Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

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                         Check out our latest winners....

                      Disbedaone                 Odds On Gobye
                        a winner in 1:56.2                 a winner in 1: 54.2
                              Both won Saturday night at The Poconos!


                              Odds On The Beach
            a winner Wednesday night in 1:52..3 at The Meadowlands

My Little Dragon Scorches in Matriarch
My Little Dragon, the fastest mare of all time, scorched the competition to win the $90,000 Matriarch Stake Sunday afternoon at the Meadowlands.

My Little Dragon launched a first over attack on the backside against Southwind
Tempo and sprinted past in the final strides for a half-length victory in 1:51.
Guestimate rallied for second and it was a length back to Street Dancer in
third. Southwind Tempo finished fourth. My Little Dragon paid $9.00 to win.

“It looked to me that I was going to be first over, any way I looked at it,”
winning driver Brian Sears said. “I was just hoping they would mix it up a
little bit. The fractions were pretty cheap but my mare, she likes a big track,
she likes to chase horses down and she raced real game. I think she is really
good right now. As far as her throat goes, she is a real relaxed mare; she
should be good that way. They were closing in pretty good. Maybe Southwind
Tempo wasn’t on her best game today but I can’t take anything away from my mare, she raced really well.”

Trained by Noel Daley, the five-year-old daughter by Dragon Again scored her
fourth victory of the year in her tenth start and increased her earnings to
$1,721,914 for the Adam Victor and Son Stable of New York, NY.

Berry's Creek to Blueridge Western
Blueridge Western, driven by Brian Sears, soared off a second-over trip to win the $215,000 Berry's Creek on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

The Berry's Creek is the first major stakes race of the season for 3-year-old colt pacers and a stepping-stone to the $1 million Meadowlands Pace on July 19.

The first half saw a succession of lead changes, with Mucho Sleazy ultimately seizing command in a swift :54.1. Blueridge Western followed Art Official, the 9-5 favorite, who challenged Mucho Sleazy around the final turn. Blueridge Western jetted off cover mid-way down the stretch and nabbed the pocketsitter Bullville Powerful by a head in 1:50.1. Four Starz Moxie charged up the inside to finish third.

"There was a lot of action," Sears said. "More than I expected. I was able to get behind some of the better horses but I was afraid that, if I was behind them, I was going to be left first up. I thought I was first up there for a minute on the last turn, but I was able to get back in behind Tyler [Buter and Art Official]. This horse raced his butt off and they've done a great job with him. They were really high on him coming in. I think this is only his third or fourth start this year; it was a great effort."

Blueridge Western, a $30,000 yearling purchase, has now won eight of 16 career starts and $282,186. He will try to become the fifth Berry's Creek champion to win the $1 million Meadowlands Pace, the nation's most prestigious event for 3-year-old pacers. The father-and-son team of Mickey and Ron Burke train the son of Allamerican Ingot for George Leon of Pittsburgh, Pa.

Holiday Credit Wins Dexter Cup Final
Jimmy Takter wanted 3-year-old trotter Holiday Credit ready for the early-season stakes on half-mile tracks, with an eye toward June’s Yonkers Trot. After the colt’s dominating performance in Saturday’s (May 10) $185,000 Dexter Cup final at Freehold Raceway, the plan appears to be proceeding perfectly.

Starting from post four with driver Ron Pierce, favored Holiday Credit led the field at every call on his way to a 4-3/4 length victory in 1:56.3 on a cool, mostly overcast afternoon. First Pleasurelane was second, a quarter-length ahead of Oh So White. It was more than five lengths back to the next finisher.

Holiday Credit is three-for-three this year with earnings of $105,326. He has won seven of 14 career starts, good for $242,771 in purses. His career-best time in the Dexter Cup was three-fifths of a second off the Freehold track record for 3-year-old male trotters.

“He raced a tremendous race,” Takter said. “He had to open up a little bit more, but he’s a handy little colt. He did a hell of a race; a 1:56.3 mile and it wasn’t the warmest best weather. He’s just a good little colt.”

If all goes to plan, Holiday Credit’s next start will be May 17 in the Empire Breeders Classic at Vernon Downs. The $250,000 final is May 26.

