Never underestimate the appeal of a walkover
September 6, 2018,by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers, NY — There say there’s a story everywhere, and Yonkers Raceway proved that again Thursday night (Sept. 6).
Mike Lizzi photo
Windsun Magnolia and Jim Marohn Jr. line up — alone — for the start of their New York Excelsior event at Yonkers Raceway.
Sometime around 5:30 in the early evening, Windsun Magnolia had the track all to herself in a good, old-fashioned walkover. The $6,100 lower-level New York Sire Stakes Excelsior event attracted her and her alone.
If there’s an easier way to break one’s maiden, we’d be hard-pressed to find it. Windsun Magnolia, a 3-year-old daughter of Betterthancheddar, entered a career 0-for-16, with all but one of those starts coming this season. For her part, Windsun Magnolia toured the turns in 1:58.
The event’s uniqueness caught the attention of WCBS-TV (Ch. 2) sports anchor Steve Overmyer, who came out to do a story about the lonely lass.
Overmyer, who earlier this season did a feature — and subsequent updates — about Foiled Again’s quest for his 100th career win, discussed the “race” with driver Jim Marohn Jr.
“She’s pretty happy to be here,” a wry Marohn Jr. said in the winner’s circle, with Mother Nature raining on the parade. “I think she (Windsun Magnolia) knows what she did.
“It was a lot more fun that I thought it would be.”
The WCBS-TV story may be viewed here.