Dan Patch Award Winners Announced

Courtesy of Harness Racing Communications:

Rock N Roll Heaven finished his racing career a month ago, but added another win to his resume Tuesday.

Rock N Roll Heaven, who completed his career with a 10-race win streak that included a world-record performance in the Little Brown Jug, was named harness racing’s best 3-year-old male pacer by the U.S. Harness Writers Association in Dan Patch Award voting revealed Tuesday.

Award-winners were named in 12 age-based divisions for trotters and pacers. The results of USHWA balloting for Trotter of the Year, Pacer of the Year and Horse of the Year will be announced at the organization’s annual awards dinner, to be held February 27 at the Marriott in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Other division winners were 2-year-old male trotter Pastor Stephen, 2-year-old male pacer Big Jim, 2-year-old filly trotter Crys Dream, 2-year-old filly pacer See You At Peelers, 3-year-old male trotter Lucky Chucky, 3-year-old filly trotter Bar Slide, 3-year-old filly pacer Put On A Show, older male trotter Enough Talk, older female trotter Buck I St Pat, older male pacer Won The West and older female pacer Dreamfair Eternal.

Buck I St Pat has won three consecutive awards for best older female trotter, joining Moni Maker (1997-2000), Peace Corps (1990-92), Scenic Regal (1987-89) and Fresh Yankee (1969-72) as mares to earn the honor at least three years in a row. Buck I St Pat was named on all 131 ballots returned, making her the only unanimous selection this year.

Enough Talk claimed his second award for best older male trotter; he won previously in 2008. He joins Mr Muscleman (2004-05) and No Sex Please (1990 and 1992) as the only horses to win twice in the last 34 years.

Won The West captured his second consecutive division title as best older male pacer. He joins Mister Big (2007-08) and Red Bow Tie (1998-99) as the only horses to pull off the double in the last 32 years.

Lucky Chucky earned his second straight division crown, having won the 2-year-old male trotter title last season. He is the fourth consecutive trotter to accomplish that feat, following Muscle Hill, Deweycheatumnhowe and Donato Hanover.

Rock N Roll Heaven, the top-ranked horse in the year-end Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, was named on 129 of 131 ballots returned. In addition to the Little Brown Jug, which he won in consecutive heats with back-to-back world-record-equaling 1:49.2 miles, Rock N Roll Heaven’s victories included the Breeders Crown, Tattersalls Pace, Battle of the Brandywine, and Messenger Stakes.

Trained by Bruce Saunders and driven primarily by Daniel Dube, the colt earned $2.15 million, good for the seventh richest season ever for a pacer of any age. He is owned by Frank Bellino.

Among the other award winners, Pastor Stephen won the closest balloting since 1988. He defeated Manofmanymissions by one vote, 56-55. In 1988, Esquire Spur defeated Park Avenue Joe 82.5-82 in voting for 3-year-old male trotter.

See You At Peelers finished the year with 13 wins in 13 races and became only the second 2-year-old filly pacer to win her Dan Patch Award with an undefeated season. My Little Dragon, who was 6-for-6 in 2005, was the first.

Put On A Show won 12 of 16 starts and $1.16 million this year, pushing her career earnings to $1.89 million and setting the record for highest earnings for a filly pacer. Miss Easy held the record, with $1.77 million earned in 1990-91.

2-YEAR-OLD MALE TROTTER OF THE YEAR
Pastor Stephen (56 votes)
Cantab Hall-Gala Dream-Enjoy Lavec
Breeder: Brittany Farms
Owners: Christina Takter, John Fielding, Brittany Farms
Trainer: Jimmy Takter Driver: Yannick Gingras
Races: 11-6-4-0 Purses: $653,748 Mark: 1:56 at Mohawk
Top wins: $485,000 William Wellwood Memorial; $98,489 Champlain

