DRF HARNESS HOME DIGITAL HARNESS EYE HARNESS PPS DRF BETS ENTRIES ARCHIVE THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020 Klau managing an elite group of trotting stallions at Southwind Farms NEW PLAYERS has ruled the stallion ranks for years. Now Southwind Farms Stallion Manager Mike Klau has new blood in Walner and Tactical Landing DOUBLE YOUR FIRST DEPOSIT UP TO $250 JAYWALKING By Jay Bergman JOIN NOW @BergmanJay

It’s one of those rare times in history that everyone is looking ahead. For those who breed horses on a regular basis, waiting is something they are all too familiar with, regardless of outside factors. Yet at the end of many rainbows, there is a foal, eventually a yearling, and hopefully a 2-year-old that Inside this issue shows up and has talent. The next generation always holds with it the promise of something Field set for Catch Driver Digital better than the last. for 3-year-olds, Page 4 At Southwind Farms in New Jersey, there is a virtual assembly line of trotting talent Newest Catch Driver series features that has been built in large part on the back of best male pacers of the decade, Page 5 the 14-year-old Muscle Hill. The Hambleton- ian winner has gone on to sire Hambletonian Derick Giwner: A regional plan to return winners, as well as some of the best and most- to racing, Page 5 talented horses of the last decade. Mike Klau, who manages the stallions at Southwind Keith Gisser: Keeping busy while Ohio Farms, now sees two more trotting stallions racing remains on hold, Page 7 with what he hopes will be bright futures in Lisa Photo Walner and Tactical Landing. Klau, a veteran Muscle Hill drinks from the Hambletonian Schnittker stable raring to go when in the breeding business that dates himself trophy after winning the 2009 final with given the green light, Page 8 back to Pine Hollow Farm in New York, has driver (pictured). seen much change. On The Backstretch: Profile of driver/ “I can remember taking Green Speed’s wind Farm stallion) was a different horse trainer Alan Schwartz, Page 9 first crop to auction in Kentucky,” Klau said and his offspring helped change the breed.” of the Hambletonian-winning son of Speedy Certainly the impact of Valley Victory is one Canada announces Rodney. “The breed has become more refined. of the key reasons our trotters today can go at “Return to Racing” blueprint, Page 11 I think Green Speed trotted his best mile in speeds shading 1:50, some five seconds faster Comments? Questions? 1:55 and that wouldn’t be enough to win a non- than they traveled 50 years ago. winners-of-three these days. Email the Editor [email protected] “I think Valley Victory (a one-time South- CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

We are all in this together~stay healthy & safe!

The Ohio Sires Stakes for 3-year-old trotting & pacing colts & fillies have been postponed & will be rescheduled for a later date.

Kimberly Rinker Ohio Standardbred Development Fund 614-779-0269 [email protected] Updates will be posted at www.racingohio.net

