We had an opportunity to have a chat with multiple Illinois driving champion Casey Leonard on a variety of subjects pertaining to his craft. He comes into the 2023 Illinois racing season with 3,256 career dash winners and over 3,100 of them attained over the last 12 years.
Author: by Mike Paradise, for the IHHA
Jack Schliesser, 84, dies
Jack Lee Schliesser, 84, of Edgerton, Ohio, died April 30, 2023, in his home, surrounded by his family, after an extended illness.
Jenna Otten joins Eldorado Scioto Downs as on-air host
Jenna Otten has joined Eldorado Scioto Downs as on-air host.
Grand Circuit week opens Thursday at Plainridge
Grand Circuit action begins Thursday (May 4) at Plainridge Park with two $50,000 divisions in the Paul Revere Pace for 3-year-old males.
Hall, Page, Wrenn each collect two Buckeye Stallion Series wins
Grove City, OH — Tony Hall, Chris Page, and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. doubled up Wednesday (May 3) as the first leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series wrapped up at Miami Valley Raceway….
Updated USTA rule book now available
The 2023 updated version of the U.S. Trotting Association’s rule book is now available on the USTA website and will be available via the USTA Rule Book App found on Apple iTunes and Google Play stores by searching “USTrotting” in the coming weeks.
Ruthless Hanover gets early nod in $100,000 Pace Baby Pace at Miami Valley
The $100,000 Pace Baby Pace Free-For-All By Invitation at Miami Valley Raceway has been drawn and Ruthless Hanover has been named the lukewarm morning line favorite. Ruthless Hanover (George Napolitano Jr.) drew the No. 4 post position and will open at odds of 5-2. He has won his only two starts this season in Opens at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund accepting yearling nominations
The Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund is now accepting yearling nominations for No. 64 foals of 2022 to compete in the 2024 and 2025 New York Sire Stakes racing programs.
Graffam enjoys the highs while keeping low profile
Few people are completely content with their lot in life. They are constantly looking for higher-profile jobs, better pay, more recognition. The list goes on. Nick Graffam is one of the few. At age 32, the lifelong Maine resident is perfectly content driving three New England tracks; Plainridge Park in Massachusetts as well as First Tracks Cumberland and Bangor Raceway in his home state. Those may not be the epicenters of the sport, but along with great lobster, Graffam is enjoying success, traveling reasonable distances, working with his family and making a good living.
Scioto Downs to stream qualifiers
Starting with the first qualifiers on Thursday (May 4), all qualifying sessions at Eldorado Scioto Downs will once again be available on RTN through streaming services, such as Roku, Amazon FireStick and online at www.rtn.tv.