by Steve Wolf, Director of Marketing, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — As part of the festivities surrounding Isle of Capri Night this Saturday at Pompano Park Harness Track, track management is making a special presentation to two unique ladies of the sport — Beatrice Farber-Erdman and Jacqueline Ingrassia.

The two women are the only women in the history of North American harness racing to each have driven more than 1,000 race winners in their careers. They have broken major barriers in a sport dominated by men and paved the way for many women who are now a regular part of the horseracing industry.

There will be special presentations made to both women in the winner’s circle after the seventh race on the program, which will be followed by interviews and a chance to meet with fans at the track.

Bea Farber-Erdman

Beatrice Farber-Erdman, who was a legal secretary in Brighton, Mich. in the 1960s, loved racing and grew up on a farm with horses — so becoming interested in harness racing and then becoming a driver was not that far fetched for her. By 1973 she had become the first woman ever to win a major harness track driving title, at Northville Downs in Michigan.

Nicknamed “Queen Bea,” Farber-Erdman went on and in 1979 became become the first woman to compete in the World Driving Championship, scored her 1,000th career win in 1984, won numerous driving titles and competed at many tracks across North America, and retired after 1995 after having competed in 9,621 races, recorded 1,801 wins, and won purses of just over $9 million. Farber retired from racing in 1995 due to severe arthritis in her hands.

Jacqueline Ingrassia

Jacqueline Ingrassia, born in England, is known at “Lady J.” She first came to the United States in the 1970s. She loved harness racing, but it was so limited in the United Kingdom that she knew if she wanted a career in the sport she would have to come to the United States. Ingrassia met the noted Freehold, N.J. horseman Anthony Abbatiello, who saw that she had desire and ability, and Lady J got her license and started driving in American in 1977.

Teamed with her husband, Frank, who does the training for their stable, Ingrassia went on and became a competitive driver — mainly at Freehold Raceway in New Jersey, where she has won more than 90 percent of her races. Earlier in her career, Ingrassia also appeared on “What’s My Line” and stumped the panel.

Her best year of racing was 1993, in which she won 82 times. Her biggest victory came in 2000 when Ingrassia drove Goalfish to a head victory in the $345,405 Yonkers Trot Final at Yonkers Raceway in New York; With it she became the first woman driver ever to win a Triple Crown race.

Then, on December 31, 2003, Ingrassia made the record books again when she became on the second woman in North America to win 1,000 races, doing so at her “home” track, Freehold Raceway, where Lady J is still an active driver.