in Canada in 2014 and he won more major stakes races in of the border, averaged $2,090 per start in Canada. The next- the country. closest Canadian-based trainer on the Canadian earnings All things nearly equal, by all means O’Brien voters should list—not counting third-place Corey Johnson who is barred pick the Canadian person first. I just don’t think being Cana- from winning an O’Brien Award due to a positive test—is dian should be the criteria that trumps what is accom- Gregg McNair. He’s sixth in Canada behind U.S. trainers plished on the track in Canada. Not when Jimmy Takter had Tony Alagna and Ron Burke. Alagna averaged $9,508 per the best year north of the border. start in Canada this year, while Burke averaged $23,910. Since 1985, Canadians have won or shared the U.S. Trainer McNair’s average was $3,649. of the Year award six times. It’s astounding that in the 25- Proponents of the Canadian trainers will no doubt argue year history of the O’Brien Awards a non-Canadian has they made a bigger contribution by being based in never once done the same in Canada. To exclude Takter—or Canada and racing in the country much more than either Burke or any other American—from serious consideration Takter, Burke or Alagna. I argue that winning a slew of based on nationality and home address is insular and exclu- Canada’s biggest races against the toughest competition sionist thinking. and regularly increasing the equine talent pool in that nation is an even bigger contribution to racing in the coun- Dave Briggs was the editor of The Canadian Sportsman for 18 years and is an award-winning journalist. His try, particularly now when there’s a horse shortage and an column appears in HarnessRacing Weekend Preview influx of outside talent is needed to maintain a high cali- in part through the advertising support of Hanover bre of product. Shoe Farms and Woodbine Entertainment Group. I get the O’Brien Awards are designed to be different Any opinions expressed in this column are his own and than the Dan Patch Awards and, rightly, attempt to honor not necessarily those of the Horseman Publishing Company and its publications or its advertisers. Canadians whenever possible. But I’ve long felt O’Brien HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 6 of 11 December 12, 2014 www.harnessracing.com Simulcast Impasse Continues, Affects Big M The contract impasse between Monarch Content Manage- ment and the MidAtlantic Cooperative, which represents 23 racetracks, enters weekend number two with no resolution in sight. While price rates are one stickler in the negotiations, another is that Monarch wants all of the harness tracks in MidAtlantic that don’t offer live racing to “pay for the Thoroughbred signals they purchase.” The 23 MidAtlantic tracks reportedly represent approxi- mately $1 billion in handle annually. In a rebuttal release, MidAtlantic noted that all of its member racetracks are equal partners and should receive equal treatment and that the “non-Thoroughbred members pay millions of dollars by statute or contract to Thoroughbred purse funds and breeding programs…and a large percent- age of revenues generated from simulcasting goes to purse and breeders funds for horsemen at all MidAtlantic member tracks.” MidAtlantic Cooperative The MidAtlantic re- Harness Racetracks lease noted that Monarch represents Dover Downs one non-Thorough- Freehold bred track but that it Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs “has yet to agree for Harrah’s Philadelphia that facility to pay pre- Harrington miums on MidAtlantic Hollywood Dayton Thoroughbred con- Northfield Park tent.” Although not Ocean Downs specifically named, for all of its tracks. Because of the negotiations, O’Hara Plainridge the Meadowlands is said he could not comment on published reports that Rosecroft the lone harness track state Monarch is hoping to increase its simulcast rates under the Monarch by 20 percent. banner (although the Meadowlands