Walk With Me, driven by “Big Ticket” Brandon Bates, emerged as the champion of the Robert J. Brown Memorial late closing series for non-winners of two commercial track races on Monday (April 3) at Miami Valley. Although Walk With Me was the most experienced and richest trotter in the field, the result of 11 wins at the Indiana fairs while a 2 and 3-year-old in the Doug Rideout barn, she was dispatched at 14-1 odds in the $22,500 Brown Memorial after being bought late last year by Jeff Fought and Brian Carsey and moving to the Walter Haynes Jr. stable.

Favorites won all three $9000 divisions of the first preliminary round of the Game Of Claims Pacing Series for $10,000 base-priced horses Monday (April 3) afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.

The Raceway at Western Fair District capped off a record year for wagering this past Friday evening (March 31) as horseplayers put C$708,000 through the windows, contributing to a C$10.7 million month — the highest in the track’s long history.

The State Journal-Register of Illinois is reporting that a strong line of storms swept through Sangamon County and central Illinois on Friday (March 31), knocking down dozens of homes and causing property damage in areas north of Springfield.

A trio of $15,000 conditioned features for developing horses highlighted the first Sunday evening (April 3) card of the season at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.

Tequila Talkin continued to reign supreme on Sunday (April 2) at MGM Northfield Park, winning the $19,000 Open Trot for the second straight week.