2-YEAR-OLD-FILLY TROTTER OF THE YEAR
Crys Dream (94 votes)
Taurus Dream-Crysta’s Image-Balanced Image
Breeder: Reve Avec Moi Dreamwithme
Owners: Reve Avec Moi Dreamwithme, Deo Volente Farms, TLP Stable
Trainer: Henrik Hollsten Drivers: Jean Dubois, Luc Ouellette
Races: 8-7-0-0 Purses: $584,392 Mark: 1:54.3 at Woodbine
Top wins: $502,000 Goldsmith Maid; $452,020 Peaceful Way

3-YEAR-OLD-MALE TROTTER OF THE YEAR
Lucky Chucky (108 votes)
Windsong’s Legacy-Aerobics-Muscles Yankee
Breeder: Perretti Farms
Owners: SGS Partners, Perretti Racing Stable, Lindy Racing Stable
Trainer: Chuck Sylvester Driver: John Campbell
Races: 11-5-3-1 Purses: $1.43 million Mark: 1:50.4 at the Red Mile
Top wins: $970,000 Canadian Trotting Classic; $500,000 Colonial

3-YEAR-OLD-FILLY TROTTER OF THE YEAR
Bar Slide (69 votes)
Yankee Glide-Marla Bar-Malabar Man
Breeder: Fair Winds Farm
Owners: Fredericka Caldwell, Bluestone Farms
Trainer: Joe Holloway Driver: Tim Tetrick
Races: 14-5-2-1 Purses: $568,529 Mark: 1:52.4 at the Meadowlands
Top wins: $750,000 Hambletonian Oaks; $70,500 Bluegrass

OLDER MALE TROTTER OF THE YEAR
Enough Talk (73 votes)
Enjoy Lavec-Fashion Setter-Donerail
Breeder: Perretti Farms
Owners: Peter Kleinhans Racing, Jerry Silva
Trainer: Peter Kleinhans Driver: Ron Pierce
Races: 17-5-4-1 Purses: 641,022 Mark: 1:51 at the Meadowlands
Top wins: $600,000 Breeders Crown; $235,750 Titan Cup

OLDER FEMALE TROTTER OF THE YEAR
Buck I St Pat (131 votes; unanimous)
Jailhouse Jesse-Name It Something-Speed In Action
Breeder: Ron Fuller
Owners: Howard Taylor, Edwin Gold, Abraham Basen, Ron Fuller
Trainer: Ron Burke Driver: Tim Tetrick
Races: 19-9-3-4 Purses: $715,135 Mark: 1:51 at the Meadowlands
Top wins: $340,470 Armbro Flight; 250,000 Breeders Crown

2-YEAR-OLD MALE PACER OF THE YEAR
Big Jim (120 votes)
Western Ideal-Bold Pink-Big Towner
Breeder: Hanover Shoe Farms
Owner: Jim Carr
Trainer: James “Friday” Dean Driver: Phil Hudon
Races: 10-6-1-2 Purses: $827,204 Mark: 1:49.1 at Woodbine (world record)
Top wins: $709,000 Governor’s Cup; $600,000 Breeders Crown

2-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACER OF THE YEAR
See You At Peelers (99 votes)
Bettor's Delight-West Side Glory-Western Ideal
Breeder: Christina Takter
Owners: Christina Takter, John Fielding, Jim Fielding
Trainer: Jimmy Takter Driver: Jim Morrill Jr.
Races: 13-13-0-0 Purses: $581,649 Mark: 1:51.3 at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs
Top wins: $600,000 Breeders Crown; $200,000 New York Sire Stakes championship

3-YEAR-OLD MALE PACER OF THE YEAR
Rock N Roll Heaven (129 votes)
Rocknroll Heaven-Artistic Vision-Artsplace
Breeders: Steve Stewart, Charles “Cotton” Nash, Julie Nash, Francene Nash
Owner: Frank Bellino
Trainer: Bruce Saunders Driver: Daniel Dube
Races: 21-16-2-1 Purses: $2.15 million Mark: 1:47.3 at the Meadowlands
Top wins: $604,100 Little Brown Jug; 604,000 Tattersalls; $500,000 Breeders Crown

