Hall of Fame trainer Ron Burke holds a strong hand in the finals of the C$615,000 Canadian Pacing Derby and C$530,000 Maple Leaf Trot, Saturday night (Sept. 2) at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Burke, one of the sport’s highest-profile and most successful conditioners, will have four chances — three in the Canadian Pacing Derby and one in the Maple Leaf Trot — to add more hardware to his ever-expanding trophy case.
Millers connected by 10,000-win milestone
Andy Miller and Brett Miller are not related, but they were in a way connected last week when each driver got the 10,000th win of his career. First was Andy, who notched his milestone triumph with Samwise The Brave on Aug. 20 at Lexington’s Red Mile. Five days later, Brett joined him in the 10,000-win club when he guided Flyin Bullets to victory at Eldorado Scioto Downs.
‘Soiree’ leads way for Wallin’s NJC hopefuls
Lucas Wallin will hope it’s party time with Soiree Hanover, as well as several other horses from his stable, when the two-week New Jersey Classic begins Friday night (Sept. 1) at The Meadowlands.
Pandy’s Meadowlands selections for Sept. 1
Handicapper Bob Pandolfo offers his selections for the full card at The Meadowlands on Friday night (Sept. 1).
Coaches Corner tops Blooded Horse Summer Sale at $65,000
The 68th annual Blooded Horse Summer Sale offered 100 yearlings eligible to a variety of state programs followed by over 100 racehorses and breeding stock. Three-year-old Coaches Corner by Always A Virgin topped the sale at $65,000. His purchase comes with a colorful story.
Big M ‘Mini Meet’ a $2-million Classic
Still basking in the glow of a highly successful Hambletonian Day, The Meadowlands returns from a three-week hiatus with a power-packed two-week “Mini Meet” that kicks off Friday (Sept. 1) and features the New Jersey Classic, with estimated purses totaling $2 million.
Canadian Pacing Derby final and Maple Leaf Trot in Grand Circuit spotlight
Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday (Sept. 2) will offer the C$615,000 Canadian Pacing Derby final for older pacers, the C$530,000 Maple Leaf Trot for older trotters, the C$177,300 Simcoe for 3-year-old male trotters and the C$157,200 Simcoe for 3-year-old filly trotters.
Clein, Sudhir, Shockley and Mills receive 2023 USHWA-Florida scholarships
The Florida Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association has announced four candidates who will receive awards this year from the 2023 Allen J. Finkelson Scholarship program.
Strong opening day for French yearling sale
The selected Arqana Trot sale in Deauville opened Wednesday (Aug. 30) on a strong note as the average price rocketed up 44 percent compared to the same day last year.
USTA hosting inaugural Outrider Clinic
For the first time, the U.S. Trotting Association is conducting an Outrider Clinic at Eldorado Scioto Downs and Virgil Morgan Jr.’s Winner Circle Training Center from Thursday (Aug. 31) through Saturday (Sept. 2).