© 2020 Daily Racing Form, LLC - 10 Grand Central, 3rd Floor, NY, NY 10017

Derick Giwner Walner had his on-track career cut short but there was no denying his talent as a potential premier stallion prospect.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 they support him. His book is full and closed,” Klau said. “I think they will sell very well in Lexington. I know Steve Stewart Muscle Hill is a direct descendant of Valley Victory on the stallion has a few he is really high on,” said Klau about the Walner first crop. side and his book has been filled each year since his retirement, but Others have echoed those sentiments, including Walner’s former Klau noted a different wrinkle in the 2020 assignment. “A lot of the trainer. “Yes, I’ve seen a few of them and they look a lot like him,” syndicate that owns him is European. Frozen semen is shipped to Linda Toscano said. “I hope to be training a few of them.” Europe for 30 mares each year,” said Klau. “While those breedings How many from Walner’s first crop that will have his ability still don’t count against the numbers we’re allowed to breed in the U.S. we remains in the balance, but a look at other foals from the first crop still only bred 140 mares in total. This year we’ve not replaced those shows a pair of horses from breeders who clearly want to take over 30 European breedings and he’ll be bred to 110 mares in North Amer- the seven kingdoms of trotting. King Of The North is a colt from the ica.” At $35,000, Muscle Hill is the most expensive stallion in North $1.9 million-winning mare Check Me Out. “He’s definitely the best- America, but Klau says there are few breedings available. “We’ve cut looking foal from the mare,” said Ray Schniktter, who co-owns the down the numbers because of his age and because we’d like him to be mare and foal with Steve Jones. Check Me Out has had three fillies active at this level for the next six-to-eight years,” Klau said. thus far, with King Of The North her first colt. Sons of Muscle Hill are attempting to follow in his footsteps, and Jaqen H’Ghar put on different faces throughout the Game Of Tactical Landing, the full brother to Mission Brief out of a Southwind Thrones and his namesake is the first foal of Windowshopper, a Farms bred mare, has a full book in 2020, his second season as a stal- full sister to the outstanding juvenile of 2017, Fashionwoodchopper. lion. Knutsson Trotting owns Jaqen H’Ghar. Walner is the first son of top stallion Chapter Seven to retire to On the filly side, there’s a 2019 yearling by the name of Fashion stallion duty and his first crop of yearlings will hit the sales this fall. Schooner, who is a half-sister to the $1.4 million-winning Broadway “We’ve got two fillies and two colts that we will sell in Lexington,” Donna. She’s the seventh foal from the 2009 Hambletonian Oaks and Klau said. The Walner syndicate stands the horse at Southwind and Breeders Crown champion Broadway Schooner, but significantly just by agreement the farm gets five breedings each year to use. “I’m very the second filly from the dam. happy with the way my yearlings look,” said Klau of the Walner pros- Walner has another first-cropper from the 2016 Hambletonian Oaks pects. “He’s an atypical son of Chapter Seven in that he was a much winner All The Time entitled American Beauty. Hopefully, named bigger individual than his sire,” Klau said of Walner. “The foals for the 1970 Grateful Dead album and not the 1999 movie of the same resemble him in a very good way.” name. American Beauty is the second foal and first filly from All The Of the four, Klau pointed to the colt Southwind Domino, the first Time, the full sister to $2.4 million winner Ariana G, the 2017 Oaks foal from an Explosive Matter-sired mare named Drinking Class. champion. Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld own the impeccably bred filly. “She’s a half-sister to Classic Martine ($1.1 million winner) that was a Whether Walner or Tactical Landing will be the future of trotting winner on the Pennsylvania Fair circuit. It’s her first foal.” remains to be seen. Some have already conceded that it’s going to be With two crops on the ground, Walner enters his third season and very difficult for any to replace a prodigious Muscle Hill at the top of interest remains strong. “He’s got a solid syndicate of breeders and the trotting world.

DRF Harness Weekend | 3 | April 30, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Virtual 3-year-olds set to battle in digital Breeders Crown

The scene now shifts to By Derick Giwner Hoosier Park with the top nine winners on hand for The preliminary rounds are complete in the 2020 Breeders Crown/ the Breeders Crown final. Catch Driver 3-year-old Virtual Pacing Championship. All that Seven-eighths tracks tend remains is the Breeders Crown final to see if Papi Rob Hanover can to play fairest in terms continue his reign atop the standings. of post-position bias in A total of 2,816 races were contested on the Catch Driver app over Catch Driver and that the previous two weekends and Papi Rob Hanover won 684 times (24%) should serve as a perfect to lead Tall Dark Stranger at 452 wins (16%). Each horse competed in test for the top 3-year- five legs of the series. old pacers as we look to Let’s review the three stakes from this weekend: crown a champion. Below First up on April 24 was the at The Meadowlands. Papi is the field for the Crown Rob Hanover won nearly 34% of the races while besting Tall Dark final with total wins and Stranger at just under 25%. On the flip side, Tall Dark Stranger won the number of legs they in the fastest time (1:49 4/5) three times to Papi Rob Hanover’s one. On competed in the series. the driver front, I eked out a narrow 23-to-22 victory in total wins with a solid 18% win rate. Horse Wins # of Legs Papi Rob Hanover 684 5 Horse Wins Avg. Post Tall Dark Stranger 452 5 Papi Rob Hanover 117 5.68 Major Betts 362 3 Tall Dark Stranger 86 5.29 Captain Nemo 286 5 Captain Nemo 41 5.46 Elver Hanover 239 3 Capt Midnight 38 5.48 Capt Midnight 193 5 Freedom Warrior 21 5.43 Catch The Fire 178 6 Catch The Fire 20 5.87 Force N Fury 169 5 Force N Fury 13 5.48 Father Nuno 5 5.33 The winning horse will get bragging rights while the winning over- Captain Barbossa 4 5.45 all driver gets much more. The top winner in the Breeders Crown will Cattlewash 0 5.48 get a DRF Harness hat, in-game currency and some swag courtesy of the Hambletonian Society. Also, every driver that wins a race will get The top two sat out the MGM Messenger over the half-mile track at a free set of wheels from the store on the Catch Driver app. Yonkers and that resulted in a tight battle for the top spot in the April This is a must-play event on Catch Driver and the action kicks off at 25 session. Major Betts bested Captain Nemo by just 5 wins to take the 10 AM E.D.T. on Friday, May 1. title. Captain Nemo (twice), along with Catch The Fire, posted the fast- est winning time of 1:52 4/5. As expected, post one dominated to the CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 tune of a 36.70% win rate. Stefano Martinez, who finished second in the Cane, picked up the win after scoring 32 times in 136 starts (23%).