races a short Thorough- “They say that anybody who runs a live Standardbred bred turf meet in late fall). The Meadowlands had been part meet should pay more, even if they contribute simulcast of the MidAtlantic Cooperative, but in 2012 moved to money toward purses and breeders funds for Thorough- Monarch, which coincided with the timeframe when Jeff breds,” said O’Hara. Gural took over the racetrack from the state of New Jersey. As for the Meadowlands, because it is part of Monarch, Both the Meadowlands and Monmouth Park joined the Mi- none of its import signals have been affected. And although dAtlantic Cooperative when it was formed, when both Freehold is part of MidAtlantic, New Jersey regulations tracks were managed by the New Jersey Sports and Exposi- allow all tracks in the state to continue to take the Meadow- tion Authority. lands signal. Phil O’Hara is executive director of the MidAtlantic Co- As for the Meadowlands export numbers, Meadowlands operative and was instrumental in its formation in 1998 director of racing operations Darin Zoccali said he saw no when he was a racing executive at Penn National Thor- noticeable difference. oughbred racetrack. He also previously served as presi- “Our ADW wagering was up so it appears the bettors dent of Equibase Company, which produces past that couldn’t wager on the Meadowlands at particular performance programs. O’Hara told HarnessRacing sites simply found other means to do so,” said Zoc- Weekend Preview that Monarch charges premium rates cali.—By Gordon Waterstone HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 7 of 11 December 12, 2014 www.harnessracing.com Michael Lisa/Lisa Photos Michael

Golden Receiver Nears Retirement The end is in sight for Golden Receiver’s glorious racing career, with the 9-year-old pacer’s next start expected to be his 171st and final one. That said, a good performance in that contest may leave the door open for at least start 172. Golden Receiver is sitting this week out after an eighth- place finish on Dec. 6 at the Meadowlands. The race was his second start back after a six- week layoff as well as his second since being sent to trainer Julie Miller. In his first start for Team Miller, Golden Receiver started from the outside post 7 and came up a nose short in second after leading through every call. Starting from post 9 on Dec. 6, Golden Receiver led early before tiring. “Andy (Miller) said “They were going to give him the horse was this Saturday off anyway and not hurt and he race him the next Saturday,” should be fine to said breeder and co-owner Nina race. They just Simmonds. “Andy (Miller) said want to go out the horse was not hurt and he with a race. I should be fine to race. They just don’t know if want to go out with a race. I this is premature don’t know if this is premature or not.” or not.” – Nina Simmonds Golden Receiver has 63 wins, on Golden Receiver 25 seconds and 27 thirds in his career, taking his career mark of 1:48 in 2012 while winning the $242,500 U.S. Pacing Championship at the Meadow- lands. His career earnings stand at $2,207,111. “I know he’s coming home (to Windy Hill Farm in Bing- hamton, N.Y., where he was foaled in 2005) and I know he’s going to have one more start, unless something hap- pens,” said Simmonds, whose Golden Receiver LLC shares ownership in Golden Receiver with the multi-partnered Our Horse Cents Stable. “This is what Gene (Kurzrok) de- cided…and he talked to his partners and he said they all agreed.”—By Gordon Waterstone HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 8 of 11 December 12, 2014 www.harnessracing.com

