by Steven J. Wolf, Senior Director Racing Operations, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL – Tweedle Dum will attempt to set a track record Wednesday night at Pompano Park Harness Track to become the winningest horse ever in a single season with 19 victories. He is already the winningest trotter in North America this year.

But what most people don’t know is that it was just one year ago last October that Tweedle Dum returned to the races after surgery to repair broken splint bones in both of his front legs and a suspensory ligament problem too.

Pompano Park Photo – Debbie Schaut

TWEEDLE DUM and caretaker Erin Ginesi.

But it was the faith of owners Diane Norris and Alfred Brotter of Pompano Beach, the horse savvy of trainer Gordon Norris, the nursing of caretaker Erwin Ginesi and the heart and desire to race of Tweedle Dum himself that all combined turned this horse into a champion.

At age 6, Tweedle Dum is king of the trotters at Pompano Park in 2006. Of his 28 starts this year he has won 18 times, 4 second place finishes and 2 third place finishes, 24 of 28 starts his number was on the tote board after the finish. He has earned $98,005 this year, more than double his lifetime earnings from ages 2 to 5. He is on a three-race winning streak and has won 17 of his last 19 starts and was second in the two races he lost, by a head and a neck.

And on April 26 this year, Tweedle Dum tied the all-age track record at Pompano Park with a 1:53.3 clocking for a one-mile race. But just one year back from that date, Tweedle Dum’s racing career was almost finished.

Purchased by Diane Norris and Alfred Brotter on April 23 for $12,500, Tweedle Dum was to be a good raceway horse for the stable. A trotter with speed that they hoped trainer/husband Gordon Norris and driver Walter Ross, Jr. could develop into a moneymaker.

A few days later after the purchase, Tweedle Dum went for a training session that Gordon Norris felt was “not quite right.” X-rays were next and the results showed that Tweedle Dum had a broken splint bone in each of his front legs and had a pulled suspensory ligament.

The decision to operate cost $5,000 and Tweedle Dum was on the shelf and in his stall with nothing but rest and minimum walking every day for nearly four months. They then swam and jogged Tweedle Dum in the aquasizer pool before allowing him to get back into training.

“I just did what the veterinarian told me to do.” said caretaker Erin Ginesi. “He (Tweedle Dum) knew himself how to take it easy.”

According to co-owner Brotter….”Erin’s tender loving care paid almost immediate dividends.” Brotter said. Thank God for Erin. She had just started working for the Norris Stable and was given Tweedle Dum to take care of. She nursed him back to health better than anyone else I know could have. And she has stayed by his side this whole year and look how great he is racing.”

Tweedle Dum starts from the far outside from post position nine Wednesday in the 7^th race at Pompano Park. It’s the $10,000 Open Handicap Trot and Tweedle Dum with Walter Ross, Jr. in the sulky are the 2-1 morning line favorite.

Track management will have a special trophy blanket waiting for Tweedle Dum in the winner’s circle provided he can win for the 19^th time this year and set the track record. But more important to Tweedle Dum will be that his caretaker and nurse, Erin Ginesi, will be waiting to lead him into the winner’s circle.