by Dave Bianconi, publicity director, Northfield Park

Northfield, OH — Long-time local horseman Tye Loy hit the 1,000 win plateau on Tuesday night (April 13) at Northfield Park with a 2:02¹ triumph in the fifth race behind pacer Sand Slade.

A native of Attica, Ohio, Loy is best known as a conditioner of two and three-year-old stakes campaigners in the Buckeye State.

Loy also trains Sand Slade for owner Bill Sanders of Stevenson, Alabama. The trainer-owner tandem has been together for well over a decade. The top horse of their partnership was pacing filly Sand Squaw, a two-time Ohio Sires Stakes champion (2001 and 2002) and Ohio’s Horse of the Year as a three-year-old in 2002.

Semper Fi Hall wins Open Trot

Semper Fi Hall overcame an assigned eight hole and a very sloppy track to capture the $9,000 Open Trot on Monday night, April 12.

After an early battle with CR Pants On Fire, Semper Fi Hall and Greg Grismore grabbed the lead just past the opening quarter and never looked back en route to an easy 2:01 triumph.

The five-year-old son of Balanced Image, trained and leased by Keith Dicks, is unbeaten in three local starts since arriving from Saratoga Raceway in New York.

The only blemish on his record since joining the Dicks Stable was a show finish in Preferred company at The Meadows on March 23.

His win on Monday night was his first outing since the loss in Pennsylvania, and his debut on Lasix.

The victory was part of a six win night in the sulky for Grismore — putting him three wins ahead of Brett Miller (176-173) to lead all local reinsmen in 2004.