by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Hogies Cam has 21 wins this year at Monticello Raceway and the pacer leads all other Standardbreds in North America in races won this year. His nearest rival, Fernbrook Fiasco N, has 19.

Geri Schwarz photo

Hogies Cam’s owner Charles Strukel (left) accepted the awards for Horse of the Year and Owner of the Year at the USHWA banquet on Oct. 26.

On Thursday afternoon, November 13, the 10-year-old Camluck gelding will not only look to add to his victory total, but with another win he will equal the Mighty M record for most victories in a single season. That mark of 22 wins is currently held by a pacer named Golden Storm GB and was established during the 1985 campaign.

In his last outing, Hogies Cam led the entire mile only to be collared at the wire and lose the race by just a neck in a time of 1:59.4.

Hogies Cam’s overall seasonal stats include 21 wins, four seconds and one third and purses of $43,654 in 37 starts. Along the way this year the Charles Strukel-owned, Bob Beauregard-trained pacer strung together 10 wins in-a-row, which erased a long held mark set by a pacer named Don Torpid and driver Walter Case, Jr. back in 1983.

Hogies Cam’s exploits this season were good enough for the pacer to be voted “Horse of The Year” at Monticello Raceway by the Monticello-Goshen Chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers, marking the first time that a claiming horse ever won Horse of the Year here.