Jim Whittemore, Publicity Director

Richard Ringler was the leading trainer at Ocean Downs last summer with fourteen wins in sixty-nine starts. Ringler in 2005 at Ocean Downs also had fourteen driving wins, but this year had leading driver Tony Morgan take the lines for many of his horses and had only one driving win this summer.

Ringler was in the bike for a first-race win Saturday night, August 26 with his own three-year-old Scooty’s Dreamer. The Dream Away gelding had been in the money for seven of his eight starts in this his inaugural racing year, but Saturday posted his maiden win, giving Ringler his ninth training win of the current meet. Mike Hall leads all trainers with eighteen victories this summer.

In the night’s fifth race, Ringler chose young provisional driver John McIntyre to make his pari-mutuel debut taking the lines for Ringler’s four-year-old, GH Shady Lady. The Shady Character mare had to start from the outside and trailed badly through first-half action but rallied to finish a strong third.

“That filly likes being up close,” McIntyre said. “I moved her out and she took off. I’ve got to thank Richard Ringler for putting me up. He’s helped me out a lot.” McIntyre is from a harness family and he’s no stranger to racing, but was a little in awe of the crowd in the open grandstand. “When I got real nervous was when we went out in the post parade. I saw all those people hollering and screaming. That was the worst part.”

A driver who has been a three-time Ocean Downs driving champion had praise for the young driver. “He’s been around the business for a while so he’s no stranger to it. He did a fine job tonight, handled his horse well and did everything like he’s supposed to,” Raymond Robinson, Jr. said.

Robinson spoke after his final-race win behind seven-year-old Catch The Heat, which he trains. This Cams Catch gelding has now won three during the current summer meet at the Ocean Oval and has been in the money for eight of his nine starts this year. “We’ve been very fortunate. He’s had a great summer. He’s a very consistent little horse, does everything you expect. He gives you everything he’s got every week,” Robinson who has twenty driving wins and seven as a trainer said.

W. (David) Hill III notched his thirty-first driving win with a 16-1 long-shot victory behind ten-year-old gelding Canvasback Big Mac ($34.60, $23.60, $5.40). Driver Nicholas Coblentz brought 14-1 long-shot Armbro Woodpecker from the six-hole to a sixth race win ($31.40, $10.60, $4.40).

Racing resumes Sunday with a 7:35 pm first post. Only four racing days remain after Sunday’s card concludes. Parking and admission are free at Ocean Downs.