Holiday Credit, who is eligible to the $1.5 million Hambletonian in August, is a half brother to New York Sire Stakes standout Hitwiththeladies and was purchased for $100,000 as a yearling. He is by Credit Winner out of the mare Lady Holiday, who is a half sister to multiple stakes-winner Noifsaboutit. He is owned by Christina Takter, John Fielding, Falkbolagen AB, and Order By Stable.

The Yonkers Trot, the first leg in the Trotting Triple Crown, is June 28.

“That’s basically what we’re aiming him for as far as the big races coming up,” Takter said. “He’s a good half-mile horse. That’s why we decided to try to have him ready a little early.”

In addition to three wins this year at Freehold, Holiday Credit won races last season over half-mile tracks at Monticello and Yonkers and was second in a race at Saratoga. He also flashed some speed, finishing second by a half-length to Muscle Mass in 1:54.2 at Lexington’s Red Mile.

“He’s a loving horse, actually, and he always tries,” Takter said.

Racing At Springfield: The Debate Contines
Harness racing up to nine months a year at the Illinois State Fairgrounds could help raise money for fairground improvements and the Sangamon County emergency dispatch system, according to Rep. Raymond Poe.

Springfield Mayor Tim Davlin likes the idea, and Sangamon County Board Chairman Andy Van Meter said he “generally favors it.” The Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association called the idea “wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.”

But harness racing at the fairgrounds beyond the annual run of the Illinois State Fair faces significant obstacles, even if legislation sponsored by Poe is passed. Attracting horses, changing the fairgrounds track and finding a promoter are all challenges that must be addressed.

“That’s very possible,” said Poe, R-Springfield, when asked if it is possible expanded racing may not come to Springfield, even if his legislation is passed. Poe is sponsoring House Bill 4758, which would set up the Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack Authority.

The authority would be responsible for harness racing beyond the six-day fair. Two members of the authority would be appointed by Van Meter, two by Davlin, two by the Illinois Department of Agriculture and one to represent the county’s emergency dispatch system. Board members would get $300 per meeting. The authority, in turn, would hire an executive director. Poe’s bill does not provide start-up money for the authority.

“We’re hoping we can get through that without any money,” Poe said. The authority would take bids and select a company to run the races. It is identical to what happens now during the Illinois State Fair. The state contracts with Chicago’s Maywood and Balmoral harness racing tracks to stage the racing and handle wagering. But times are tough for Illinois horse racing, especially harness racing. Of all the money wagered on horse races in Illinois, less than one-third is bet on harness races.

Balmoral and Maywood are the only two Illinois tracks with full-time harness racing. Maywood President Duke Johnston said his track has problems attracting sufficient horses because Illinois purses are smaller than those offered in other states, especially states that allow slot machines at race tracks. Money from slots is used to augment purses, which attract more competitors.

“Horse population would definitely be a problem,” Johnston said. Steve Brubaker of the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association agreed that low purses would be a problem. But he also noted that nearly 400 harness horses are stabled at the fairgrounds, and that skyrocketing fuel prices are making it more expensive for owners to travel to Chicago or out of state to race.

“It makes a lot of sense to have a downstate venue,” Brubaker said. Brubaker is still hoping that Illinois authorizes slot machines at horse racing tracks and that the fairgrounds will be included in the deal. “Our hope is (the Poe bill) will become part of a larger bill, so we have racing at the fairgrounds and then be part of slots at tracks,” Brubaker said.

There are no estimates of the money that would be generated by additional racing at the fairgrounds, as it has not yet been decided how many days would be added. Poe said it will be up to the newly-created authority to request a certain number of dates from the Illinois Racing Board. The only stipulation is that they could not interfere with motorcycle races held during the Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, he said. Proponents of the idea point out that during six days of racing at the state fair last year, more than $900,000 was wagered.

“It’s nothing to sneeze at,” Brubaker said. Johnston isn’t sure if that enthusiasm will carry over to races beyond the fair.

“During the state fair they get a decent-sized crowd, but that’s during the state fair,” he said. “Without the state fair to support it, I don’t know what size crowd they would get.”

There’s also the issue of the track itself. Although racing could be held during the day, nighttime events are more likely. Under the state’s complicated racing laws, harness races that run during the day don’t collect as much revenue as night racing, Brubaker said.

“We would want to run at night,” he said. However, the fairgrounds track doesn’t have lights, and Johnston estimated installation costs at $1 million. If an operator had to bear that cost, Johnston said, “I would say it would make the odds of someone bidding on that zero.”

