Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

This Month in Harness Racing History: June

June 2005

June 1, 1991 – Kissin Prince, driven by Ron Pierce, sets the world record for older geldings by pacing 1:51.2 at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.

June 1, 2000 – Trot For Joy, a 12-year-old driven by Dr. Harvey Stein, sets the record for Cal-Expo and the state of California by trotting 1:54.4.

June 2, 1990 – Dorunrun Bluegrass, driven by Herve Filion, wins the Battle of Lake Erie in 1:54 at Northfield Park in Ohio.

June 3, 1978 – Dream Maker, driven by Ron Waples, wins the inaugural Graduate in 1:55.3 at the Meadowlands.

June 4, 1983 – Cam Fella, driven by Pat Crowe, wins the Graduate in a stakes record 1:53.4 at the Meadowlands en route to Horse of the Year honors.

June 4, 1991 – Herve Filion reaches win No. 13,000 by driving That’s Dancing to victory at Yonkers Raceway in New York.

June 5, 1986 – Forrest Skipper, driven by Lucien Fontaine, wins the William R. Haughton Memorial Pace in a stakes record 1:51.3 at The Meadowlands on his way to Horse of the Year.

June 6, 1953 – Hi-Lo's Forbes, driven by Henry Clukey, sets the world record for pacers on a half-mile track by finishing in 1:58.3 at Roosevelt Raceway in New York.

June 7, 1993 – Bravely Bold, driven by Jim Picciano, wins the Canadian Trotting Classic in 1:58.2 at Greenwood Raceway in Ontario.

June 8, 1990 – Dare You To, driven by Peter Wrenn, equals the world record for horses five and older pacing on a half-mile track by winning in 1:53.1 at Northfield Park in Ohio.

June 9, 1976 – Clip Along and Chuck’s Comet become the first entry to finish in a dead heat for win, tying for first place in 2:08.1 at Buffalo Raceway in New York.

June 9, 1996 – Winning Goalie, driven by Billy "Zeke" Parker Jr., wins in 1:52.4 to set a track record for pacers at Monticello Raceway in New York.

June 10, 1806 – Harness racing is covered for the first time by a newspaper in the United States. New York’s "Commercial Advertiser" reports a pacer named Yankee won the mile at Harlem Race Track.

June 10, 2000 – Big Tom, driven by Joe Anderson, sets the track record by pacing in 1:49.1 at Balmoral Park in Illinios.

June 11, 1994 – Bye Tsem, driven by Joe Hudon Jr., wins the Canadian Trotting Classic in 1:55 at Woodbine Racetrack near Toronto.

June 12, 1956 – Woodbine Racetrack opens near Toronto, Ontario.

June 12, 1987 – Mr Heckle, a two-year-old pacing colt, and Mrs Jeckle, a two-year-old pacing filly, become the first twin foals to face each other in a pari-mutuel race, meeting at Fairplex Park, California. Mr Heckles finishes third while Mrs Jeckle is sixth. The twins are by Skippers Subject out of Waltzing Breta.

June 13, 1980 – James H Tup, driven by Don Irvine Jr., sets the world record for four-year-old geldings pacing on a half-mile track by winning in 1:57.2 at Northfield Park in Ohio.

June 13, 1992 – Artsplace, driven by Dave Magee, wins the Nicole Hudok Memorial in 1:52 at Hazel Park near Detroit, Michigan.

June 14, 1989 – Scott Robbins drives two horses that finish in dead heats for wins at Quad City Downs in East Moline, Illinois.

June 15, 1963 – World champion trotter Senator Frost, driven by Dick Buxton, wins the Pronto Don Invitational in 2:04.1 before 14,135 at Sportsman's Park near Chicago. June 16, 1980 – Saginow Harness Raceway opens in Michigan.

June 16, 1998 – Mac Action, driven by Steven Warrington, sets the track record for trotters at Harrington Raceway in Delaware by winning in 1:56.1.

June 17, 1944 – Dr. Brodie pays $1,038.60 on a $2 bet to win at Marion, Ohio; the highest win payout at the time in U.S. history.

June 17, 1995 – She’s A Great Lady sets the world record for fillies or mares pacing on a half-mile track by winning in 1:51.2 at Maywood Park near Chicago.

June 18, 1988 – Mack Lobell, driven by John Campbell, wins the Statue of Liberty Trot, at a distance of 1 1/8 miles, in a world record 2:09.4 at the Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey.

June 19, 1983 – Karen Fekete drives Bet’s Sparky to a world record for lady drivers on a half-mile track, winning in 1:57.3 at Flamboro Downs in Ontario.

June 19, 1993 – Staying Together, driven by Bill O’Donnell, sets the world record for pacing geldings by winning in 1:48.2 at the Meadowlands.

June 27, 1950 – Hall of Fame driver Catello Manzi is born in Monticello, New York.

June 27, 1958 – Monticello Raceway opens in upstate New York.

June 27, 1990 – Kit Lobell, driven by Berndt Lindstedt, sets the world record for trotting mares by winning in 1:54.4 at the Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey.

June 28, 1963 – The Meadows opens in western Pennsylvania.

June 28, 1977 – Rambling Willie, driven by Bob Farrington, wins the inaugural Driscoll Pace (now Haughton Memorial) in 1:55.1 at the Meadowlands.

June 29, 1990 – Star Mystic, driven by Jan Johnson, wins the Dickerson Cup in 2:00.2 at the Meadowlands.

June 30, 1990 – Beach Towel wins the American-National for three-year-old male pacers in 1:52.4 at Sportsman's Park near Chicago.