Horse Wins Avg. Post Major Betts 151 4.89 Captain Nemo 146 4.56 Force N Fury 104 4.40 Catch The Fire 103 4.41 Father Nuno 52 4.67 Captain Barbossa 41 4.43 Groovy Joe 29 4.47 Manticore 17 4.54 It was a 12-horse showdown in the Tatersalls at the Red Mile and the larger field made for a tight battle between all of the top horses in the series. Papi Rob Hanover’s win rate fell to 24%, just ahead of Tall Dark Stranger at 21% and Elver Hanover at 18%. All three horses scored in 1:50 1/5 to clock a fastest time, though ‘Elver’ and ‘Papi’ accomplished the feat twice. With 43 more starts, Fabio Martinez scored a narrow 15-to-14 win victory over Jeremy Hebert to capture the Tattersalls title for drivers.

Horse Wins Avg. Post Papi Rob Hanover 85 6.38 Tall Dark Stranger 73 6.33 Elver Hanover 63 6.53 Major Betts 46 6.62 Captain Nemo 19 6.48 Odds On Osiris 19 6.35 Catch The Fire 15 6.70 Capt Midnight 13 6.81 Freedom Warrior 6 6.63 Father Nuno 5 6.18 Force N Fury 3 6.56 Captain Barbossa 1 6.37

DRF Harness Weekend | 4 | April 30, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

