The recently concluded 2020 Woodbine Standardbred meet saw no changing of the guard, as the titles of leading trainer, driver and owner remained with their previous holders. Richard Moreau, Sylvain Filion and Brad Grant led their respective categories once again in 2020, adding to their already impressive collection of Woodbine titles.
Rompaway Beau retires in style
Rompaway Beau was retired in style at Pompano Park on Wednesday night (Dec. 30) as the 14-year-old warrior has reached the age of mandatory retirement. The gallant warrior didn’t win his 302nd career start, but he did get a check in finishing fifth, closing out his lifetime bankroll at $547,819 to go along with his 1:53.4 mark over the seven-eighths-mile oval at Hoosier Park seven years ago.
Pick-4 guarantees increased at Pompano
Pompano Park has announced an across-the-board increase in its popular Pick-4 wager with the industry low 12 percent takeout.
Shes Pukka N dominates Select Fillies and Mares at Dover
Shes Pukka N dominated the $16,000 Select Fillies and Mares at Dover Downs on Wednesday night (Dec. 30).
Yarock wins to close out 2020 GSY amateur racing at Monticello
A special amateur race was held over the Monticello oval in the second race on the card Wednesday afternoon (Dec. 30), in below freezing temperatures. Horses that hadn’t won a race in 2020 were eligible and the field was scratched down to six.
Curtain falls on successful Dayton Raceway meet
When JDS Chancey Design (Tyler Smith) won the 14th and final race at Hollywood Dayton Raceway on Wednesday (Dec. 30) afternoon, the curtain dropped on a very successful seventh annual live racing meet. Despite a reduction in race dates from 78 in 2019 to 64 in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, total all-source handle increased by almost $4 million.
Lady’s Dude takes Meadows closing-day feature
Lady’s Dude opened a sizable lead in the stretch, allowing him to score under wraps in Wednesday’s (Dec. 30) $16,200 Open Handicap Trot at The Meadows, the track’s closing-day feature.
Michael Weiner, 55, dies
Michael Scott Weiner, 55, of Monticello, N.Y., died Dec. 26, 2020.
Bergman, Kyle elected to Communicators Hall of Fame
One came to prominence in the shadow of New York City; the other is a son of the Midwest. One is primarily a writer who also has done much television journalism; the other achieved principal fame as a photographer, but he also wrote often and well. What links them is their talent in communicating the abilities of the very best in harness racing, and thus Jay Bergman and Joe Kyle were voted into the Communicators Hall of Fame by the United States Harness Writers Association, the sport’s leading journalism organization.
Mike Merton wins four at Monticello
Mike Merton led all drivers on the 12-race Monticello card on Tuesday (Dec. 29) with four winners.