Gingras, Burke Top Grand Circuit Standings scheduled to change the Cleveland Classic in 2015 to a race The final Grand Circuit race of the 2014 season was to be for older trotters. at Northfield Park this Friday as the Northeast Ohio oval “I’m optimistic about next year in that we are changing the was to host the $150,000 Cleveland Classic for 3-year-old Cleveland Classic from the way it has been and making it an male pacers. However, only five sophomore pacers entered event for older trotters we are calling the Cleveland Trotting for the $150,000 guaranteed purse and the race was can- Classic, which we will race on July 3,” said Bianconi. “Our celed. Their ownerships will each receive a check in excess premier event for 3-year-old colt pacers is still the Milstein of $17,000 for entering. Memorial, and we will race that on Aug. 14.” The Grand Circuit leaders in three categories—driver, Also on the Northfield stakes schedule for 2015 are the trainer and owner—were tracked on a points system (20-10- Battle of Lake Erie for older pacers on June 12, and the 5 for the top three finishers in divisions/finals and 10-5-2 for Courageous Lady for 3-year-old filly pacers on Nov. 27 (the the top three finishers in eliminations/legs). Winbak Farms day after Thanksgiving). sponsored the 2014 Grand Circuit Awards. Tetrick To Represent U.S. Yannick Gingras was the leading Grand Circuit driver, with Ron Burke leading the trainers. Burke Racing was the lead- In World Driving Championship ing Grand Circuit owner in 2014, besting partner Weaver Br- Tim Tetrick, who has led the nation in driver earnings for uscemi LLC. the past seven years in a row, will represent the United Here are the final standings for the 2014 season: States in the 2015 World Driving Championship (WDC) in Driver Points New South Wales, Australia, from Feb. 21 through March 1. 1. Yannick Gingras 2,287 It will be Tetrick’s first appearance in the WDC. 2. Tim Tetrick 1,182 “It’s an honor; hopefully I can make America proud and do 3. David Miller 1,023.5 a good job,” said Tetrick. “I’ve never been to Australia be- 4. Ron Pierce 877.5 fore, so I’m definitely looking forward to that as well. 5. Corey Callahan 647 “I’m sure I’ll talk to some people before I go, but I’m just going to go about it the way I usually go about my business,” Trainer Points added Tetrick. “I’m going to do my homework, have an open 1. Ron Burke 2,490 mind, try to do a good job—and hopefully have a lot of fun 2. Jimmy Takter 1,913 doing it. I’m excited. I’m really looking forward to it.” 3. Erv Miller 446.5 Conducted since 1970, the World Driving Championship 4. Joe Holloway 411 will bring together 10 of the world’s best harness drivers to 5. Julie Miller 347 compete in 20 races at six different racetracks in Australia. Owner Points “I’ve known Tim ever since he started driving and we 1. Burke Racing 555.03 couldn’t have a better representative for this event,” said U. 2. Weaver Bruscemi 500.3 S. Trotting Association president Phil Langley. “He is very 3. 3 Brothers Stable 367 good with both the media and the public and I know the 4. Brittany Farms 294.45 Australians were very eager for him to compete.” 5. Robert Key 272 Nine of those 10 drivers have been named by their coun- tries. In addition to Tetrick, the 2015 WDC drivers will be de- With Just 5 Entered, fending champion Pierre Vercruysse (France); Jody Jamieson Cleveland Classic Canceled (Canada); Knud Monster (Denmark); Tony le Beller (France); With the names of just five 3-year-old male pacers Hugo Langeweg Jr. (Netherlands); Dexter Dunn (New dropped into the box, Friday night’s $150,000 Cleveland Zealand); Vidar Hop (Norway); and Bjorn Goop (Sweden). Classic at Northfield Park has been canceled. Only the host country has yet to name their representative. “When you have a race this late in the year, sometimes Norwegian driver Ulf Thoresen is the all-time leader with you get lucky and sometimes you don’t,” Northfield Park four championships (1973, 1977, 1979, 1981). With two victo- executive vice president of racing Dave Bianconi told The ries each, German Heinz Wewering (1993, 1997) and Cana- Horseman Tuesday morning. “I had 38 eligible and only dian Jamieson (2001, 2011) are the only other drivers to win five entered, so a lot of them are just tired as it’s been a multiple championships. long year.” Following is the schedule for the 2015 World Driving Bianconi said the connections of each of the five horses Championship in Australia: that entered Friday will receive a check in excess of $17,000 Saturday (Feb. 21) – Menangle (2 races) for entering. Bianconi also noted that it had already been Continues on page 9 ›››› HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 9 of 11 December 12, 2014 www.harnessracing.com