Legends battle in catch driver Open Pace Showdown EDITOR’S EYE Many people in the indus- try have spent their free time By Derick Giwner @harnesseyeguy during the COVID-19 pandemic comparing horses from the past. While it is virtually impossible to gauge how horses of different Regional plan to return to racing generations would fare against each other, it is very possible to compare horses from the last When it comes to COVID-19, at least in New York where six decade. Taking that one step Standardbred tracks would be open by next weekend, we have further, we can watch these a mixed bag when it comes to the numbers. The recent trend is battles play out on the virtual racetrack on the Catch Driver app. very positive, but the death toll and number of hospitalizations Starting May 2, 19 of the best pacers from the last decade will are still so high that it is hard to be excited that we will return to compete in five legs of the Breeders Crown Pacing Showdown as “normal” anytime soon. they race for a spot in the May 15 Breeders Crown final at Hoosier Recent indications from Governor Andrew Cuomo provide Park. hope that some more northern tracks in the state may be able Most of the top horses you’ve rooted home since 2010 will be to open by the end of May. Other locations are clearly looking at racing in this series, allowing the casual fan a chance to guide the mid-June or later. superstars of . Always B Miki, Foiled Again, Lather Regardless of what state a track is located, in order to return to Up, Rock N Roll Heaven, Sweet Lou and Wiggle It Jiggleit are just a racing, certain safeguards will need to be in place. There are, of few of the top dogs that will be racing. The top nine horses in terms course, the logical guidelines of masks and social distancing. But of wins at the end of the five legs will earn a spot in the Breeders there is potentially more that can be done which could convince Crown. various governmental agencies that the sport is taking COVID- The opening leg is the Ben Franklin at The Downs at Pocono on May 19 seriously and deserve to be open sooner rather than later. 2 and a field of nine has been assembled. Always B Miki is my luke- Using the New York area as an example (this could work else- warm choice to come out on top, but the task won’t be easy against the where as well), I recommend a regional approach for a return to likes of Wiggle It Jiggleit, McWicked and others. Below is the full field racing. Let’s say Buffalo and Saratoga open in New York (I didn’t for the Ben Franklin: choose Tioga or Vernon because management has already said they won’t open without the casino being operational), Mead- owlands opens in New Jersey, Pocono in Pennsylvania and Always B Miki Bit Of A Legend N Harrington in Delaware. We now have five tracks, each sepa- Dorsoduro Hanover Foiled Again rated by at least 120 miles, which are racing. Here’s where the meat and potatoes of the plan come in. Every Jimmy Freight McWicked driver and trainer must choose a track. Once your selection is made, you cannot switch until at least June 22 (a reasonable date Pet Rock Rock N Roll Heaven when restrictions could be more lax). Therefore, each person must Wiggle It Jiggleit choose where they plan to race and stay put. These restrictions will limit the exposure of the virus from track-to-track should someone get infected. There will be no risk of a shutdown at Meadowlands if Leg two is on May 3, also starting at 10 AM E.D.T., with the Sam a Pocono horseman gets COVID-19 because there (in theory) would McKee Memorial at The Meadowlands. A field of 10 is led by Sweet Lou be no contact between the participants at the two tracks. but packs plenty of punch with Lather Up, Won The West and Captaint- Where did the idea come from? From Governor Cuomo. He reacherous ready to do battle. Below is the line-up for the McKee: made it clear at a recent press conference that a major concern was too many people from one area invading another portion of the State that was “opened for business” because they wanted to All Bets Off Betting Line use services that were unavailable where they lived. That’s when Bettor’s Wish Captaintreacherous it hit me. The answer is to keep everyone at a distance to reduce the risk of one person potentially spreading the virus to other areas. Courtly Choice Downbytheseaside Of course, there needs to be plenty of cooperation for this plan to work. Tracks must work with trainers to offer conditions that Freaky Feet Pete Lather Up will get their entire barns raced. Enough drivers have to show up Sweet Lou Won The West at each track. Each track will need a certain number of horses and a trainer may need to go to their second choice of tracks to Three more events will take place on the weekend of May 8 ahead of make the situation work. the big finale on May 15. So, if you are a Catch Driver regular, set an The bottom line is that the above plan clearly says to State offi- alarm to play, and if you have never tried it before, what better oppor- cials that we are taking this very seriously as an industry. We tunity to visit the app store on your device and sit in the sulky behind are working together to get everyone back to work as quickly as a Standardbred legend? possible. It may not be the ideal situation and it is certainly far from the old “normal” that everyone is accustomed to, but it is a step in the right direction . . . a temporary solution to get horses, drivers, trainers, caretakers, chart-callers, Judges, racing offi- cials, and more back to where they belong – at the track. DOUBLE YOUR FIRST DEPOSIT Follow NEW PLAYERS UP TO $250 JOIN NOW

DRF Harness Weekend | 5 | April 30, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness

Keeping busy while Ohio racing remains in a holding pattern

CONFESSIONS By Keith Gisser

Harness racing remains shut down across the continent but surprisingly not in Europe. Horsemen are adjusting in many ways. For the barns with lots of babies, it’s not business as usual, but it’s business. The 2-year-olds are training down and are still at least a month away from their first qualifiers. Several training centers, particularly those that do not fall under state racing commission jurisdictions, are holding qualifiers. We have seen the so-called (but far more important now) dummy derbies at Pinehurst and Southern Oaks Training Center, among others. However, there’s not much horses and when will racing resume? going on at the raceways. The Hollar stable took a similar tact. After turning their horses Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. We reached out out for a week, they now jog daily and train once a week for the most to Amy Hollar, who serves as the Ohio Harness Horseman’s Associa- part. Amy Hollar also runs the track swimming pool, which gives her tion representative at Northfield Park, to see if she was sitting around another outlet for the horses to get some work in. But Hollar stays eating Bon Bons and day drinking. She’s not! busy preparing for the return, whenever it is. “We’ve actually been pretty busy,” said Hollar. “Everyone wants to “It would be easier if we had a date, whatever it is,” said Hollar. “But know what’s going on. My phone is ringing constantly. People need- we are having discussions to put protocols in place in the paddock. ing help, people wanting to help. And of course we have stabling at the Other tracks will have other problems with social distancing. Horse- track, so there is action every day. We have regular video conferences men are making suggestions, we are talking to management and with the OHHA office. There’s really a lot going on. making plans. It is as proactive as I have ever seen, and I think it is “The biggest issue is the uncertainty. And it’s going to get worse a positive sign for the industry. I think we could be up and running with no definite start date in sight. Established barns are doing in two weeks or so. But Ohio has a 60-day rule (Horses that have not what they can and everyone seems to be pitching in and helping out. raced for 60 days are required to qualify). How do we accommodate Owner/trainers have nothing coming in,” she continued. “Barns shippers? How do we get all those horses qualified in a short time with lots of babies would just be getting close to qualifying, but it will and how do horsemen pay for it? By the time you ship, pay paddock begin hitting them soon, too. We have pay horses (horses owned by help, get Lasix, it can easily be a couple hundred dollars. How does a outside owners who pay a day rate to the trainer) and our owners have 10-horse barn that hasn’t raced for two months pay for that?” been great, plus I have my OHHA job, so we are doing okay. But not The OHHA has always had a benevolent fund and it is currently everyone is.” funded with a percentage of slot money. It is something that the horse- The financial aspect is a big part of the picture for horsemen. men campaigned hard to get in their agreement with the racinos, and Some barns have applied for and been approved for Payroll Protec- in this time of the pandemic, it is more in the forefront, with grants tion program loans, or other emergency financial loans. Trainers are made on a case-by-case basis. We reached out to OHHA Executive generally considered Independent Contractors, making eligibility for Director Renee Mancino for details on the program, but she was unemployment questionable, depending on their state. Even the larg- unavailable by deadline time. We hope to provide an update in the est operations, who have financial cushions from previous successful near future. seasons, cannot continue bleeding cash indefinitely. But the biggest change out of this pandemic will be personal. “I’m Chris Short trains at the Delaware Ohio fairgrounds. He said, “We a hugger,” said Hollar (and this writer can vouch for that). “Things have open shed rows and can stay pretty much to ourselves. We have happen for a reason. We are all going to reassess—not just racing, but 11 horses, myself, my girlfriend Stef, and one rider who also feeds life in general. I think there is a silver lining. This epidemic is bring- morning and night. We stick just to us. I haven’t backed off training ing us all together as we stay apart and in the long run; that is a good much. My owners have said keep them right for when they turn the thing.” lights on. We only had to lay off our stall cleaner so far. But I’m used to That’s it for now. Hopefully by next month’s column we will have a racing five or six nights-a-week, so I am going a bit stir crazy.” chance to cash a ticket somewhere in North America and not just in It’s a two-part logistical nightmare. What do you do with your Sweden.

DRF Harness Weekend | 7 | April 30, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Schnittker stable is raring to go when given the green light

By Jay Bergman

Trainer/driver said, “It’s like Groundhogs Day everyday here,” of the situation he and many horsemen currently find themselves facing through the COVID-19 pandemic. “I’m ready if we can ever get back to racing again.” Indeed, Schnittker is more than ready and eager, as he spends time bringing his stable up to speed for the coming season. “I’ve trained four of my 3-year-olds in 1:55 at Goshen,” Schnittker said. “I feel we’re going to have a good year whenever it starts.” Schnittker has plenty of reason for optimism as he embarks on the 2020 season. His sophomores appear to have benefitted greatly from wise management last year and are now ready to make

