by Ellen Harvey, HRC

Freehold, NJ — The track will be filled with talent when the annual Mr. and Mrs. Elbridge Gerry Memorial Trot, featuring all drivers who have been inducted in to the Hall of Fame, is contested at Goshen (NY) Historic Track (www.goshenhistorictrack.com) on Sunday, July 1. Post time is 1 pm and drivers will meet fans and sign photos at the south end of the grandstand after the race is contested.

Driver Dave Palone, currently 10 wins from breaking the all time career record of 15,180, held by Herve Filion, who will also drive on Sunday, will compete. Palone hopes to break the record at his “home” track, The Meadows in Washington, PA. It seems likely that will happen in the next week, but not at Goshen as he is not competing June 28, 29 or June 30. A win by Filion on Sunday will push the record one race ahead of Palone’s current target, to 15,181.

The rookie of the field, driving in his first Hall of Fame race, is 51 year-old Jimmy Takter, who will be inducted in to the Hall that evening. Takter is a three-time trainer of the year, trained two time Horse of the Year (98 and 99) Moni Maker, won the Hambletonian twice (Malabar Man 97 and Muscle Massive ‘10) and is currently campaigning a stable of dozens of stakes horses.

John Campbell, the sport’s all time leading money winning driver, will also take the reins at Goshen, looking to add to his lifetime bankroll of $274.5 million. He is about $90 million ahead of the next closest driver, Mike Lachance. Lachance, a five time winner of the Little Brown Jug, is also expected to compete, along with Jim Doherty, who drove and trained $3 million winner Fool’s Goal and Breeders Crown winner No Nonsense Woman.

Ron Pierce, who has three Hambletonian victories, will compete, as will Cat Manzi, with 14,458 wins. He is third only to lifetime win leader Herve Filion.

The field for the July 1 Hall of Fame drivers race, in alphabetical order, is:

1. John Campbell

2. Jim Doherty

3. Herve Filion

4. Wally Hennessey

5. Mike Lachance

6. Cat Manzi

7. Dave Palone

8. Ron Pierce

9. Jimmy Takter