3-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACER OF THE YEAR
Put On A Show (118 votes)
Rocknroll Hanover-Stienam’s Place-Artsplace
Breeders: Green Mountain Farms, Kentuckiana Farms General Partnership
Owners: Craig Henderson, Richard Young, Joanne Young
Trainer: Chris Ryder Driver: Tim Tetrick
Races: 16-12-3-0 Purses: $1.16 million Mark: 1:49.4 at the Red Mile
Top wins: $500,000 Breeders Crown; $350,000 Valley Forge

OLDER MALE PACER OF THE YEAR
Won The West (90 votes)
Western Hanover-Gabrielle-Dragon’s Lair
Breeder: Fair Winds Farm
Owners: Strollin Stable, William Robinson, James Koehler
Trainer: Ron Burke Driver: David Miller
Races: 19-7-8-3 Purses: $1.36 million Mark: 1:48.1 at the Meadowlands
Top wins: $748,800 Canadian Pacing Derby; $500,000 Breeders Crown

OLDER FEMALE PACER OF THE YEAR
Dreamfair Eternal (123 votes)
Camluck-J Cs Nathalie-Flight Of Fire
Breeders: John Lamers, Mary Lamers
Owner: John Lamers
Trainer: Patrick Fletcher Driver: Randy Waples
Races: 22-16-4-1 Purses: $925,575 Mark: 1:49.4 at Tioga Downs
Top wins: $364,560 Milton; $300,000 Breeders Crown

The Muscle Hill to be held at Vernon Downs in 2011

Vernon Downs is proud to announce one of its newest sponsors for one of the top Open mare trotting events in North America to its 2011 stakes schedule in The Muscle Hill.

Recently known as The Conway Hall, The Muscle Hill Syndicate has stepped up to sponsor one of the top mare events for an estimated purse of $200,000.

“We are very pleased to be involved with the management of Vernon Downs in sponsoring this event," said Syndicate Manager Mike Klau of Southwind Farms. "Vernon has always been a great place to race trotters and we feel that this event always showcases the world’s best and that’s something that we felt that we could support.”

Recent winners of the event include World Champion Passionate Glide in 2007, Falls For You in 2008 in 1:53.1, which stands as the current stakes record, Multiple World Champion Buck I St Pat in 2009 and Yursa Hanover and Dan Dube in 2010.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Muscle Hill Syndicate to showcase the best of the best trotting mares in the world for The Muscle Hill in 2011," said Jason M. Settlemoir, VP of Racing and Simulcast. "Muscle Hill himself was a multiple World Champion and was undoubtedly one of the best trotters to step foot on a racetrack. We are very proud that his name will live on in the industry, and will be a major stakes event at Vernon Downs.”

The Muscle Hill is scheduled for Friday, September 2nd, 2011 at Vernon Downs and will be co-featured by the $200,000 counterpart for Open Trotters, The Credit Winner.

For more information on Vernon Downs please visit us online at www.vernondowns.com.

Jeff Gural Responds to New York City OTB Closing

Jeffrey Gural is the chairman of American Racing and Entertainment, the owner of Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs.

"As the owner of Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs and a member of the Creditors Committee for OTB, I feel that I have to respond to the statement issued by the Empire State Harness Horsemen’s Alliance which claims to represent almost all of the horsemen in New York State. I am proud to say that they certainly do not represent the horsemen at Tioga Downs.

As you know, this group vigorously opposed the legislation that would have kept OTB open and now seems relatively unconcerned with the fact that it is closing. I want to make it clear to the industry that the closing of OTB is a disastrous development for our industry.

While I totally agree that OTB as it has been run is not a well oiled machine, I think that everyone involved recognizes that in order for it to survive long-term it has to go in a new direction and open the type of facilities that we have seen opened in New Jersey and appear to be quite successful.

Unfortunately, from an economic standpoint, the closing of New York City OTB will be disastrous. I expect that the breeding fund will lose approximately $1,500,000 and that the racetracks will lose an additional $11,000,000, 50% of which goes to horsemen in the form of purses. In total this represents a loss of approximately $7,000,000 in purses and breeding funds statewide.

Worse yet, sometime next year Aqueduct will open and that will take business away from Yonkers which will probably cost an additional $1,500,000 to the breeding fund in 2012 and cause purses at Yonkers to decline by about 20%.

