Marvin Luna is enjoying a rapid rise as a driver thanks to taking it slowly. The 22-year-old Luna began driving in 2020, but never topped 48 starts in a season until breaking out with 594 last year. He won 83 times in 2023, a nearly 14-percent clip, and guided his horses to $1.11 million in purses. Now he is in position to shatter those numbers.
Author: by Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager
Tulsa Bell wins as GLADA returns to Northfield Park
The Great Lakes Amateur Driving Association returned to Northfield Park on Sunday (May 19) after a brief hiatus and amateur driver Braiden Rhoades teamed up with the 6-year-old mare Tulsa Bell (Dontyouforgetit) to score the win in 1:58.
Racing starts this week at Ocean Downs
Racing resumes at Ocean Downs beginning with qualifiers being held at 10 a.m. Thursday (May 23) and the first night of live racing Sunday (May 26).
Rosecroft honors meet award winners
Lloyd’s Loves, winner of eight races during the Winter-Spring meet at Rosecroft, was honored Saturday night (May 18) as the track’s Horse of the Meet.
Meadows Monday Memo
Here is this week’s Meadows Monday Memo.
OHHA to air two Matinee Madness
The Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association will offer two presentations of Matinee Madness this week on the OHHA Facebook page.
Jack Rabbit Slims was huge in Aces opening night feature
Jack Rabbit Slims (Muscle Hill) was the talk of the toteboard at 1-2 in the opening night feature at Running Aces, and he did not disappoint his many backers, coming up big and delivering an impressive gate-to-wire tally by one length to kick off his 2024 Minnesota campaign in style.
Seven Colors aims for redemption in Juravinski final
After watching Seven Colors take a misstep in his Charles Juravinski Memorial Cup elimination this past weekend, trainer Andrew Harris is hoping to see the 4-year-old pacer put his best foot forward in Sunday’s C$263,000 final at Flamboro Downs.
Ruthless Hanover, Twin B Joe Fresh return Sunday at Philadelphia
A week from this coming Sunday (May 26), Harrah’s Philadelphia will be holding its annual Super Sunday, with three $100,000 Invitationals (pace, trot, mare pace), a $50,000 Invitational, and a preliminary round of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing colts.
USTA finds independent agency for starter’s insurance
After months of research, the U.S. Trotting Association has identified an independent insurance company, Coverlink, that will provide starter’s insurance, which solves a major problem that was facing the harness racing industry.