by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Admittedly, Docdor Chaser is not a household name. In fact most folks wouldn’t know that Docdor Chaser is a horse — and a trotter at that. Over the years the 8-year-old altered son of Sand Chaser more than paid his way, earning nearly $160,000 in a career that began as a 2-year-old on the Ohio county fair circuit.

Geri Schwarz photo

Docdor Chaser and Mike Merton scored a 2:00.2 victory just two weeks (and a few days) after getting stuck on the starting gate.

Docdor Chaser spent his formative years competing at Saratoga Raceway but in early 2011 the horse changed hands three times and is currently the property of ABC Melissa Stables of Monticello, N.Y. But to say the trotter’s first start at Monticello Raceway on Nov. 10 was an inauspicious one would be a gross understatement. And so much so, that no record of that race can be found.

Puzzling, you say. Well here’s the story and it is one for the record books.

It happened in (what would have been) the 12th race at Monticello Raceway on Nov. 10. Why there is no record of that effort — or for that matter the efforts of the other seven trotters in that race — is because the judges declared that event a “no contest” and all wagers were returned.

But why?

The horse got his teeth stuck in the mobile starting gate and driver Mike Merton couldn’t get Docdor Chaser free as the wings of the gate began to fold. But the alert starting judge, Scott Hamilton, saw what was happening and quickly re-opened the wings and slowed down so the horse could become unattached. However, in doing so, a few of the horses at the start of the race were interfered with by the commotion and literally had no chance to get involved in the race.

“We were going 40 miles an hour getting out of there and I couldn’t believe a horse was keeping up to the gate, that is, until I looked down and noticed that Docdor Chaser somehow had gotten his top teeth over one of the rungs in the wings and couldn’t get free,” a stunned Hamilton said.

“So I quickly reopened the wings and backed-off on the speed so the trotter could get free but in doing so we interfered with some of the other horses. But everyone’s safety was paramount.”

“Not only have I never seen this before I never even heard of it happening,” Hamilton added.

“I didn’t know what the heck was going on,” driver Merton said via phone from the race paddock. “We were traveling mighty fast and I couldn’t get him (Docdor Chaser) off the gate but thanks to the experience and great judgment of the starter it all came out alright.”

So the judges had no alternative but to declare the race “no contest” and no record of that happening can be found but for the memory of those who witnessed the event.

On Nov. 17, in Docdor Chaser’s first start after the incredible calamity, driver Merton gunned him to the lead from the eight hole but the horse tired and finished fifth.

However, on Monday (Nov. 28), Docdor Chaser and Mike Merton again teamed up, but this time with good results. After leaving the five hole and tucking in along the pylons, Merton moved Docdor Chaser at the half and swept to the front and coasted home an easy three length winner in a time of 2:00.2.

“That’s more like it,” trainer Basil Aldrich woofed after the trotter’s victory. “I knew this guy had some speed in him and he made us all forget the problems we had just two weeks prior.”