Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

BF Coaltown

By Galophone--Sis Rodney--Rodney
Born 1960, died 1984
Earned $78,845 lifetime
2, 2:03.3f; 3, T2:00.1m

BF Coaltown was bred by Ben Falter who owned and operated a meat packing company in Columbus, Ohio. Falter had owned the dam of BF Coaltown (Sis Rodney), buying her for $1,500 in 1951, and she won 13 of 14 starts for her owner, setting a two-heat world recorfd for freshman trotting fillies.

When Falter retired Sis Rodney to the breeding she he first coupled her with Darnley for a few years, but then bred her to Galophone in 1959. The result was BF Coaltown, a striking brown colt. Trainer Harry Short broke the youngster and campaigned him to win nine of ten starts at two. At three BF Coaltown was sold to Scioto Downs owner and breeder Charlie Hill, who turned him over to trianer Carl Larsen.

"BF Coaltown had one front foot that was really bad," Larsen recalled. "The sole of the foot looked just like a piece of liver. But once we packed his feet and lightened him up, his feet never gave him any trouble after that. He put every foot in the right place every time. That was unusual because his sire--Galophone--trotted like a dog--one hind foot to the outside and one in the middle. And BF Coaltown was out of a Rodney mare, and the Rodney's weren't known for being slick gaited."

Within a month of being under Larsen's care BF Coaltown won in 2:01.4 at Liberty Bell raceway, besting Diggs Dell and Donner Hanover, among others. He then scored impressive victories at a pair of Ohio county fairs, and then headed to DuQuoin for the 1963 Hambletonian.

Speedy Scot was the favorite that year and BF Coaltown drew the ten-hole in the 14-horse field. BF Coaltown followed the favorite second over but couldn't sustain his speed all the way to the end, and ended up finishing a game fourth to the winning Florlis in 1:57.3. He gave an impressive effort in the second heat and in the third but failed to garner checks in either, as Speedy Scot came back to win the trophy in the 1:58.2 final and third heat.

After the Hambletonian, Larsen took BF Coaltown to The Red Mile and in a pair of time trials the sophomore trotted in 2:00.1 and 2:00.2. BF Coaltown was then retired to stud at Hill's farm in Columbus, Ohio, and began servicing mares in 1965.

BF Coaltown's success as a sire far outshown his talents on the track, as he produced sons and daughters who were dominate in Ohio throughout the 1970s. Some of his top progeny include the fillies Sonata Hill, Cami Almahurst (both $200,000+ winners), and his sons Summit Hill, Soda HIll, Art Hill, JL Coaltown, Match Hill and Sire Ike. His daughters had outstanding careers as broodmares, producing the likes of Bolla, Elliotts Express, Uptown, Overcomer, Quick Trip, Cindy's Action, Selena Lobell, Sherwood Lobell and Crowns Cristy.

In total BF Coaltown produced 601 starters, with 17 in 2:00 or faster and 470 trotters and 131 pacers who earned $12,401,822.

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