The favorites had a tough go if it in the pair of $18,000 condition claiming paces, providing minor upsets in Friday (Oct. 17) action at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway.
Author: by Jay Wolf for Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway
Batavia Downs extends the 2025 meet by four nights
The 2025 summer/fall live harness racing meet at Batavia Downs was originally scheduled to conclude on Saturday (Dec. 6). However, management at the track announced today that the New York State Gaming Commission has approved their request to add four additional nights to the racing calendar in December.
Massachusetts-bred trotters take top two trots at Plainridge
The trotters were center stage at Plainridge Park on Friday (Oct. 17) afternoon and two native sons of Massachusetts represented the state well with their respective victories.
Diplomacy behaves, big winner at Philly Friday
The Muscle Hill gelding Diplomacy, a $425,000 yearling who in his last seven starts showed two wins – but three breaks – evened that tally in his record now going eight starts back, taking the $13,500 featured trot at Harrah’s Philadelphia Friday afternoon (Oct. 17).
Shenandoah Downs Hosts a Pink Power Breast Cancer Awareness Day on Saturday
Shenandoah Downs will host its annual Pink Power Breast Cancer Awareness event and fundraiser Saturday (Oct. 18) in conjunction with a 14-race harness card highlighted by a four-pack of Virginia Breeder’s 2-year-old elimination trotting races and the final round of a Lady Drivers Tour.
Call for Candidates – PHHA Board of Directors (Trainer/Driver/Owner Positions)
The Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association (PHHA) is proud to announce the opening of nominations for our Board of Directors. We invite all eligible members to consider applying for one of the available seats in the Trainer/Driver or Owner/Breeder categories.
Benson Merrill trains, drives, and scores at Bangor Raceway
Benson Merrill currently sits at the top of the trainer standings at Bangor Raceway, his 24 seasonal wins outpacing both the Valerie Grondin and Autym Sowers rosters who have earned 19 top placings each. But every so often, the 35-year-old conditioner feels the need to have someone else check up his horses as they leave the paddock while he dons his maroon and white colors to join the everyday sulky-sitters behind the starting gate.
Lionheart Hanover the king in PA Fair Championships
The Greenshoe gelding Lionheart Hanover became only the second Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes horse, and the first male and first trotter, to complete the “grand slam” (in announcer Jim Beviglia’s phrase), winning his regular-season points title and his Championship race at both two and three, with his victory in one of eight $25,000 Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes Championships over a “sloppy” track on a dank day (Oct. 13) at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
Meadows Monday Memo
Here is this week’s Meadows Monday Memo:
Ranger wrangles four firsts Friday at Plainridge
Driver Bruce Ranger performed at a high level on Friday (Oct. 10) afternoon as he won four of the eight races he took part in at Plainridge Park.