This is a last call from the U.S Trotting Association to remind member racetracks, horsemen’s associations and industry organizations that have not already submitted a request that the deadline to apply for broadcast and promotions funding is Friday (Jan. 31).
USTA District 4B meeting recap
On Saturday (Jan. 25), Chairperson Gabe Wand and Director Cathy Dessert hosted the USTA 4B membership meeting in Madison, Wis., the final district meeting before the annual full USTA board meeting.
Dan Patch weekend hotel room deadline is Jan. 31
The U.S. Harness Writers Association’s (USHWA) annual Dan Patch Awards banquet, presented by Caesars Entertainment, is set for Sunday night (Feb. 23) at Rosen Centre in Orlando, Fla. The deadline to make room reservations is Friday (Jan. 31) and can be made by using the USHWA link to the hotel’s reservations page.
Freddie Earl Webster Jr., 85, dies
Freddie Earl Webster, Jr., 85, of South Lyon, passed away on January 23, 2025. He was born on February 15, 1939 to the late Freddie Sr. & Ethel Webster in Richland Twp, MI.
Idao De Tillard repeats in Prix d’ Amerique
7-year-old Idao de Tillard, trained by Thierry Duvaldestin and wth his son, Clement Duvaldestin in the bike, proved to be the strongest again this year, winning the Prix d’Amerique for the second year in a row at the Vincennes track in Paris.
Aussie invasion in Hawthorne’s Open
Hawthorne Open Pace returns Sunday (Jan. 26) night but with an unusual look. It’s a six-horse field and only one horse in it was not bred in Australia and competed on the other side of the globe before coming to the United States.
For Once Inmy Life wins again at Big M
Jordan Stratton is a low-key guy who stays away from being too boastful, but the driver who won four races to top the driver colony on the Saturday (Jan. 25) night card at The Meadowlands couldn’t help but crow a little about For Once Inmy Life, whom he drove to victory in the $24,000 feature, a high-end conditioned pace.
Ladies strong in Group 1 Prix Bold Eagle
It was “ladies first” in the Group 1 race Prix Bold Eagle at Vincennes on Saturday (Jan. 25) afternoon. And for the president of the French trotting federation, Le Trot, the race was a great personal triumph as he owns the first two horses across the finish line – the French mare Kokote and the Italian mare East Asia – both of whom have Ready Cash as their sire.
New “Top Gun” among Hawthorne trotters
There’s a new “Top Gun” in the Illinois trotting ranks and at one time in 2023 he had a 10-race losing streak and didn’t get a check in most of those disappointing starts.
Lovissime tops Prix d’Amérique Sale in Paris
The 4-year-old mare, Lovissime (Love You), purchased by Courant AB for 460,000 Euros, was the most expensive horse at the annual Prix d’Amérique sale at Vincennes in Paris.