by Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness

Sacramento, CA — The second leg of the Annette Funicello and Bill Conlin Pacing series and the Kent Fox Memorial Race for Open II trotters headline the Saturday (Oct. 11) program at the Watch and Wager LLC meet at Cal Expo.

First post for the 14-race card is 6:15 p.m. Racing will be conducted on Saturday nights in October, expanding to Saturday and Sunday programs in November. Plans then call for a three-night a week schedule beginning December 26 with Friday racing added to the mix.

Last week’s opening legs of the Funicello and Conlin saw driver/trainer Steve Wiseman capturing both divisions of the former and one of the two divisions of the Conlin with Wild About Eagle and Razzle Be Dazzed posing following the two Funicello events and Winsmith Syd in one of the Conlin divisions.

The other leg of the Conlin was captured by Mr. Prospector for driver/trainer Quentin Schneider and all four pacers will be back in action on Saturday’s card, with just one division of each series being held in preparation for next week’s finales.

Wild About Eagle prevailed by a neck over odds-on High Bet Hanover in her division of the Annette Funicello, while Razzle Be Dazzled romped home by over six lengths as the heavy favorite in her division.

Winsmith Syd arrived from Running Aces ready to rock and roll and got the job done in his Bill Conlin division, while Canadian invader Mr Prospector did the stalk-and-pounce to perfection to win the other division going away for Schnedier.

The Kent Fox Memorial is the fourth race on the card and is named for the longtime horseman who passed away last month at age 70. Heading the cast is last week’s Open II Trot winner Silence Son and the pace-setting favorite from that affair I Love New York.

‘Foxy’ to everyone who knew him, Kent Fox was an owner, horseman and mutuel clerk for over 40 years. Graduating from Carlmont high school in Belmont California in 1963, Foxy eventually entered the military during the Vietnam war.

Afterwards he found his way to the race track finding work as a mutual clerk, a job he enjoyed until his retirement. But it was his love of the horses that made Foxy unique. Of all his horses, two were his favorite, both trotters, My Tryin Ryan and High Dollar.

After a win you could bet Foxy would be driving his golf cart in the barn area the next morning passing out boxes of donuts to his friends. And he always had a treat or three for the barn dogs who were there.

A kind and compassionate man with a great sense of humor, Foxy was always there to help a friend in need or another fellow horseman. But his horses were his family and he treated them like royalty. In the morning you could usually find Foxy at the barn either passing out horse treats or jogging one of his own and always with a smile on his face.

Memorials posted instantly on Facebook and text messages sent as the Cal Expo community found out about Foxy’s passing. He was one of the good guys many said or you don’t find people like Foxy anymore. Many agree that Foxy will be missed and never forgotten.