Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Bob Heyden's Notes & Quotes
November 17, 2004

Steve Elliott
Steve just won the Breeders Crown with Yankee Slide, setting a record for the longest time between Crown wins-16 Years-1988 Valley Victory and Sweet Reflection. Steve is now training E N S Snapshot.

"I got him after Harrisburg. He was bought for stud, but the owners-from Quebec-asked me to give him a chance and see what I can do. I like him. Lots of class. He hasn't raced in 8 months. He could be a serious trotter. I'll probably try and getr him ready for the Su Mac Lad."

Steve on Burning Point, "She'll get a little break now. She is definitely racing at 5. She had a good-but unlucky year. If she left with Bunny Lake, she'd get parked 26 to the quarter. If she didn't leave, they'd go 27.4. That kind of year. "

Ben Webster Recalls The FIRST Meadowlands Opening
Not a lot of horsemen who were around on September 1, 1976 are still at it at the Meadowlands. Ben Webster is one of them. Benny "The Whip" remembers.

"I knew that they would have a crashdown crowd on the first day. The Meadowlands hit a home run right from the start. It was on for go. We did have a little problem early on with the track surface. It was too powdery and tough to keep together. After a while, they got it right-where it was able to hold water."

The driver colony then as compared to now? Benny, "There are more good drivers today than then. Today, 15-20 top top drivers. Then, I'd say 8-10. Ted Wing, Buddy Gilmour, Jimmy Doherty-some of the guys who raced on the Grand Circuit just stopped by for the stakes. "

Oil Burner-He enjoyed most of his success with Benny Webster-and the series named for him starts this weekend. Benny on one of the top 3 Year olds and then older pacer-Oil Burner, "His best race came in the OTB CLassic. He was caught out three wide to the 5/8ths, no-mans land. I had no chance. Then, Wolf Pack made a break and scattered some horses, and I was able to duck into the 3 hole. I sat in there to the 5/8ths, came out for the lead, and held on by about a length. "

Horses Of The Year-SIRED By Horses Of The Year
Since the Meadowlands opened, the following seven horses were named Horse Of The Year who were sired by a Horse Of The Year also.
1979-1980 Niatross (Albatross, 1971-1972)
1981-Fan Hanover (Albatross, 1971-1972)
1985-Nihilator (Niatross 1979-1980)
1991-Precious Bunny (Cam Fella 1982-1983)
1992-Artsplace (Abercrombie-1978)
1994-Cams Card Shark (Cam Fella-1982-93)
2001-Bunny Lake (Precious Bunny-1991)

$200,000 and Up Races-2004
-73 races this year $200,000 or more
37 of those trained by a trainer born OUTSIDE USA OR CANADA!!!
16-New Zealand
10-Norway
9-Sweden
2-Australia
-Ron Pierce has captured 13 of those to lead the way, as well as 6 valued at more than Half a million $$.

Guess Who???? Take a guess who the ONLY driver to be on the board in all three Million $$ races (US funds) this year?? John Campbell-2nd in the NA Cup, 3rd in the Pace with Metropolitan, 3rd in the Hambo with Cash Hall.

Sophomore Speed Parade
In 2003, there was only one mile faster than 1:49.3-ALL YEAR-by a 3 Year Old. Whatanartist-1:49 in the Meadowlands Pace elimination. This year, a totally different story. 15 miles-FIFTEEN-have been recorded by 3 year olds FASTER than 1:49.3.
-Rainbow Blue and Quick Pulse Mindale are the only repeaters.(Two each)
-Artiscape has three credits.(most of any sire)
Linda Toscano is the only female trainer on the list with Maltese Artist-whose 1:49.2 was the fastest mile in the 34 year history of the NJSS taken this year at the Big M on June 26 in the $150,000 NJSS final.
-6 of the 15 have come at the Meadowlands.
-All 15 have come on the bigger tracks.
-The purses varied greatly for the sub 1:49.3 sophs of 2004. One did it in a million $$ race-Holborn Hanover 1:49 flat-another did it for $12,000-Fox Valley Gallant at Lexington in 1:49.1
-Yannick Gingras did it at age 24-with 1:48.4 winner Timesareachanging-the fastest ever Meadowlands Pace elim.