by Mark Ratzky, Cal-Expo publicity department

Sacramento, CA — Steve Meltzer remembers his father taking him to the track when he just 4 years old, planting the seed that would make him a lifelong fan of the trotters and pacers, but it took nearly 55 more years before he actually found himself owning a horse.

Meltzer is partners with Lisa Ehrlich on the Bob Johnson-trained pacing mare Dawnlikeslillies, who was claimed on May 29 and has returned to finish a solid second and third for the new connections while going off at long odds on both occasions.

“We were actually supposed to claim her four starts before that, but I had oral surgery and was knocked out and couldn’t answer my phone to give the okay,” related Meltzer, who turns 60 next month. The Brooklyn native has lived in Las Vegas for the past 14 years, where he can easily keep tabs on harness tracks across the country.

“I’ve known Monticello’s announcer Howard Oil for 30-plus years, back when he was just a guy in the grandstand calling races for practice and the people around him. We got to be very good friends, and he comes out to visit me in Las Vegas. One time we made the drive to Sacramento, and that’s where he introduced me to Cal-Expo’s announcer Scott Ehrlich, who told me how easy it was to own a horse.

“I never really had the inclination, or thought I could own a horse before this. But if I had known the amount of excitement I’ve gotten from these first two races, I definitely would have done this a long time ago. I watched her first race at home on my computer, and I was a complete basket case, so it’s probably better that I wasn’t at the track.

“Then last week, I came out there and got to go to the barn and see Dawnlikeslillies for the first time in person, in addition to meeting Bob and a lot of the horsemen that I’ve watched for years. I took pictures and I’ve been sending them to my friends and family across the country. It’s really been something.”

Dawnlikeslillies, who has certainly outraced her 15 and 20-1 odds in those initial two tries under the Meltzer/Ehrlich/Johnson banner, will suit up once again on Saturday night, July 12. Her biggest fan plans to have a ringside seat.

“I’ve watched and bet on thousands and thousands of races, but there’s nothing that can compare to having one of your own in there,” Steve proudly concluded.

Live racing will resume at Cal-Expo on Thursday (July 10) and continue through Saturday (July 12). Post time on Thursday is at 6:25 p.m. (PDT). Post time on Friday is at 6:05 p.m. Post time on Saturday night is scheduled for 5:35 p.m.