Making matters even worse, the likelihood is that the other OTB’s will also eventually fail and the head of District 37, the largest union in the state that represents the thousand workers who lost their jobs yesterday at Christmas time, assured me that the union will do everything they can to insure that no legislation is passed in the future that will help our industry or the other OTB’s.

That does not bode well for the future of horse racing.

Another negative has been the numerous newspaper editorials written on this subject which all make reference to the fact that horse racing is a dying business and should no longer be subsidized by the taxpayers. The amazing part of all of this is that the legislation this group opposed would actually have increased purses statewide by about 10% and kept the breeding fund where it currently is.

All in all, the events earlier this week, in my opinion, are an unmitigated disaster but apparently our largest breeding farms and all but the Tioga Harness Horsemen’s Association disagree. Is it any wonder that our sport is where we are today?

Vernon Downs/Tioga Downs Racing Handle Comparison

Tioga Downs and the Southern Tier Harness Horsemen’s Association (STHHA) opted to try a lower takeout rate initiative for the 2010 race season, where all takeout rates were lowered to New York state minimums.

The results of the takeout initiative were promising compared to industry standards.

Where most other handles are dropping, the Tioga Downs handle showed an increase of 7.8% over 2009.

Vernon Downs’ takeout rates stayed the same as in 2009.

The 2010 handle showed a 5.6% decrease.

The live on track handle for the Vernon Downs season was only down just under 1%, but the export number plummeted at Vernon Downs in 2010 with a 9.5% decrease in export compared to 2009.

The end result of the takeout rate reduction at Tioga showed an actual revenue loss in 2010 compared to 2009, but management feels that as part of repairing our broken business model in harness racing, a takeout reduction is worth exploring.

“The horseplayers have spoken and they want more value on the product they are betting on," said Jason M. Settlemoir, VP of Racing and Simulcast. "It’s past time to look at our business model and make adjustments, and we have to begin with the most important piece of the puzzle, the bettors. With the high amount of product available for bettors to wager on they are going to go where they are getting the best value and we believe that we are providing that for them at Tioga.”

“Hopefully we will someday also provide our customer with a better product by keeping our stars racing as we recently saw by the dramatic increase in news coverage and TV ratings when Zenyatta raced in the Breeders’ Cup."

For more information on Tioga Downs or Vernon Downs please visit us online at www.tiogadowns.com or www.vernondowns.com.

Vernon Downs’ 2010 Year in Review

Vernon Downs wrapped up its 2010 race season this past weekend in Vernon, New York for the 57th time in track history.

A total of 13 track records highlighted a 90 day race meet in which the all age trotting track record was re-written by Lucky Jim and Andy Miller on September 17th in the Credit Winner Open Trot in 1:52.

Stonebridge Wish posted the fastest mile of the season with a 1:49.4 score on June 5 that equaled him for the fastest mile in Vernon Downs’ history.

Yursa Hanover captured the fourth edition of the Conway Hall Trot as she upset defending Champion Buck I St Pat in 1:54.2 with driver Dan Dube.

Also highlighting the 2010 stakes schedule and kicking off the sire stakes in New York was the Empire Breeders’ Classic at Vernon Downs for sophomore trotters.

Southwind Samurai and Pat Berry captured the 2010 edition for sophomore trotting fillies in stakes record time of 1:54.4.

The Bjorn Noren trainee upset Impressive Kemp, to take home the lion’s share of the $234,900 purse.

In the $235,900 Empire Breeders’ Classic Final for 3-year old colt trotters, Strong Hope and Ron Pierce upset a field of nine at 15-1 to post a 1:55.2 victory for trainer Noel Daley.

Tracy Brainard was crowned 2010 Trainer of the year on Saturday night, while Jimmy Whittemore defended his Driver of the year title to make it two in a row for the young Maine native.

“We would like to thank all the fans who supported us for the 2010 race season," said Jason M. Settlemoir, VP of Racing and Simulcast. "We continue to bring in some of the top horses and drivers in the country for many marquee races during the heart of the stakes season. We look forward to another successful year in 2011 and wish everyone the best in the offseason."

