by Lynne Snierson, publicity director, Rockingham Park

Salem, NH — Defending champion Scorpion Moon returns to Rockingham Park on Sunday (August 23) as he takes the initial step toward becoming the first back-to-back winner in the history of the Joseph Carney Memorial Trot, which is held annually to honor the track’s late owner and president.

Scorpion Moon will defend his title in eliminations for the Joseph Carney Memorial Trot at Rockingham on Sunday.

Scorpion Moon, who won the Carney last year in 1:55.2, is among some very talented invaders taking on the top trotters on the grounds in a pair of $12,500 eliminations. The $30,000 final of the Carney will be presented on Sunday, August 30, which is also the closing day of the 2009 live harness meet.

In the first $12,500 elimination, the eighth event on Sunday’s 11-race card, Scorpion Moon has been installed as the early 7-2 second choice in the field of seven. The 8-year-old gelding will try to make amends for a dull effort and last place finish in the $50,000 Joe Ricci Memorial at Scarborough Downs last time out despite being dispatched at even money. For Sunday’s race at Rockingham, Scorpion Moon gets a driver switch from Kevin Switzer to Richard Wojcio, who currently ranks second in the Rockingham standings with 61 victories.

In the second $12,500 elimination, carded as the 10th race, local favorite and track record holder Slim Down drew the inside post and the 5-2 morning line favoritism in the field of six. Slim Down, with owner and trainer Jim Hardy handling the reigns as he always does, has always taken to the Rockingham racing strip and has set track, New England, and even a world record here. In 2006, the now 7-year-old gelding established the mark of 1:55.2 for 4-year-old trotting geldings and that same year he set the world record of 1:48.1 for the most unusual distance of 15/16ths of a mile.

Slim Down, the winner of eight of 15 starts during his 2009 campaign, has won five of his last seven starts at The Rock and been second the other two times. On July 5, he partnered with Hardy for the driver’s career milestone of 4,500 career wins.

While Slim Down is clearly a sentimental favorite as well as a very good and game horse, he faces a stiff test from Meadowlands invader Proud Moment. As the 7-2 second choice who has six wins this year against some salty competition, the 4-year-old gelding will have the services of Alessandro Spano in the bike. Locally based Andover America, the 9-2 third choice, retains regular driver Bruce Ranger and also figures to attract strong support at the windows.

In addition to the two $12,500 Carney eliminations on Sunday’s card, there will be a pair of $3,600 legs of the inaugural running of the Battle of New England trotting division and both races feature full 10-horse fields. The second leg will be part of the undercard one week from Sunday when the races are capped by the $30,000 Joseph Carney Memorial Trot final, and the Battle of New England will be decided in the final at Plainridge Racecourse on September 7.

Live racing resumes at Rockingham on Saturday with a 10-race card and post time of 1:05 p.m.

Rockingham Park Racetrack Ministry donates school supplies to kids

The racetrack ministry at Rockingham Park on Friday rewarded some of the children of families who have raced at Rockingham Park this summer with gift bags filled with new supplies as the kids get ready to start the school year.

The kids, who will enter grade levels from kindergarten to high school senior this fall, were presented with their gift packs by Lee Alphen, the chaplain at the track and the director of the ministry, and Ann Halloran of St. Joseph’s Parish in Salem.

Rockingham Park photos

Children of racing familes at Rockingham Park are rewarded with new school supplies.

“These are all great kids who worked with their parents’ horses all summer and their families are part of the ministry,” said Alphen. “We got to be good friends with them and they are all really nice kids who are hard workers. We wanted to recognize what great kids they are, and also reward them for it. So we got them the supplies so that they can start the year off right, and at the same time have something to remember Rockingham Park by. We also want them to remember that God loves them.”

The children were honored in a winner’s circle celebration and they are Jamie Rankin (9), Stefany Rankin (13), Jessica Rankin (17), Kelsie Ingraham (12), Steele Stratton (8), Naomie Beaulieu (5), Tammarra Carlstrom (17), Shaun Carlstrom (15), Sheryl Saunders (11), Christine Smith (13), Matthew Quinn (12), Emily Quinn (8), Tyler Quinn (7), and Brenda and Ricky Quinn, who are both starting kindergarten.

“We gave them their supplies in the winner’s circle because they are all winners,” Alphen said.

Halloran, who was an elementary schoool teacher at the Barron School in Salem for 39 years, selected the age-appropriate items for each child’s individual gift bag. The supplies included books, pencils, pens, crayons, notebooks, map books, work books, and markers, and each child found special surprises inside the bags as well.

“I really enjoy doing this and each of these children is very caring and thus is deserving,” said Halloran. “The new supplies will help each of them get the new school year started off on the right foot.”