Sunday (Feb. 22) – Newcastle (3 races) France to race in the Prix de Bourgogne on Dec. 28, a prelimi- Monday (Feb. 23) – Goulburn (3 races) nary event for the Prix d’Amerique. How she fares will deter- Tuesday (Feb. 24) – Wagga (4 races) mine if Jimmy Taker tries for a second victory in the race that Wednesday (Feb. 25) – Bathhurst (4 races) attracts over 40,000 spectators on the last Sunday in January. Thursday (Feb. 26) – Penrith (3 races) Takter also trained the 1999 winner, the legendary Moni Maker. Sunday (March 1) – Menangle – (1 race) – Inter Dominion If you never been to Paris, consider going to see one of Grand Final Day the most beautiful cities in the world, in the best possible Having reached a 50-year milestone working in the har- setting: framed by the world’s best trotters, with a group of ness racing industry (with 34 years serving as Monticello like-minded harness racing enthusiasts. Raceway’s publicity director), John Manzi on Thursday an- International travel company Equitours offers a guided nounced his retirement effective Dec. 19. tour that features some of the best attractions Paris has to “Every race has to come to an end,” said Manzi. “And after offer, in value-priced package that offers plenty of time to five decades of answering the call to the post, the time is explore the City of Lights on your own, or simply immerse right for me to relax a little and enjoy my golf clubs and my yourself in the French trotting culture. grandchildren. After seeing so much being at the helm of You can try to win the trip through the Standardbred Retire- the Monticello Raceway public relations office for many ment Foundation raffle (http://www.adoptahorse.org) or leave years, one thing remains supremely important to me. It’s all nothing to chance and book this fantastic experience today. of the good people I have met and the friends I have made.” The tour begins on Thursday, Jan. 22, and ends on Mon- While he is officially retiring, Monticello Raceway manage- day, Jan. 26. Options includes a visit to Grosbois training ment and Manzi have agreed that he will continue to write center and the stable of Pierre Vercruysse, who raced several articles for the track and from time to time he will offer as- years at the Meadowlands and will be hosting Maven, an sistance to racing operations office. auction of trotting horses and an extraordinary equine trade Manzi began his harness racing career in 1958, three years fair where the champagne flows freely, a visit to the Moulin before he would graduate from Monticello High School, when Rouge, a personalized bus tour of Paris, extraordinary meals he began working as a trainer at the stables his family owned and international company, and culminates with VIP seat for locally. Manzi consequently began his racing career where he the Prix d’Amerique at famed Vincennes Racetrack. won seven out of eight of his first races at local county fairs. For complete information, go to www.equitours.se and In 1974, after living and racing all over the East Coast, he got a click on the American flag to take you to a full description of chance to come back home when he became the assistant to the Paris and Prix d’Amerique tour. Or contact American Monticello Raceway Racing Secretary. Two years later, after a representatives Dean Hoffman at brief stint as racing secretary, Manzi was assigned to Monti- [email protected] or (614) 457-8750 and Moira cello Raceway’s office of publicity and public relations. In 1980 Fanning at [email protected] or (732) 306-6713. he was promoted to the position of publicity director. Court Finds Balmoral’s Johnston From racing elephants, to camels, to elephants against camels, to having a former New York Giants football player Liable In Racketeering Case race against a horse, Manzi built an impressive legacy of The Beacon-News is reporting that a jury in federal district garnering attention for Monticello Raceway. court in Illinois found Balmoral Park’s John Johnston liable Manzi’s exceptional efforts have not gone unnoticed through on three counts in a civil racketeering case involving con- the years. He is a member of the Communicator’s Hall of duct engaged in by former Governor Rod Blagojevich. Fame in Goshen and has received the Proximity Award from The jury awarded $26.3 million in damages to four Illinois USHWA, the Pinnacle Award from the Harness Racing Mu- riverboat casinos including the Hollywood Casino Joliet and seum and Hall of Fame, the Appreciation Award from Harness the Hollywood Casino Aurora. The case involved the three Horsemen International, the Laurel Award from New York City percent tax charged on Illinois’ four Chicagoland riverboat USHWA and was named USHWA’s Person of the Year in 1992. casinos between 2008 and 2010. To read the full story, click here. Book Your Prix d’Amerique Trip Now The world’s greatest trotting spectacle is just six weeks The Inspiring Story Of Waco Hanover away, and this year’s edition of the Prix’d’Amerique may Editor’s Note: Waco Hanover, a son of Tar Heel-Wanda Hanover, feature an actual Amerique—the trotting mare Maven. born May 4, 1977, will officially be 38 on Jan. 1. He’s among 43 The daughter of Glidemaster-M Stewart, now trained by horses of distinction featured in Standardbred Old Friends, Jimmy Takter and driven by Yannick Gingras for owners Herb available on Amazon, Ebay, and the Harness Racing Museum Liverman, John Fielding and Joyce McClelland is headed to Continues on page 10 ›››› HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 10 of 11 December 12, 2014 www.harnessracing.com

website. His long life has been one of quiet service. Here is an got in, and we must have passed 15 horses. They must have excerpt of his chapter in the book, written by Ellen Harvey: wondered what kind of monster is this?” The seasons turned with Waco resting in winter and leg- Everett Kettler quickly spotted the new horse’s problem. “He ging up on country roads in spring. Kettler and Waco raced had a real attitude problem,” he said. “Sour. He was very sour.” for a few hundred dollars from New York to Maine. Waco Hanover, now 37, was six when Kettler bought him Most years they won a race. That was nice but not essen- for $1,500 in 1983. The gelding had raced for four years, tial, or, in Waco’s mind, perhaps, wholly unnecessary. “I most recently for Nelson Haley, in $2,000 claimers at think he’s the age he is and the shape he’s in because he Saratoga Raceway. In 57 starts, he’d won only four races. Kettler had just what Waco Hanover needed, a farm in knew he’d still get fed, no matter what,” Kettler said. Woodbury, Vt. “I let him be a horse,” Kettler said. “He ate In 1991 Waco Hanover turned 14. That season, his 11th, grass, ran around spanned three weeks; he earned $1,350. All that work for so with mares.” little money would be worth it, Kettler thought, if they could Waco was more win at Tunbridge. teacher than pet to “The main goal was to get a couple of races under him Kettler, more accus- and win the 14-year-old race at Tunbridge,” Kettler said. Barbara Livingston Photo tomed to coaxing To read the entire excerpt, please click here. sound from strings MSOA Announces 2014 Award Winners than speed from a The 3-year-old colt pacer Cammikey, owned by Cam horse. Kettler was a Land LLC, has been named Horse of the Year by the mem- luthier, a craftsman of bers of the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association stringed instruments. (MSOA). Cammikey, who