by Gabe Wand, Wisconsin Harness Horse Association

Mineral Point, WI — A hot and humid June ended with a bang as thirty-eight horses went postward in a day of matinee harness racing at the Iowa County Fairgrounds in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. The eight race card consisted mainly of “green” horses, or horses that have raced only a couple times and are still learning to develop their speed and competitive nature.

Eighteen year old driver Ben DeLong brought two horses to the winner’s circle: Sun Beau Dude in the first division of the Green Pace in a time of 2:18 and Sun Beau Viper in the third division of the Green Pace in a time of 2:10.4. Ben defeated his father, veteran horseman Jay DeLong in both of his winning efforts.

Richland Center native and current WHHA Leading Driver, Ben Gald had two winners on the day as well. Barus Hybrid Rose, owned by Russ Gald and Russ Shannon won the second division of the Green Pace in 2:12.2 while Barus Apache Jewel, owned by Ben and his father Russ, got to the wire first in the NW $1,000 Pace in 2:09.1.

The fastest pacing race of the day was the NW $10,000 Pace where locally trained Fox Valley Aaron won in 2:09. Fox Valley Aaron, referred to his stable as “Peanut” is owned by Scott Douglas and Hank Considine of Darlington. The gelding, piloted by Gabe Wand of Platteville, has never lost any of his four races at the Mineral Point Fairgrounds.

The Free For All Trot was won in a photo finish by Jet Flow in 2:10. Orval Bronkhorst owned, trained and drove the winning son of High Falls.

A pair of NW $1,000 trotting events were both one handily by trainer/driver Chris Frenzel of Marshfield. The colts and geldings division was won by Chester B, a 3-year-old Vaporize gelding, in 2:12.2 for owner Del Insko Training Stable. Goghforthegold, a 4-year-old mare by Decisive Victory was not only the fastest trotting event of the day, but the fastest race of the day period. The mare has only races six times previously but fired off the gate and cruised to a 2:07 clocking.

Pacers and Trotters will be back in action in Mineral Point on Saturday, July 28 at 1 pm as a co-sponsored meet between the Iowa County Horsemen and the Wisconsin Harness Horse Association. Racing will also commence on Labor Day as the tradition of harness racing continues at the Iowa County Fair.