Author: by Mike Paradise, for the IHHA

Anyone who is a follower of horse racing knows that not all the gambling on the sport comes from the racetrack’s mutuel system. There has always been plenty of horsepeople’s money changing hands through the track’s claiming box, as well.

Lauren Harmon teamed up with the 9-year-old Deliciousstone DK (Wishing Stone) to score a handy win approaching three lengths in MGM Northfield Park’s Great Lakes Amateur Driving Association (GLADA) Trot on Saturday night (Jan. 20).

Not once did a trainer win more than four races on a single card at the Meadowlands during 2023, so maybe it was on Per Engblom’s list of New Year’s resolutions to accomplish the feat.

Penzance Hanover ($3.00) fought hard late and won the $20,000 Winners Over/ Select Handicap Pace at Bally’s Dover on Thursday night (Jan. 18).

Left alone during a leisurely :59.3 front half, Hot Flash Kimmy had little trouble holding her lead late as she captured Thursday’s (Jan. 18) feature at The Meadows, a $12,500 conditioned trot.

Belmont Royale N closed from well off the pace and thundered home to win the $27,500 Blue Hen/Open Handicap Pace at Bally’s Dover on Thursday night (Jan. 11).

A sloppy track combined with heavy snow that started to fall after the third race provided some messy going at Batavia Downs on Thursday afternoon (Jan. 11), but it didn’t take away from competitive racing and several very close finishes.

The Ohio Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association will hand out its annual awards at the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association banquet on Saturday (Jan. 13) at the Marriott Columbus OSU.

Dr. John Mossbarger, a veterinarian and the president of Midland Acres, Inc., has been elected as the 50th member of the Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame by a vote of the members of the Ohio Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association.