large strides in the 3-year-old Geri Schwarz ranks. One horse in particu- Both Ray Schnittker and driver Mark MacDonald (pictured) are lar gained Schnittker’s atten- looking forward to racing Hickfromfrenchlick in 2020. tion in recent training and that is Splash Brother, a son of The 2017 winning Huntsville had an exceptional So Surreal that caused driver first book of mares bred to him, with yearlings slated to sell this fall. Mark MacDonald much pain Among the mares with foals from Huntsville’s first crop is Horse of and lost time when he dumped the Year Rainbow Blue, Wichita Hanover (dam of A Rocknroll Dance), him and got loose at Saratoga Sweet Paprika (dam of Captain Crunch) and Yagonnakissmeornot, a Raceway last year. $1.4 million-winning daughter of The Panderosa that also happens to “I think he’s grown up a be a half-sister to Always B Miki. lot,” said Schnittker of Splash While Schnittker can wait for Huntsville’s first crop, he is more Brother. “He was a big 2-year- eager to get his stable in motion. Horsemen are currently working on Derick Giwner old, like 17 hands, and he just trying to facilitate qualifying races at Goshen with the hopes to have Ray Schnittker is hoping to see never quite recovered from horses ready when tracks are allowed to re-open. “If the state gives qualifiers at Goshen Historic that incident.” Splash Brother permission, I’m sure we can do it at Goshen safely,” said Schnittker. Track soon. did make it to the New York Sire Stakes final last year at Batavia and finished a distant fourth. A pair of 3-year-olds displayed high-class potential last year for Schnittker but were smartly kept on the Pennsylvania Stallion Series circuit and only debuted on the Grand Circuit last fall. Both Lake Charles and Captain Groovy got plenty of experience along the way, with the former, a son of Well Said, capturing the Stallion Series final. Lake Charles was only beaten four lengths by Papi Rob Hanover in the sparsely attended Governor’s Cup in November at The Meadowlands. “Right now I have the 3-year-olds in a holding pattern,” said Schnitt- ker. “I am training them every other week.” With 15 juveniles in the stable, the first crop of Always B Miki has been given high marks by the trainer. “I’ve got three that I really like,” said Schnittker. What separates the world champion’s offerings from others? “They are very good gaited and they don’t get tired.” So Surreal has turned into an impressive New York sire, with his offspring showing hints of Grand Circuit talent along the way. The Somebeachsomewhere-sired brother to the $2.5 million winner Well Said, retired after his 2-year-old season to stud, becoming the first son of his late-sire to enter the stallion ranks. Hickfromfrenchlick has won 15 of his 22 career starts, with earnings in excess of $638K for Schnittker, and the son of So Surreal could be ready to take the next step during his 4-year-old campaign this year. “He’s coming back strongly,” said Schnitt- ker. “I definitely think he’ll be able to go with the Free For Allers.” In the group of three juveniles by So Surreal in Schnittker’s stable, the trainer likes the full brother to Hickfromfrenchlick with the moniker Bud Truck. On the trotting front, much will be expected from a colt named Shamrocks. He’s the first Muscle Hill colt from the $2.3 million winner Buck I St Pat. While Schnittker has backed first-crop sires Always B Miki and also has a pair by Betting Line, this year it seems he is more look- ing forward to the fall and the first crop from his own Huntsville. “They’re all gorgeous,” said Schnittker of the foals he’s seen. “That’s half the battle.”

DRF Harness Weekend | 8 | April 30, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness 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.

Driver/trainer alan schwartz What kind of car do you drive? I have a Chevy Truck, a GMC SUV and a Chevy Geo that I use to go to the track. Derick Giwner Racing exclusively as an amateur driver, Alan Schwartz has Favorite dinner meal? Snack? won 621 races and pitched in 75 wins as a trainer.

My wife’s lamb stew; Potato chips or popcorn. Are you the all-time leader in wins for amateur drivers at What is your favorite track to race at? 621? Monticello. It’s my home track and I’m most comfortable racing I’m the winningest amateur driver still alive. There was a guy there. named (Walter) “Boots” Dunn, who started driving as a kid and lived to be an old man. I started when I was 44 but I’ve achieved What is your favorite big event in racing? every goal I wanted. Probably the Hambletonian. It’s an exciting race to watch the bet- [Editor’s Note: “Boots” Dunn won 1,152 career races. He passed ter 3-year-olds go at it. away in February 2015.] How often is racing on your mind? Did you ever think about giving up your amateur status? Every day. I’m at the barn every day training, jogging or cleaning Absolutely not. I love the International amateur racing comrad- stalls. ery and it has been a hell of a ride for me over the years. What is your favorite thing to do outside of the sport? Speaking of the International racing, you’ve had many experiences overseas in the World Cup of Amateur rac- Gamble in the casino. I like blackjack. ing. What was that like? What is your favorite sport to watch? I represented the United States three times. In 1996, I was in Harness Racing. I’m not really into spectator sports. Australia, in 2000, in Belgium, and 2020, in France. It was an eye- opening experience. There are some very capable and competent What is one thing about you most fans/bettors don’t amateur drivers throughout the world. I did win the last race at Moonee Valley, the biggest track in Australia, which was really a know? big thrill for me. I also won a race in Belgium, but had no luck in France. Maybe my age. I’m going to be 75. I doubt people would bet on me if they knew I was an old man. At 74, what drives you to keep training and driving? What is one word that describes harness racing for you? The love of the sport. I love being around the animals. I like what I’m doing. Challenging. How did you get started in the sport? What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten about harness racing? In 1972, a cousin of mine and I went partners in a couple of horses and that gave me the fever. I was in it for a couple of years and Before you pull (your horse to the outside during a race), count to then got back involved in 1985 when I went partners with Gerry three. Hade in Curragh ($509,740). Ronnie Ingrassia trained for us. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

