by Frank Salive, publicity director, The Isle Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — There was an astonishing track record, numerous trainer and driver milestones and over 50 action packed programs crammed into the opening segment of the 2009-2010 season at The Isle Pompano Park.

Here is a chronology of notes and highlights from the Fall Meet which began on September 5 and concluded on December 30 as the South Florida harness track began its 46th anniversary season.

SEPTEMBER, 2009:

*The track retained the services of Charles E. Coon and Sons prior to the unveiling of the new and upgraded racing surface.

*On September 5, a 20-race non-wagering Florida Breeders program was held; Bruce Ranger was in the bike for 13 wins on that card, establishing a single program driving wins record according to the United States Trotting Association’s ‘Album Of Pop Records.’

*Drivers Bruce Ranger, David Ingraham and Wally Hennessey were trackside on September 19 for a pre-race meet and great autograph and the meet’s opening program was topped off by a huge fireworks display.

*In September, Pompano Park’s all-time leading driver Bruce Ranger marked the occasion of his 50th birthday with more than 7,600 wins to his credit.

*Object Of Art won the Open Handicap Pace three times with trainer-driver Ray Vizzi before undergoing a private sale and being shipped to The Meadows.

OCTOBER, 2009:

*The training and driving brother duo of Dan and Wally Hennessey had the very rare situation of two dead heat wins on the same program — pacing filly East Coast Girl dead-heated with Stoke and driver Walter Ross Jr. and pacing horse Seeyall Later dead-heated with Doctor Gates driven by Andy Santeramo.

*Prime Time Talent became the first 1:51 winner at the meet in the Open Handicap Pace; that fastest time of the meet would later be tied by Mai Tai Guy.

*47-year-old driver David Ingraham earned his 6,000th lifetime win with trotter Henrytheeighthiam.

*Director of Racing Operations John Yinger implemented a free program policy for The Isle Pompano Park’s on-track patrons for every live race night.

*21-year-old driver Matt Kakaley debuted at The Isle Pompano Park on October 29, less than four months after becoming the youngest driver in history to surpass 1,000 wins; he would later confirm in a December 1 interview that he’d be staying for the entire 2009-2010 season in Florida.

NOVEMBER, 2009:

*Joe Pavia, Jr. and Kevin Wallis returned for 2009-2010 at The Isle Pompano Park. Both horsemen have competed seasonally in Florida for over 20 years, with 49-year-old Pavia wrapping up his best personal career year in the bike.

*Special Sweetheart wins the Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace in 1:52.1 for trainer Tom Artandi and driver Matt Kakaley. It was a 3-year-old filly pace track record, besting the 1991 standard of 1:52.2 set by Miss Easy with John Campbell in the Breeders Crown.

*21-year-old horseman Dustin Ingraham shipped in from Colonial Downs and won his first start with pacing mare Canaco Piment.

DECEMBER, 2009:

*Florida Breeders Super Night saw eight finals contested for over $325,000 in purses; trotters Pocohontas Fame and Whosgoingwhosstayin recovered from breaks in stride to win their division titles; 2-year-old fillies Pocohontas Fame and Black Diamond Girl shared the Florida Breeders $100,000 bonus for sweeping all four of their major Fall stakes events; 2-year-old pacing colt Stiletto Jake was the evening’s most impressive performer in a 1:54.1 life’s mark romp.

*Trainer John Hallett donated several historic whips for a charity auction in support of the Lebanon Raceway barn fire relief fund; the local donation from Florida swelled to over $20,000 in cash, equipment and horses in a huge shipment sent north on a rig donated for use by Tom Harmer.

*Saturday double programs began with increased trackside interaction and cash prize games for on-track fans.

*50-year-old horseman Kevin Sizer returned to campaign at Pompano after 12 years away from the South Florida track.

*Trotter Tom Cango, the third place finisher to Muscle Hill in the 2009 Kentucky Futurity, was shipped into the care of Pompano based trainer Bill Gallagher.

*A purse increase ranging from 2.5 percent to almost 9 percent was implemented for selected claiming and conditioned race classes.

*The track’s gradually increasing handle trend of the past four months saw nightly handles of almost $400,000 for the final two Wednesday programs of December.

*A new program cover emphasizing the track’s marketing initiative “The Winter Capital of Harness Racing” was unveiled on December 30.

The concluding segment of the 2009-2010 meet at The Isle Pompano Park runs from January 1 through May 22, 2010. Post time is 7:05 p.m. (EST) each Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at The Winter Capital of Harness Racing.