Jimmy Marohn Jr, Austin Siegelman, and Mark Herschberger dominated the 10-race card at Freehold Raceway on Friday (Sept. 13). Unwilling to share the winner’s circle with any other drivers, they earned five, three, and two wins, respectively.
Shenandoah Downs fall meet Opening Weekend features 21 Races with many full fields
Shenandoah Downs raises the curtain on its ninth season of pari-mutuel harness racing in Woodstock with a 10-race card Saturday (Sept. 14) and an 11-race program on Sunday (Sept. 15). Post time both days is 1:05 p.m. Of the 21 races scheduled, 13 have full eight horse fields. The seven-week season continues through October 27 with race cards every Saturday and Sunday.
Governor Murphy signs new five-year horse racing appropriation bill
On Thursday (Sept 12), Governor Murphy signed Assembly Bill No. 2610. The bill appropriates $20 million annually to the New Jersey Racing Industry divided equally between thoroughbreds and standardbreds through State fiscal year 2029. This bill is an extension of the State’s commitment to provide purse appropriations to the racing industry starting in 2019.
Top claimers in spotlight; Allard/Akins HOT
Imaginary Line had to pay a big price to get the lead in the $12,000 feature Friday afternoon (Sept. 13) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, but he proved to have enough to get the job done in 1:51.1 on an afternoon replete with game horses in high-priced claiming races.
‘Sweet’ homebreds lead Burke’s Kentucky Championship hopefuls
Ron Burke and the Burke Brigade have always believed in Sweet Lou as a stallion, and Sweet Lou continues to repay their faith in him. Sunday’s $400,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series finals provide examples. Sweet Lou, trained by Burke during the horse’s Hall of Fame career, sired Burke Brigade homebreds Louprint and Looksgoodinloulou, who are the morning-line favorites in the finals for 2-year-old male pacers and 2-year-old female pacers, respectively.
Another alarming HISA penalty for Thoroughbred trainer
The Thoroughbred Daily News story, “Proclaiming His Innocence, Trainer Jorge Duarte, Jr. Is Finding Out How Tough It Is To Fight HIWU,” describes another example of how HISA is penalizing a Thoroughbred trainer for trace amounts of the prohibited drug methamphetamine.
More than $455,000 granted for harness racing industry improvements in New York State
More than $455,000 in grant funding will support improvement, growth and maintenance of New York’s harness racing industry in 2024-2025, following grant announcements from the Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund.
Gratz (PA) Fair meet to be livestreamed
The Pennsylvania Fair Harness Horsemen’s Association will be livestreaming the two day fair meet from the Gratz Fair in Dauphin County.
$25,000 guarantee for Scioto Downs’ Pick-5
The 2024 Eldorado Scioto Downs meet is winding down with a special 6:45 p.m. post time for the Friday (Sept. 13) card.
The newest episode of Creekside Chat is live
Hosted by Diamond Creek Farm, Creekside Chat takes a look behind the scenes of the farm and the industry.