by Ayers Ratliff, Northfield Park Publicity Department

Northfield, OH — Not long after young southern Ohio driving talent Tyler Smith burst onto the scene as Northfield Park’s leading driver, another southern Ohio driver, Jeremy Smith (no relation to Tyler), arrived with lofty ambitions of his own. Jeremy also hopes to make his presence felt over Northfield’s Flying Turns.

Jeremy Smith has been making the nightly commute to Cleveland from his hometown of Washington Court House and plans on continuing to burnish his skills at Northfield Park.

“So far I love it,” he commented. “It has been nice because I live about one mile from Tyler Smith and we can ride together.”

Jeremy has been driving since 2002, primarily at Scioto Downs and Lebanon Raceway, but decided to move for an increase in driving opportunities. The extra-long commute has been paying off; he has earned a UDR of .296.

Smith has 490 lifetime wins with purse earnings of $1,104,507. He rates BT Attack as the best horse he has ever driven. Smith’s biggest race was an Open Pace at Scioto Downs, where he recorded his fastest win time, steering What’s The Hurry in 1:52.

Jeremy’s love for harness racing is evident, and he’s hoping to make Northfield home.

“I am very excited to be competing at Northfield and I just hope that I keep picking up drives,” stated Smith.

Gold Fever starts a new life

Classy veteran pacer Gold Fever has officially been retired after 323 career starts. The 13-year-old son of Artsplace netted 56 wins, 39 seconds and 51 third-place finishes. Gold Fever took his lifetime mark of 1:51.1 as a 3-year-old at Woodbine and earned a career total of $417,258.

Trainer Darrell Rideout, who trained Gold Fever for a little over a year for owner Jim Harrington, had nothing but good things to say about the gelding.

“He is a good horse to be around. I had him in the first stall of my barn. Unfortunately, he’s getting old and it was time to start thinking about retirement.”

In a touching and warm conclusion, Rideout received a Facebook message from Kyle Bolon. Bolon explained that his family once owned Gold Fever and asked about the possibility of his family taking care of Gold Fever after his retirement. After receiving promises that the horse would be cared for forever and never be raced again, Rideout and Harrington decided that Bolon’s offer was what Gold Fever deserved and that he would spend retirement with Kyle’s mother and niece.

Shortly after Gold Fever’s final race on Feb. 7, 2012, he was transported to Pennsylvania and taken to Bolon’s farm. Gold Fever has now started training for his new career as a riding horse for Bolon’s niece, Caitlyn.

Spin and win a President

This Presidents’ Day (Monday, Feb. 22), all Players Club members are eligible to test their luck to win cash! From 1-3 p.m. members can spin the big red barrel and select an envelope. Inside each envelope is a George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson or Ulysses S. Grant. That’s correct — each envelope contains either a $1, $2, $5, $20 or $50 bill.

We are open early (11:30 a.m. Presidents’ Day) for all your afternoon simulcast action. Live racing headlines the Monday evening action beginning at 7 p.m.

Don’t miss out on our President’s Day specials all day and night. The Washington Special ($1 each) includes hot dogs, popcorn, peanuts, small soft drinks and coffee, while the Jefferson Special ($2) is an ice cold, 16-ounce draft beer. If it’s a cheeseburger and potato chips combo you’re looking for, then try the Lincoln Special ($5). For the Jackson Special ($20) stop by the Trackside Lounge for a bucket (six bottles) of Labatt or Miller beer.