A new all-weather track surface would also have to be installed, Brubaker said. When it rains during the fair, the dirt surface turns into a quagmire, which forces races to be postponed. A dirt surface would have to be reinstalled to accommodate motor racing.

“It can be done. It’s done at other tracks,” Brubaker said.

Poe’s idea has opponents. Anita Bedell of the Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems is opposed to any gambling expansion. She said Poe’s idea is a double hit — there will be more gambling at the fairgrounds, and a contractor who runs the fairgrounds racing could open up to six off-track betting parlors.

“With these off track betting parlors, people who would ordinarily have to drive to gamble at a racetrack, it’s in their hometown. They become addicted because they can go every day,” Bedell said. “It makes gambling more accessible and available, and increases the number of addictive gamblers.”

Poe’s bill is pending in the House. He expects it to come up for a final vote there next week. It would still have to be approved by the Senate and signed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Scioto Downs Now Open
Scioto Downs opensed its 50th anniversary season on Friday night (May 9) with 103 horses competing in an 11-race program. The track will race 68 programs concluding September 13. Post time each evening is 6:30 p.m, Wednesday through Saturday nights.

When Scioto Downs opened, it was hailed for its innovative architecture. The grandstand design was nominated as the Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement of 1959, but placed second to the St. Lawrence Seaway. The track was designed by the Columbus architectural firm of Kellam and Foley.

The track’s grandstand roof consists of what might best be described as “inverted concrete umbrellas,” each with a single supporting column. Technically, the roof structures are known as hyperbolic parabola concrete shells. Even the Scioto Downs clubhouse roof is distinctive as it is described as “folded plate concrete.”

The first meet at Scioto Downs in 1959 consisted of only 14 programs and was plagued by rainy and cold weather. Many people thought that the track wouldn’t be finished in time for opening night, but the grandstand seats and sod in the infield were installed at the last minute and the races went off as scheduled.

Over its first half-century of racing, some of the brightest stars in the sport of harness racing have graced the fast five-eighths-mile oval at Scioto Downs, including Bret Hanover, Albatross, Speedy Crown, and many others.

NYRA Considering Switch to Snythetics
The New York Racing Association announced that it is considering replacing dirt with synthetic surfaces at its horse racing tracks. These conversions would include Aqueduct Race Track in Queens, Belmont Park on Long Island and Saratoga Race Course.

The State Task Force on Retired Race Horses is studying the economics of the synthetic surfaces and will discuss the possible switch this summer. A NYRA spokesman said the conversion would cost up to $50 million dollars if training tracks are included.

Down Under Wonder Sold To US Interests for $4 Million
Pacing sensation Auckland Reactor has been sold to America for a world record four million dollars.   It is the most expensive sale for a 3-year-old Standardbred in training. And the sale could pay even bigger dividends for the Australian harness racing industry.

Christchurch trainer Mark Purdon never overstates the quality of the horses he trains.   But he is almost lost for words when describing his latest star Auckland Reactor.

“Like most great horses you drive, they can run times you don't expect them to but they can just do it. And he's just like that,” Purdon says.

Now he is the most expensive three-year-old in training in the world, his New Zealand owners confirming his sale to an syndicate of prominent North American breeders for 4 million dollars.

“He's very special, as special as you can get, horses just don't do what he has done his last three starts. I’ve never seen it in all the years I’ve been in the business,” John Curtin, bloodstock agent.

The colt is unbeaten in eleven starts including the New Zealand Derby where he smashed the New Zealand record.   And he's a champion that is putting New Zealand harness racing on the map.

“It raises the bar, here in little old New Zealand we can breed good horses and we can finally sell top end horses that have potential at stud,” Curtin says.

Auckland Reactor’s former owners Anne and Tony Parker didn't want to talk on camera today but told 3 News they were feeling mixed emotions about the sale. They say the figure came as a huge shock and while its great for them and the industry it is incredibly difficult to part with a horse that has given them so much joy.   Reactor is expected to blitz the field again in the $200,000 Harness Jewels later this month.

“I think he's just got all the ingredients that make a great horse, the stamina, the will to win, the speed,” says Purdon.

Purdon has been assured full control of his racing career for at least the next year.   Then it will be off the track where his new owners will find out his real worth as a breeding stallion.

Still unsure how to read a program? Click the link below:

http://www.drf.com/flash/drf_pp_tutorial.html

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