by Frank Salive, publicity director, Isle Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — One of the harness sport’s highest profile drivers, Brian Sears, is returning to Florida for at least the next two weekends of competition, culminating in the 2010 Florida Super Night on Saturday, Dec. 11, at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.

USTA photo

Brian Sears will be back at Pompano Park for the next two weekends.

“I’m really looking forward to it and it’s going to be fun to return to Florida and to Pompano,” Sears says. “I see it as an opportunity for a quality experience. I’ll be driving for my dad (Jay Sears) and his stable in the Florida Breeders Stake eliminations and finals, and a few other catch-drives, too. Dad will soon be reaching his 70th birthday and this means a lot to him. So from any standpoint it’s going to be a good break for me to return to Pompano where I’ve driven a lot in my career.”

Sears, now 42, was born in Ft. Lauderdale. He hails from a great harness racing family background with long-standing roots at the South Florida venue. His grandfather, Gene, began driving in 1946 and won more than 1,000 races. His dad, Jay, has driven more than 1,500 winners and is still extremely active on a nightly basis at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.

After three straight driving titles at Vernon Downs starting in 1991, Brian progressed to the top of the drivers’ standings at the Meadows. Since his move to the Meadowlands in 2004, Brian has earned almost 3,000 wins and $100 million in purses. One of his greatest feats went into the record books in August of 2009 when he won the Hambletonian, Hambletonian Oaks and Peter Haughton Memorial for a single day’s purse earnings surpassing $1.5 million.

“Home is New Jersey now for me and with the uncertainty about things there, I would say there is a down mood in the drivers’ room but not desperation,” Sears says. “We’re pretty much resigned to racing fewer dates and for the same purses in 2011. Where everyone agrees is that we have to hang in there for a few years and see the Meadowlands restored to it’s rightful place. As for this return to Florida to race, it’s going to be great with lots of family and friends still there. As for the warmth and sunshine, well, there’s never really a bad time for that.”

On Friday evening (Dec. 3), fans and followers of Pompano won’t have to wait long to see Brian Sears in action. He’ll be in the bike with Pretty Girl from post three in a non-wagering division of the Florida Breeders Stake 3-year-old filly trot, which turns to the gate at 6:45 p.m.

The Friday evening program at 7:05 p.m. will feature elimination action for the state-bred 2- and 3-year-old fillies in advance of the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association 2010 Super Night set for Saturday, Dec. 11.

New live racing schedule starts next week

A change to the live harness racing schedule for The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park comes into effect next week.

From Monday, Dec. 3 until May 31, 2011, the weekly schedule for live action is each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday evening. Post time is always 7:05 p.m. (EST).

The only exceptions to that schedule are in December and April. There is no live program on Saturday, Dec. 25, and instead there will be a live race program on Thursday, Dec. 23, at The Winter Capital of Harness Racing.

Additionally, the third week in April 2011 will be a dark week. Following the Saturday evening program of April 16, 2011, racing will resume on Monday, April 25.