by Jack Ginnetti

Marlborough, MA — Plainridge Racecourse-based owner/driver/trainer Jim Hardy is having himself a banner season.

Besides his success with his trotter, Slim Down, he’s the Plainridge leader in dash wins with 58 and sports a UDR of .346.

Slim Down’s latest effort came on July 22 at Rockingham when he won the $11,000 feature in a blistering 1:54.3 to raise his record to six wins in 12 starts and push his purse earnings over the $37,000 mark. Hardy co-owns the horse with Eugene Hickey and Henry Caruso.

August 13 will be a renunion of sorts at Plainridge for Gary Piontkowski, Roger Slobody and Peter Blood, owners of the prized pacer, Particular, New England’s ‘Horse of the Year’ in 1986.

Particular passed away this year, just a few days after his 25th birthday.

The initial running of the $20,000 Particular Invitational will take place that day. Particular’s lifetime earnings totaled $301,524.

The CKG Billings Amateur Driving Series was featured at Scarborough Downs on July 21 and Peter Gerry reached the winner’s circle with Mickeys Hit in 2:02.4 to take the lead in the eastern driver standings.

Gerry drove a smart race and went four wide on the turn for home in gaining the win over Malabar Touch with Todd Whitney and Balanced Seranade, driven by Bill Varney.

Gerry said when interviewed that the objective of the Billings organization was to support the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame and to bring more owners back to the sport.

Orrin Phipps, who up until last fall was still competing in pari-mutuel races at age 86, will be among those honored at the 29th Hall of Fame awards program staged by the New England Chapter of U.S. Harness Writers on October 12 at the Downs Club Restaurant at Scarborough Downs. Phipps was co-national amateur driver of the year in 2006.