is trained by Bill Zendt and was “He taught me how also named the organization’s Pacer of the Year, beat out to drive,” Kettler said. Daylon Miracle for the top honor. Daylon Miracle, owned Waco Hanover “I didn’t know any- and trained by Bill Bercury, was named the MSOA’s Trotter thing. He wouldn’t respond if you didn’t do the right thing. of the Year. “I had a tiny track, not good for anything but jogging. Be- Chaching Hanover earned top honors as the 2-Year-Old fore that, I was driving on the road, going through horse- Colt Pacer of the Year for owners Karen Fread, Michael Toth shoes every two weeks.” and Michelle Linnert and trainer Jan Fread. Top 2-year-old Every spring, from 1983 to 1991, Kettler legged up Waco Hanover. They raced at places like the Tunbridge World’s Fair pacing filly honors were earned by Half Past Seven, owned in Vermont, featuring maple ice cream, an oxen costume by the Lone Wolf Stable and trained by Mike Palone. class and the world’s narrowest racetrack. It fits four horses Among freshman trotters, the top vote-getters were Wim- across, but they’d better be narrow horses. borne Hanover and Matter Hatter. Wimborne Hanover, “My God, it’s scary,” Kettler said. If you don’t get down to named the top colt, is owned by Susan Daugherty and three (wide) by the turn, you’re going in the river.” trained by her husband, Bill. Filly Matter Hatter is owned by Waco Hanover won at Tunbridge his first year for Kettler, a Pius Soehnlen and was trained by Jeff Cox. mile in 2:15.2, an impressive time if you’ve seen the track. Top sophomore colt pacing honors went to Cammikey, In the late 1980s, Kettler integrated his hobby and busi- while Eiffel Tower was named the leading pacing filly. Eiffel ness. He founded Rough Terrain Carts and started building Tower, owned by Glenda Collins and Janine Zito, is condi- horse-drawn carts for country roads—or no roads. Waco tioned by Dean Collins. Bob Key’s Jett Star, trained by Steve tested prototype carts. Owens, was named the top local trotting colt of 2014, while “It had these big, wooden wheels,” said Kettler. “Waco Broadway Socks earned honors on the filly side. Broadway looks over his shoulder and starts freaking. I put it over his Socks is owned by her trainer, David Wade, in partnership rump, touched him with the shafts. It was like he said, ‘Oh, with Gerald Brittingham and William Peel. Visible Gold was you want me to pull it.’ You could see the light bulb go off.” named the top aged male pacer for the 2014 season. Ron “I got into endurance driving events,” Kettler said. “I used Burke trains for the Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi that to put his legs under him in the spring, then I’d go off LLC and the RTC Stables. and race him.” Do Me Honor, owned and trained by Bill Bercury, was “He cleaned up in a couple of them,” Kettler said. “I re- named the top aged pacing mare, while stablemate member his first race. Well, it’s not a race, an event. I didn’t Tamarind was named the top aged male trotter. They joined want two in the cart, but I was looking at five miles to go, Daylon Miracle, the top older mare trotter, as the Bercury and I thought this is nothing, absolutely nothing. My wife Stable brought in the most awards on the evening. (MSOA) HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 11 of 11 December 12, 2014 www.harnessracing.com

Final Standardbred Poll Leading Breeders Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown Poll compiled by Harness Racing Communications for the week of December 2, 2014 Breeder Starters Winners Wins Earnings Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. 1,090 775 2,544 $28,653,731 AGS St-1-2-3 Earnings Pts Pvs 1. JK She’salady (26) 2pf 12-12-0-0 $883,330 330 1 Winbak Farm 1,012 658 1,996 16,366,375 2. Shake It Cerry (3) 3tf 17-15-0-1 1,230,411 293 2 Brittany Farms 312 234 815 14,951,082 3. Father Patrick (2) 3tc 17-12-3-0 1,693,081 249 4 Perretti Farms 352 245 819 8,670,030 4. Nuncio 3tc 17-11-5-1 1,458,071 198 5 Kentuckiana Farms Gen Par 262 175 538 5,578,120 5. Sebastian K 8th 13-8-2-0 663,853 194 3 Steve Stewart 144 106 342 5,228,582 6. Sweet Lou (4) 5ph 19-11-3-1 1,361,433 185 7 Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. 186 134 448 5,169,912 7. Mission Brief 2tf 13-9-0-0 591,070 157 6 White Birch Farm 162 114 392 4,918,057 8. McWicked 3pc 22-11-5-4 1,322,157 81 8 Robert McIntosh Stables Inc. 137 98 366 4,356,697 9. Trixton 3tc 11-8-1-1 893,370 52 10 Frederick Hertrich III 171 123 358 4,191,871 10. Always B Miki 3pc 19-12-4-0 791,482 50 9 Others receiving votes: Artspeak 39, Commander Crowe, Pinkman 25, JK Endofanera 11, Limelight Beach, Maven 10, Intimidate 3, Color’s A Virgin, In The Arsenal, Modern Family, Leaders Of The Week Ranked by wins for Dec. 3-9 from results at major North American pari-mutuel tracks. Wild Honey 2, Creatine, E L Titan, Freaky Feet Pete, Lifetime Pursuit, Natural Herbie 1. Drivers Starts W-P-S Ronnie Wrenn Jr...... 87 ...... 27-19-11 Harness Racing Leaders Aaron Merriman ...... 100...... 21-20-17 Compiled by the USTA—through December 9, 2014 (week difference Dec. 3-9). Yannick Gingras ...... 66...... 17-15-3 Leading North American-Based Money-Winning Horses Chris Page ...... 60...... 15-7-7 George Napolitano Jr ...... 51...... 15-8-4 Sts. W P S Earnings Jason Bartlett ...... 57...... 15-9-6 Father Patrick (3tc) 17 12 3 0 $1,693,081 Tim Tetrick ...... 77 ...... 15-10-10 McWicked (3pc) 23 12 5 4 1,472,937 Corey Callahan ...... 94...... 14-13-21 Nuncio (3tc) 17 11 5 1 1,458,071 Mike Wilder...... 49...... 14-10-6 Sweet Lou (5ph) 19 11 3 1 1,361,433 Bruce Aldrich Jr...... 55...... 13-7-10 Shake It Cerry (3tf) 17 15 0 1 1,230,411 Jim DeVaux ...... 47...... 12-5-8 JK Endofanera (3pc) 20 10 5 2 1,104,035 Dave Palone ...... 49...... 11-9-2 All Bets Off (3pc) 18 11 2 1 911,425 Robert Shepherd...... 51...... 11-5-5 Trixton (3tc) 11 8 1 1 893,370 Allan Davis...... 56...... 10-8-4 JK She’salady (2pf) 12 12 0 0 883,330 W. Drew Campbell ...... 21...... 10-2-2 Foiled Again (10pg) 26 6 8 5 863,563 Casey Leonard ...... 52 ...... 9-9-1 Ross Wolfenden ...... 45 ...... 9-5-8 Leading Money-Winning Drivers Tony Hall...... 47...... 9-5-11 Sts. W-P-S UDR Earnings (wk. diff) Tony Morgan ...... 70 ...... 9-9-9 Yannick Gingras 2,183 541-378-262 .384 $17,111,749 ($267,585) Tim Tetrick 2,601 497-402-370 .324 11,643,612 (212,122) Trainers Wins Ron Pierce 3,002 448-469-384 .279 10,971,673 (97,403) Ron Burke ...... 19 Virgil Morgan Jr ...... 11 Brian Sears 2,145 441-329-294 .336 9,650,226 (79,480) Tracy Brainard ...... 8 David Miller 2,241 329-329-321 .276 9,502,920 (270,250) J.D. Perrin...... 7 Corey Callahan 3,344 543-479-484 .290 8,670,187 (218,946) Jessica Millner ...... 6 Jason Bartlett 2,561 526-395-342 .336 7,997,260 (168,415) C. Brian Loney...... 5 Matt Kakaley 2,618 360-375-373 .265 7,987,869 (94,495) Jim King Jr ...... 5 Brett Miller 2,854 373-331-394 .241 7,682,068 (110,295) Jose Godinez ...... 5 George Brennan 2,508 434-363-299 .293 7,266,101 (64,195) Kimberly Asher...... 5 Leading Money-Winning Trainers Blair Burgess...... 4 Ed Hensley...... 4 Sts. W-P-S UTR Earnings (wk. diff) Joe Cirasuola...... 4 Ron Burke 4,914 1,064-843-647 .356 $28,047,127 ($320,578) Mark Goldberg ...... 4 Jimmy Takter 721 190-122-83 .396 13,330,391 (51,437) Marthe Drolet ...... 4 Erv Miller 1,296 227-195-182 .306 4,585,419 (4,320) Nick Surick ...... 4 Casie Coleman 443 108-76-64 .387 4,503,668 (150,780) P.J. Fraley...... 4 P.J. Fraley 1,043 166-157-149 .290 4,276,332 (60,175) Perry Smith ...... 4 Julie Miller 690 146-107-103 .348 4,034,846 (19,870) Robert Lounsbury ...... 4 Tony Alagna 715 152-97-86 .328 3,941,234 (26,155) Scott Di Domenico...... 4 Rene Allard 1,490 319-221-194 .340 3,912,276 (23,010) Trish Foulk ...... 4 Gilbert Garcia-Herrera 1,190 262-211-156 .362 3,280,893 (39,595) Vincent Fusco Jr...... 4 Linda Toscano 502 95-68-76 .315 2,516,684 (2,380) Wayne Givens...... 4