Here is this week’s Meadows Monday Memo.
Author: by Jeff Zidek, for Hollywood Casino at The Meadows
OHHA awards banquet and annual meeting scheduled for Jan. 13
The Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association awards banquet and annual meeting will be held Jan. 13 at the Columbus Marriott OSU, 3100 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio.
Robert Ketner, 90, dies
Robert P. Ketner, 90, of Bowling Green, Ohio, died at his home Dec. 31, 2023, after a courageous fight with dementia.
Wicked Character named Ohio 3-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year
In a year with no dominant sophomore colt pacer in Ohio, Wicked Character’s win in the $300,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Championship was the difference on his way to being named the Ohio 3-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year.
Former Hawthorne Open Trot champion returns
The veteran Indiana bred trotter Double A Goldrush may have been an infrequent visitor to Hawthorne Racecourse through his first eight racing seasons, however, when he has competed on its one mile oval, he certainly has been productive.
Southern Oaks 2024 training roster
Here is the 2024 winter training roster for Southern Oaks, Sorrento, Fla. Millionaire Metro winner Stockade Seelster is among the horses spending the winter at Southern Oaks.
Hawthorne’s distaff Open just got stronger
There’s a new challenger in the Hawthorne filly and mare Open pace ranks to current champion Marvelous Marshia and she has the credentials to be a major force in Sunday’s (Jan. 7) third race feature. Making her first career start for the Virgil Morgan Jr. stable is the now 5-year-old mare Trick Of The Light who has piled up purse earnings of over a half million dollars in just three years of racing in the Midwest.
Engblom right back to work after big 2023
After a busy 2023 that saw Per Engblom finish second in North America in wins and fifth in purses, the trainer is set to get right back in action this weekend with 11 horses racing at The Meadowlands. Engblom, a former Jimmy Takter assistant, saw his fifth year with his own stable end with 363 victories and $6.09 million in earnings. Those figures doubled his previous highs in both categories, set in 2022.
Sugar Instead named 2023 Ohio 2-Year-Old Trotting Filly of the Year
Sugar Instead had a season that dreams are made of. An $11,000 auction purchase, Sugar Instead rose to be queen of the freshman Ohio filly trotters as she was named the 2023 2-Year-Old Ohio Trotting Filly of the Year.
New Roadster Series announced
The U.S. Trotting Association is excited to announce a new series of Roadster events for the 2024 show season. Created for horses that either raced or were bred for the intention to race, the series is to promote Roadster events as a suitable second career for Standardbreds.