DRF Harness Weekend | 9 | April 30, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness started, I think the horsemen at Monticello Raceway are going to have a bright future. Originally, when it was approved (about six months ago), they said it would be operational in two years. I’m sure this has caused it to be delayed.

So many things are happening in Orange County right now. Lego Land was supposed to open July 4 this year, though now it is going to be next year. Amazon is building a 100,000 square foot warehouse in the county. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 We’ve heard some talk that maybe Yonkers and Monticello What was your favorite moment in harness racing? could run a circuit at the Monticello location. Do you see that I went to Buffalo Raceway with two 3-year-olds in the New York Sire as possible in the future? Stakes and won both of them. We talked about it and Joe Faraldo was against it. He is trying Who was the best horse you ever drove? to get something going at Belmont. I thought it was a turn-key operation for Joe. They could race in the evening and we could Iroquoindiangiver. He was my favorite. He made me a half-million race in the afternoon. I thought it was a win for both of us, but he and won the New York Sire Stakes as a 2- and 3-year-old, though Wally disagreed. Hennessey drove him in those races. After that, I won a lot of races with him. If you had the power to change one thing in the sport, what How has COVID-19 affected your life? would it be? Probably how they deal with trainers that use illegal drugs. In my Not at all. I’m doing the same thing I would normally be doing except opinion, they are too lenient. I think we need a purer sport. for racing. I go to the track every day. I train and jog. The only thing missing is the racing. So, were you happy when the indictments went down in early You are President of the Horsemen’s Association at March? Monticello. How are the horsemen handling the shutdown I don’t know if the proper word is happy. I was glad it happened. I of racing? think it is a black eye for the sport, but I think it was necessary. I’d like to see them do more policing. Moral is pretty high. I accumulated quite a bit of money with the Horsemen’s Association and I was just getting ready to start a retire- How do you view the future of harness racing? ment fund for them when COVID-19 hit. What I did with that money is I gave everybody a pay check two weeks after they shut down and Bleak. Unless something dramatically happens, people just aren’t we are giving everybody another pay check on May 1, that’s grooms, showing enough interest in the sport anymore. There are too many trainers and drivers. We are supplying all of the feed, hay and straw different types of sports and betting. It takes too much away from the for all of the horses stabled at the track. So, moral is high. Everybody sport. is just anxious to get back racing. If you had one wish in life, what would you wish for? Monticello is more Upstate New York. Do you see a light at the end of the tunnel for a return to racing? Happiness for my children. There is nobody that I’m aware of from Monticello Raceway that Time for the stretch drive: has the virus. There are also very few cases in Sullivan County. I Best Horse You Ever Saw: (Hambletonian winner) Malabar Man, think we are ready to go with some precautions. We could go with because he is the one I was closest to. Mal (Burroughs) asked me to four races in the paddock instead of seven. It is very doable. Ninety be his partner when the horse was born and I of course turned him percent of the horses who race there are on the track, so if we limit down. the races to just those people, I would think we could get operational in no time. Best Driver Ever: Walter Case Jr. I saw him pick up horses to unbe- lievable levels. You talk about (Mike) Lachance, (John) Campbell and What’s the state of racing at Monticello? Can the track (Herve) Filion; great drivers. But I’ve never seen anyone pick up a maintain at the status quo? horse like him. He had natural talent. I believe it can maintain. Monticello actually seemed to have a Lasix – Yes or No?: Yes. bright future before this virus came in. The casino at Monticello got Favorite TV Show?: Fox News. I’m not much of a TV watcher. approval to open a VGM parlor in Orange County (by Westbury Com- mons), which the horsemen would share in the profits. If that ever gets .

