Harrington, DE – Leading driver and trainer honors headlined the Wednesday closing night program at Harrington Raceway. The training title was up for grabs in dramatic fashion after In Secret ($2.40, Allan Davis) prevailed in the featured $20,000 Open Trot with a 1:56 effort.

Art Stafford Jr. accepts his first driving title at Harrington Raceway. Fotowon photo. 

Owned by Mike Hall, L A Express Stable and Tamara Williams, the 7-year-old Deweycheatumnhowe gelding notched his 10th win of the year for trainer/co-owner Hall. The win deadlocked the trainer standings between Hall and reigning champ Joe Columbo with 39 wins each. One race later, however, Columbo clinched the title, prevailing with Middle Aged Crazy, for owners George and Tina Dennis and driver Mike Cole.

It was the second straight title for Columbo, who manages a stable of approximately 40 horses. After race four, driver Art Stafford Jr. was recognized as the meet’s leading driver. Stafford Jr. had six wins on Tuesday, which added to his healthy win total of 111 to secure his first driving title. Stafford has passed multiple milestones this year, surpassing 2,000 career wins and $20 million in career purses. Ross Wolfenden, Allan Davis, Mike Cole and Tony Morgan rounded out the top five in the driver standings.

Joe Columbo is awarded the Trainer of the Meet award at Harrington. Fotowon photo.

Meanwhile, behind Columbo and Hall in the trainer race were Wayne Givens, Joe Hundertpfund Jr., and Jim King Jr. on the closing program. Davis and Stafford had three wins, while Cole and Jon Roberts both had a double. Jeff Beauchamp and Ronald Short’s Totally Dreamy, won his fifth straight race in 1:55.3.

The Delaware racing circuit shifts to Dover Downs, which will open on November 4, 2019.