by Frank Salive, publicity director, Isle Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — The Horse and Groom of the Month Award presented during the Tuesday evening (Jan. 17) program at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park sure took an interesting twist when groom Linda Lidstrom disclosed in a live trackside TV interview just how she landed a job in North America.

Skip Smith photo

Local members of the United States Harness Writers Association made the presentation of the monthly Horse and Groom of the Month Award to December winners Linda Lidstrom and trotter Pembrook Street. In the photo are (left to right) Frank Salive, Rosie Huff, Jean Emerson, Steve Wolf, Linda Lidstrom, John Berry and Tom Hicks.

“I had been working for my sister’s stable in my home country of Sweden where we only have trotters,” Lidstrom explained when receiving the monthly award from the Florida chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association. “I just decided to try my luck on a Google search to find out more about racing over here and perhaps the names of some of the trainers.

“Looking back, I was fortunate that I found Joe Pavia, Jr. had a website (www.paviaracing.com) so I sent some e-mails and Joe wrote me back. I only started to work with Joe’s stable on Nov. 1 so I only saw a little bit of his base at Pocono Downs, and I’m really enjoying it here at the Pompano winter base.

“I’m usually here by 5:30 or so in the morning and back at night often for racing but it’s really pleasant to work without the challenge of the biting cold weather.”

Also saluted in the monthly award was Pembrook Street. The 6-year-old Duke Of York-Shipps Cruise gelding won three times at Pompano in December and turned in the fastest trotting mile of the meet to date with his Dec. 21 spin in 1:53.2. Ownership of the Pavia stable member is shared by Peter and Wai Shank of Cazenovia, N.Y., along with BJR Stables of Boca Raton, Fla.

Lidstrom explains the trotter is now on a short turnout and should be ready for action again shortly.

“This is really great to get this award on my 23rd birthday, it’s a topic I’m sure the boss and my co-workers will take up with me around the barn tomorrow,” Lidstrom joked. “It’s also been interesting to groom a pacer for the first time in my life. I’ve also got to get the boss to update his website since Pembrook Street wasn’t even on the list of the 30 or so horses last posted in the stable roster section. I hope this wonderful award will now get this fine horse I groom at least a mention.”

The Tuesday evening Pick-4 at Pompano also carried added incentive because of a $6,639 carryover and guaranteed pool of $12,500, up from the $5,000 usual guaranteed weeknight pool in the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program. With just a single winning favorite in the Pick-4 the return was $3,242.

Post time is 7:15 p.m. (EST) every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday at The Winter Capital of Harness Racing. Free race night live streaming, handicapping selections by Hall of Fame inductee John Berry, and replays are in the ‘racing’ tab at www.theislepompanopark.com along with the full season racing schedule through July.