Advertise with

MULTIPLE PLACEMENT DISCOUNTS

For more information or to place an ad, contact Derick Giwner at [email protected]

DRF Harness Weekend | 10 | April 30, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Standardbred Canada announces “Return to Racing” blueprint Discover

In early April, Standardbred Canada’s Board of Directors appointed a “Return To Racing” Task Force to develop a blueprint for the return of Standardbred racing. Today SC’s Board has approved the plan and will be releasing “The Return to Standardbred Horse Racing in Canada Blueprint” to industry stakeholders to assist them in the planning and preparation of racing resuming at racetracks across the country. The goal of the Blueprint is to provide guidelines for all facets of the industry to consider in the preparation of the return to racing, with Find your favorite tracks, PPs, minimal risk to participants, and proper internal controls. The guide- lines incorporate resources and recommendations from the Public wagering, and everything Health Agency of Canada and provincial health agencies. In addition, policies and procedures from racetracks that have been racing and oper- you need to win, faster than ating successfully and spectator free during the COVID-19 crisis were also reviewed and incorporated. This initiative was presented to the Board by Blair Corbeil, (Western ever before. Region Active Director) who chaired the Task Force consisting of fellow directors along with further consultation from others within the industry. “I think this blueprint is timely as provinces begin discussing ways to relax restrictions to ready the country for the ‘new normal’” commented Dan Gall, President and CEO of Standardbred Canada. “We are quite clear on what we hope that this document will be to the industry and that is a resource for any and all jurisdictions in Canada who would like to reference it as they prepare for the return of horse racing in Canada. “I would like to commend the board, the task force, Darryl Kaplan and Kathy Wade Vlaar in assisting in putting this blueprint together as it furthers Standardbred Canada’s vision of being an essential support to the horse, industry and the sport. SC is of course available to help any horse association or racetrack in getting our sport up and running again as quickly as possible. In creating the Blueprint, the Task Force identified the following priorities: • The importance of getting the standardbred horse racing industry back in operation. • To ensure the health and welfare of our • A strong focus and emphasis on risk mitigation to assure the safety of all participants • The commitment to work with and follow government and public health direction. The Blueprint features three main components with details and considerations in the areas of: • Stakeholder Engagement • COVID-19 and the Resumption of Racing • Communication Strategy and Public Relations The first phase of the Blueprint is for racing to resume without spec- tators on site. Several Canadian racetracks had operated this way for Easily find your next bet with several racecards prior to closing, and many thoroughbred racetracks the upcoming race ticker in the United States continue to race without spectators in attendance. “We sincerely appreciate the hard work of the Task Force and SC Management in the creation of this plan under extremely tight timelines,” Read highlights of the most stated Ann Straatman, Chair of Standardbred Canada. “We are hope- important headlines & races ful that industry associations and racetracks will work together and use this comprehensive Blueprint in whole, or in part, to facilitate the safe and successful return of standardbred racing in their jurisdictions.” Quickly access the latest Returning to Standardbred racing requires a coordinated effort for all videos & analysis industry stakeholders with consistent accepted policies and procedures for all participants. Because of the nature of the industry, including transpor- tation of horses to the racetracks, and overlap of horse people working at Finding your favorite track is a different facilities and racetracks, it is critical that the industry has a plan breeze with new filters that all participants can follow. This plan facilitates the coordination and execution of a nationwide effort with robust monitoring systems identified that are critical to navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, and how it evolves. Get instant news updates The return to racing will be on a racetrack by racetrack basis, as from a live Twitter feed determined by government and health agencies, and the blueprint incor- porates different steps and options available depending on the character- istics of the racetrack and the racing community. The Blueprint is now being released to Industry Stakeholders and will be made available on standardbredcanada.ca in the near future. VISIT DRF HARNESS NOW -release (Standardbred Canada)

DRF Harness Weekend | 11 | April 30, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness