Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Chicago's Pat Berry & Other Windy City Horsemen at the Big M

January 7, 2005

He's 28, and among the top five drivers on the competitive Chicago circuit (3rd at Maywood-5th at Balmoral in 2004). He comes off a year-his best-of 338 wins from 2853 starts for a career best total of $2,642,155. He's Pat Berry, and he's going to give it a go at the Meadowlands starting this weekend. (see photo at right)

"It was tough to give up what I have here in Chicago," Pat said. "But Rick Dane is bringing a bunch out to the Meadowlands and owner Howard Jacobs and he kind of talked me into trying it. So I'm going to give it a try. Mark Ford is putting me up this weekend, and has me on some of his horses. I'm willing to drive anything."

"The last couple of years for me have been the turning point," Pat added. "I've been driving 8-9 years, but when I went to the Meadows in 2003 early on during the strike out here, that's when I really got going. I went there and held my own. It's a tough place to race with Dave Palone and Mike Wilder pretty much having everything nailed down. But I took my runs at them-it helped that Rick Dane had his horses ready to go too."

But-as many have found out-it's different at the Meadowlands. The top SIX drivers in North America in 2004 in earnings are ALL Meadowlands regulars. Pat seems aware of that, "I know it's different at the Meadowlands. You've got to be patient. If you leave out of there, a lot of times you find yourself last sitting on the rail turning for home. But I've driven against most of these guys when they came out here and some on the Grand Circuit. I plan on being at the Meadowlands Friday morning and staying at least through the month. For the series that they have. Then I'll see."

Who were the idols that you had growing up? Who did you most want to be like? "Dave Magee and John Campbell. It was unbelievable to me when I started racing against Dave Magee-and then to have the respect of someone like that. I'll never forget what that felt like for the first time. With John Campbell, a couple of years ago, he wouldn't know who I was. Now he does-that means an awful lot to me."

In 2003 Pat had 236 wins for $1.6 million in earnings and last season scored 338 wins for $2.6 million.

"The best horses I've driven are probably Small Town Hero and Artbitration. She (Artbitration for trainer Norm Parker) missed a nose in the Shes A Great Lady (2003) to Kikikatie-she came the closest to beating her before the Breeders Crown of that year (2003). That was also the biggest race that I've raced in so far."

"I'm not sure what to expect, I'd like to win a couple races and maybe pick up some others. You always think in your mind what it would be like to drive at the Meadowlands-now I'm going to find out."

The Illinois trio of driver Brent Holland, trainer Gary Scurlock and owner Robert Ranquist Jr., have joined forces to race at the Meadowlands in 2005. Lured by an average of $200,000 in overnight purses, the richest in North America, the three men have pooled their talents to take on the Meadowlands.

"It'll be a nice change of scenery for me, and I have a chance to drive some nice horses, so I'm really looking forward to it," said Holland, 33. "Gary's got some good horses and he always has them ready. I've driven some of those horses, and I have a feel for them. I'll certainly drive for others if I pick them up. I also think it was time for a change personally. Things at Balmoral Park are okay for me, but they could always be better. I'm on my best game right now, but I'm driving a lot of horses that are maybe fourth or fifth best here, and even if you trip out you get no money. If I have the fifth best horse and the eight-hole at Maywood I'm fifth best or worst. It gets discouraging."

"I'm planning on going back and forth between New Jersey and Chicago. I know you can't just walk into the Meadowlands paddock with your whip in hand, and this opportunity might never come again. I'll just follow Brian Sears wherever he goes. Seriously, we'll have to see over the first few weeks where the horses fit and should be classified. I believe positioning is so crucial at the Meadowlands. My main concern to try to gain some wisdom in case I want to make this a full time move. I'm concerned that there's been a lot of uncertainty with Chicago racing over the past few years, and there have been a couple of purse decreases recently."

Scurlock, 60, has shipped to the Meadowlands stable area with horses for Ranquist, a construction company owner from Palos Park, Illinois.

"I've never raced at the Meadowlands before, and, well, I'm here because of the money," Scurlock said. "I've got 18 here right now, and we're pretty serious about this. I left four back home with my oldest son. I have some other horses that didn't get in this weekend because there were so many entries. I arrived last week, and I've been nervous about this ever since I thought about it. It's exciting, but you have to have patience and timing. We have a lot of New Zealand bred horses. In the past, they tended to be hardheaded, but not now, and most people like them because they haven't started too early. They wait an extra year; they're more developed and make for better raceway stock."