The New Holland Series, Woodbine’s newest winter late-closer, is set to begin with a pair of first round trotting events on Monday (March 6) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
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Jack Pelling continues a steady, deliberate pace to success
Jack Pelling is in no great rush to be a top harness racing driver, but is certainly happy with where his deliberate pace has brought him at this point. Pelling, in just his fourth year of driving, has opened 2023 with wins in nearly 26 percent of his 62 starts at Freehold Raceway. Only Jim Marohn Jr. is higher, at 30 percent, and no other driver with 19 or more starts is better than 16.1 percent. His strong start follows a career year in which he won 111 races and earned more than $1.23 million in purses.
Unfiltered eyes repeat in Cal Expo Open
Unfiltered, fresh from a sparkling coast-to-coast victory at the head of the class, gets the top billing in Friday night’s (March 3) $8,000 Open Pace at Cal Expo.
Buffalo Raceway opens 2023 meet on Saturday
Buffalo Raceway will begin its 57-day, 2023 live harness racing season on Saturday (March 4) starting at 6 p.m. with a 13-race card on tap.
Illinois “Little Guy” came up big
Covering harness racing in Illinois for the last 50 years, I’ll admit there were plenty of times I silently rooted for the underdog to win a major race or the trainer of a small barn to come away with the big prize at the end of a racing season.
Disturbed Hanover wins the mares condition pace at Bally’s Dover
Dover, DE – Disturbed Hanover benefitted from a second over trip and won the mares condition pace at Bally’s Dover on Wednesday (March 1) night.
Miami Valley cancels last half of Wednesday card
Lebanon, OH – Miami Valley Raceway canceled the last half of their Wednesday (March 1) program due to a prolonged lightning storm in the area. The seventh race went off at 6:12 p.m., then there was an hour and a half weather delay hoping the card could be resumed. Ultimately, sporadic persistent lightning strikes were recorded within a five mile radius prompting the judges to end the program.
Ell finds his perfect ‘Island’
Island Of The Sea was recovering from an injury when trainer Eric Ell bought the unraced pacer as a 2-year-old in May 2019. He was told that Island Of The Sea needed time but would make a nice horse if Ell did right by him. So, Ell, who is best known for his work with Dan Patch Award-winning millionaire trotter JL Cruze, took a shot.
Kakaley wins five during Pocono qualifiers
Matt Kakaley, the winningest driver at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania last year and already atop this year’s standings with 12 triumphs in the first four cards, kept the hot hands during Wednesday morning’s marathon 15-race qualifying session, winning five times, including the two quickest outings with horses sent out by the 2023 meet’s leading trainer, Travis Alexander.
5 in Front: Chantal Mitchell
Twice monthly until April, a familiar Woodbine Mohawk Park horse person will step into the spotlight to answer a handful of fun, offbeat questions, while giving readers a unique perspective into their personality on and off the racetrack.