2010 Racing Season Concludes

Touch Of The Past saved the best for last on closing night to prevail in 1:51.2 during Saturday’s $13,200 featured ninth race at Vernon Downs.

Competing in the final Miracle Mile-1 pace of Vernon’s 57th season, Touch Of The Past advanced from fourth at the half to second at the top of the stretch, and then closed with a flurry to defeat the on-rushing Four One One by a head in a career-best time of 1:51.2.

Joe Nassimos did the teaming for veteran trainer Howard Okusko, Sr. as the 4-year-old son of Village Jove-My Place earned his second win in succession, seventh at the 90-card meeting and 16th all-time.

Rocco Manzi and Paul Tandlmayer own the career-winner of nearly $75,000.

Nassimos and driver Claude Huckabone, III each recorded three wins during Saturday’s 10-race program, while trainer Adam Wahl posted two tallies.

"I would like to thank the racing fans, employees and horsemen of Vernon Downs for making the 2010 racing season a success,” said Jason Settlemoir, the track’s regional vice-president for racing and simulcasting. “Vernon Downs continues to strive to bring top quality harness racing action to its fans in Central New York, and this year alone we set thirteen track records at the home of the Miracle Mile. We are already looking forward to the 2011 racing season in the spring with hope and optimism."

The pacer Stonebridge Wish recorded the season’s fastest mile, a 1:49.4 performance on June 5 that tied the fastest mile in Vernon’s history, while Lucky Jim established a 1:52 all-time track trotting standard on Sept. 17.

The pacer Saranac Hanover was the track’s winningest equine with 10 first-place finishes, while Fox Valley Majesty topped all trotters with eight scores.

Jimmy Whittemore successfully defended his dash-winning driving title, while Tracy Brainard was the season’s leading trainer.

Leon Bailey led all provisional reinsman for the second straight season.

DOWNS DOINGS—Vernon’s 57th season covered 90 programs from April 16 through November 20…The pacing mare My Little Dragon set Vernon’s 1:49.4 all-time speed standard in 2008.

Huckabone, III Notches 2,000th Career Win

Touch Of The Past won the $10,800 featured eight event, while 36-year-old local horseman Claude Huckabone, III achieved his 2,000th career driving victory during Saturday night’s 10-race program at Vernon Downs.

Touch Of The Past ($4.70) closed from fourth in the final quarter and displayed the most lick in the lane to record a 1:52.3 victory in Saturday’s top Miracle Mile pacing contest, while Huckabone, son of Vernon veteran Claude Huckabone, Jr., converted a pocket-sitting trip behind his pacer Deau Best into a memorable 1:55.4 triumph in the second session.

Joe Nassimos did the teaming for trainer Howard Okusko, Sr. as betting favorite Touch Of The Past earned his sixth season’s score and 15th lifetime victory.

Rocco Manzi and Paul Tandlmayer own the career-winner of more than $68,000.

Huckabone, who grew up in Vernon’s backstretch and posted his initial driving victory here, realized his 1,000th lifetime win at Monticello Raceway in 2004.

“This is a nice milestone in my chosen career,” said the personable Utica (NY) native. “I’m glad I got this one here at Vernon, where it all began.”


Huckabone, who also finished first with Lu Ann Huckabone’s pacer Willfully in Saturday’s fifth race and the pacer Joan’s Bad Boy, owned by Bennett Velocci and John Alutto, Jr., in the sixth race, increased his win total for the meet to 47.

In addition to Huckabone’s triple, Ruel “Dude” Goodblood, Jr. collected a pair of victories during the track’s 88th program.

DOWNS DOINGS—Huckabone is the owner and trainer of Deau Best…Tioga Thunder, the first youngster to be named by the fans in Tioga Downs’s “Name That Colt” contest a couple of years back, earned his “maiden” victory with owner and trainer Adam Capizzano doing the driving in Saturday’s opening event…The Downs with complete its 57th season with live harness racing next Friday and Saturday nights (Nov. 19 & 20). First post time will be at 6:55 both evenings.