Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

This Month in Harness Racing History: MAY 2006

May 1, 1993 – Dandy Promise wins the Guys & Dolls final in 1:53.4 at Freehold Raceway in New Jersey.

May 2, 1988 – Kingwood Tog, Jack Des Rivieres, and H F Elaine finish in a triple-dead heat to win at Hippodrome Trois Rivieres. It is the 15th triple-dead heat to win in harness history.

May 3, 1996 – Riyadh, driven by Jim Morrill Jr., wins a leg of the Graduate Series in 1:53.4 at Foxboro Raceway in Massachusetts.

May 4, 1948 – Two-time Driver of the Year and Hall of Famer Bill O’Donnell is born in Springhill, Nova Scotia.

May 4, 1997 – Wesgate Crown equals the stakes record of 1:56.3 in winning the $520,000 Gran Premio della Lotteria, Italy’s premier trot.

May 5, 1849 – Hambletonian, the most important American Standardbred sire in history and namesake of harness racing’s top race for trotters, is born near Sugar Loaf, New York.

May 5, 1984 – Happy Seven equals the world record for geldings on a half-mile track, winning in 1:55.4 at Rosecroft Raceway in Maryland.

May 6, 1937 – Hall of Famer Cornelius K.G. Billings dies.

May 7, 2002 – Jeff Gregory reaches win No. 3,000 by driving Mack Mcgwire to victory at Freehold Raceway.

May 8, 2000 – Timbo-Timbo sets the track record for pacers by winning in 1:52.3 at Harrington Raceway in Delaware.

May 9, 2001 – Two-time Horse of the Year Cam Fella dies.

May 10, 1998 – Ultimate Falcon sets the world record for pacing horses on a larger than one-mile track, winning in 1:47.4 at Colonial Downs in Virginia.

May 11, 1986 – Peace Corps is born.

May 12, 1990 – Beach Towel wins the Miller Memorial in 1:52.3 at Rosecroft Raceway in Maryland.

May 13, 1980 – Fulla Promise, Quite Guy, and Ron finish in a dead heat for win at Pocono Downs.

May 13, 1989 – Jaguar Spur wins the George Morton Levy final in 1:55.2 at Yonkers Raceway in New York.

May 14, 1988 – Wealthy Skipper wins the Windy City Pace in 1:55 at Maywood Park in Illinois.

May 15, 1976 – In Control, driven by Roger Hammer, sets the record for four-year-olds on a five-eighths of a mile track by trotting 1:57.4 at Brandywine Raceway in Delaware.

May 15, 1998 – B Cor Pete wins the first Arthur J. Cutler Memorial in 1:53.2 at the Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey.

May 16, 1992 – Shady Daisy, driven by Jeff Fout, equals the world record for four-year-old mares pacing on a five-eighths of a mile track by winning in 1:52.2 at Scioto Downs near Columbus, Ohio.

May 17, 1961 – Western Fair Raceway opens in London, Ontario.

May 18, 1957 – Adios Queen, Clever Counsel, and Crescendo finish in a triple dead heat for win at Buffalo Raceway.

May 18, 1986 – Turola Hanover, driven by Gary McQuaid equals the world record for female pacers on a five-eighths of a mile track by winning in 1:54 at Northlands Park in Edmonton.

May 19, 1995 – She's A Great Lady, driven by Jack Parker Jr., wins the Scarlett O'Hara Pace final in 1:54 at Scioto Downs near Columbus, Ohio.

May 19, 1887 – Goldsmith Maid celebrates her 20th birthday by trotting 2:14½, just half a second off her world record performance set two years early.

May 20, 1950 – Yonkers Raceway achieves $1 million in handle, a first in harness racing.

May 21, 1989 – Topnotcher wins the Mohawk final in 1:53.3 at Mohawk Racetrack in Ontario.

May 22, 1977 – Town Drunk, driven by Vernon Crank, sets the record for four-year-old geldings on a five-eighths of a mile track by pacing 1:56.1 at Brandywine Raceway in Wilmington, Delaware.

May 23, 1936 – Carmine Abbatiello is born in Staten Island, New York. He wins 7,170 races as a driver and his horses earn $50.3 million in purses.

May 23, 1992 – Smart Aly, driven by Joe Pavia Jr., sets the world record for geldings five and older pacing on a half-mile track by winning in 1:53.1 at Freehold Raceway in New Jersey.

May 24, 1974 – Poplar Breeze, Ragin Rival, and Kimberly Sue finish in a triple dead heat for win at Midwest Harness (Riverside Downs).

May 25, 1998 – Galleria, driven by George Brennan, wins the Miss New Jersey in a stakes record 1:50.1 at the Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey.

May 26, 1984 – Hobo Willy, driven by John Campbell, sets the world record for geldings pacing on a mile track by winning in 1:53 at the Meadowlands.

May 27, 1989 – Just The Ticket, driven by Lavern Hostetler, wins the Windy City Pace in 1:56.1 at Maywood Park in Chicago.

May 27, 1990 – Mack Lobell wins his second Elitlopp at Solvalla, Sweden.

May 28, 1989 – Au Crombie wins the Battle of Brandywine in 1:55.4 at Brandywine Raceway.

May 29, 1988 – Eddie The Quick, driven by Eddie Davis, wins the Battle of Brandywine in 1:56.4 at Brandywine Raceway in Delaware.

May 29, 1988 – Mack Lobell wins the Elitlopp at Solvalla, Sweden.

May 30, 1984 – Janet Irvine sets a world record for lady drivers competing on a five-eighths of a mile track as V Anna Trick trots 2:01.1 at Scioto Downs in Ohio.

May 30, 2001 – Brett Miller wins seven consecutive races at Northfield Park in Ohio.

May 31, 1997 – Stand Forever, driven by Jack Moiseyev, sets the track record for pacers by winning in 1:50 at Pocono Downs in Pennsylvania.

May 31, 1998 – Moni Maker, driven by Wally Hennessey, wins the Elitlopp in a world record 1:53.3.