The $35,000 Ron Banks Memorial FFA Mares Pace final was the featured event on the Sunday evening (June 25) harness racing card at Running Aces and featured a deeply talented field of eight top-level distaffers going into battle over a rain-soaked surface which was listed as sloppy.
Year: 2023
Pickmepickme takes fastest Maine Sire Stake
Pickmepickme handily took a new lifetime mark of 1:56.2 in winning her $14,684 division of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies at Bangor on Sunday (June 25). The 1-9 favorite has never been worse than third in any race with a purse, so Andy Harrington drove her like she was the best.
Bob Nadeau, 85, triumphs with 14-year-old Putnams Storm
Despite being in the twilight of their respective careers, owner-trainer-driver Bob Nadeau steered his own veteran pacer Putnams Storm to victory in Saturday’s (June 24) Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) event at Cumberland Raceway.
Peter Roccasano, 89, dies
On June 24, 2023, harness racing lost one of its longest and most passionate owners, Peter Roccasano, of Pittsburgh, Pa. “Rocky” passed away at the Veterans hospital in Pittsburgh, only months before reaching his 90th birthday.
Kentucky Proud Series post time change
Post time for the Kentucky Proud Series at the Marion County Fair in Lebanon, Ky., on Wednesday (June 28) will be 3 p.m. (EDT).
Freshman filly trotters ready to roll at Buffalo
It’s a new week but basically the same scenario this Wednesday (June 28) in the New York Sire Stakes that hits Buffalo Raceway.
First 2:00 miles ever at Butler to open PA fair season
The 2023 Pennsylvania harness racing fair circuit started on Saturday and Sunday (June 24-25) in this west central Pennsylvania borough’s Big Butler Fairgrounds, and it debuted as auspiciously as possible – both cards got to be raced, and the oval saw the first two 2:00 miles in its history during Sunday’s sophomore action.
Elitlopp winner Hohneck defeated in his backyard
For the first time since the victory in the Elitlopp, Phillipe Allaire-trained Hohneck, with Gabriele Gelormini, raced Sunday afternoon (June 25) at Vincennes in the Group 1-race Prix Rene Balliere with a total purse of 200,000 Euro.
Sheridan doubles in Philly AHDC events
Driver Yogi Sheridan snagged two of the three $9,900 events for the American Harness Drivers Club on Sunday afternoon at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
B Nicking wins by a nose in Philly feature
On a generally bad day for favorites, 13-1 shot B Nicking caught heavy favorite Yanks Dugout in the last step of the $16,200 featured trot Sunday afternoon at Harrah’s Philadelphia, winning by the smallest possible margin while lowering her career best to 1:53.2.