Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Ponder Takes US Pacing Championship

August 5, 2006

Ponder brushed to the lead past the half and held off late bids by Maltese Artist and Casimir Camotion to win the first of two $195,000 U.S. Pacing Championship divisions on Saturday afternoon at the Meadowlands. Driven by John Campbell and trained by Robert McIntosh, Ponder settled in fourth early, soared to the top in a :53 half and dug in gamely for a neck victory in 1:48.1. It was his fifth win in 13 starts this season. The five-year-old son of The Panderosa boosted his career earnings to $1,369,670 for McIntosh, CSX Stables and John Fielding.

$190,000 US Pacing Championship The Meadowlands Saturday, August 5, 2006
PP Horse               Driver
1 Ponder                 John Campbell
6 Maltese Artist        Yannick Gingras
3 Casimir Camotion Brian Sears
4 Hop Sing              Ron Pierce
5 Rare Jewel            G Brennan
7 Boulder Creek       Daniel Dube
2 Dr No                    Cat Manzi
:25.3      :53      1:20.1      1:48.1

New World Pacing Record
Holborn Hanover, the 2004 Meadowlands Pace winner, set a track and world record for the fastest harness race mile in history with a 1:46.4 clocking in the second $195,000 U.S. Pacing Championship division on Saturday afternoon at the Meadowlands.

Holborn Hanover eclipsed Primetime Bobcat’s 1:47.2 world record set on May 13, 2006 and shattered the track record of 1:47.3, shared by Jenna’s Beach Boy [June 22, 1996] and Lis Mara [July 29, 2006].

Driven by George Brennan, Holborn Hanover moved to the lead in a 26.3 opening quarter and took the field through fractions of :53.3 and 1:20.4 before storming home in a final panel of 26 seconds to win the 11th race on the card. Stonebridge Regal was a length and three-quarters behind in second, while it was more than six lengths back to Georgia Pacific in third.

“I saw the three-quarter split and I gave him his head then and he responded,” Brennan said. Normally I don’t drive the clock, but I took a shot and I was going for a record. It’s just amazing, totally amazing that horses can come home in 26 seconds off of those fractions, but like I said, I know this horse is really good and I know what he’s capable of. He’s a great horse.”

Holborn Hanover has won 18 of 77 career starts and banked $1,635,909 for Ontario-based owners John Fielding of Toronto and Canamerica Capital Corp. [Albert Imbrogno and Douglas Hyatt] of Milton. Brett Robinson trains the five-year-old Cam’s Card Shark gelding.

$190,000 US Pacing Championship The Meadowlands Saturday, August 5, 2006
PP Horse                     Driver
6 Holborn Hanover        Geo Brennan
5 Stonebridge Regal      Ron Pierce
2 Georgia Pacific           Andy Miller
3 Santastic's Pan           Brian Sears
1 Leading X Ample        David Miller
7 Load The Dice           Y Gingras
4 P-Forty-Seven           Mike Lachance
8 My Panmar                John Campbell
:26.3      :53.3      1:20.4      1:46.4*
*Fastest Racing Mile in Harness Racing History