Harness Racing Blog

Below is what happened in harness racing this week, as reported on Harnesslink and from other places across the web.

From Harnesslink

1. Somebeachsomewhere strolls in $1.5M Cup - North America
   Still unbeaten, unchallenged and yet to be really tested. Three-year-old colt pacer Somebeachsomewhere earned a standing ovation from a packed and adoring Mohawk Racetrack crowd after another scintillating, yet facile triumph in the $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup, the richest harness race on the continent.
2. Gotta Go Cullen logical winner, Don Wright - NZ
   We harness racing journalists have always been inclined to flog and over intellectualize a contentious issue in the hope of firing up readership by way of feeding off controversy.
3. Heavy fines and suspensions - US
   Trainer Ernest Adam, the current leading trainer at Freehold Raceway, and veterinarian and horse owner Dr. Stephen Slender have each been fined $56,000, billed $12,000 in testing fees, and were suspended for 13-1/2 years by the New Jersey Racing Commission in the wake of positive tests for Erythropoietin-Human, commonly known as EPO, in six horses in their care.
4. Artistic Fella smashes world record - US
   Joseph Alborano’s Artistic Fella, with Tim Tetrick in the sulky, unleashed a powerful performance to capture the $500,000 final of the Ben Franklin pace in the world record time of 1:48 at Harrah’s Chester Casino and Racetrack on Sunday, June 15 .
5. North America Cup trainer and driver quotes - North America
   Trainer and co-owner Brent MacGrath: “He raced great. That foot’s still a bit of an issue. ” “He’s going to have a couple of weeks now before he really does anything. I did train him a little bit this week. The money was on the line. And I wanted to make sure he didn’t get a little short on the end.”
6. Wallis pair fit and ready to rumble, Garrick Knight - NZ
   Michelle Wallis will have taken the most from today’s (June 18) workouts at Alexandra Park after two horses with a history of leg problems produced good performances. Retail Therapy followed up his good effort a fortnight earlier by putting in a top effort for second in a three-horse field.
7. Total Truth scratched due to positive test - US
   The Pennsylvania Racing Commission has confirmed that Total Truth, an entrant in the $500,000 Ben Franklin Pace at Harrah’s Chester Racetrack on June 15, was scratched from the race by the judges after an earlier test for a permissible steroid (Stanazol) revealed the horse to be over the legal limit.
8. On the path with ‘Patch’, Carol Hodes - US
   Charlie Leerhsen is on the road these days, shaking hands and signing autographs. He is not running for president, maybe czar, but that is another story. The Sports Illustrated executive editor is selling books, his latest effort is 355 pages called Crazy Good: The True Story of Dan Patch, the Most Famous Horse in America.
9. Smart handicappers watch their races live, Derek Giwner - US
   Where were you when Jason Giambi hit his game winning 2-run home run last Thursday afternoon, or when Varenne put on a sparkling display at the Meadowlands a few years back? Well I missed the first one by a few minutes due to a meeting, but was on hand for the second event in the Meadowlands winner’s circle.
10. Horses to Watch at the Meadowlands, Derek Giwner
    This list is designed to provide horses who had tough trips, traffic trouble or looked impressive in their recent start. Always consider whether each horse is at a competitive level and if their price warrants a play before wagering in their next start. Horses which were listed the previous week and did not race will remain listed for a second week.

United States

• Scarpias suspended in Pennsylvania, USTA
• MacDonell celebrates after a million-dollar night, GuelphMercury
• Grand ‘re-opening’ set for all-weather track at Horse Park, Starkville Daily News
• Mohegan Sun-rise: 7/17, Times Leader
• Dan Patch may become household name, again, StarTribune
• The slots fair-ness issue, Baltimore Sun
• Teague, Hall Comment On Steroid Positive, Standardbred Canada
• Governor Paterson Announces Details of Agreement with NYC on Immediate State Takeover of New York City OTB, Yonkers Tribune
• More than 3,000 racehorses died in U.S. over 5 years, International Herald Tribune
• New Kings arena and redevelopment could end Cal Expo harness racing, sacbee.com
• Trainer, owner fined $136G for substances in 6 horses, APP.com
• Damage extensive at Hawkinsville harness racing facility, The Macon Telegraph

Canada

• MLA not pleased with EPR’s answers, Telegraph Journal
• Kids take reins at harness racing camp, Innisfil Journal
• Sport of Kings laid to rest in Calgary, The Calgary Sun
• ‘HANA’, HD & Other Acronyms, Pull the Pocket

Australia

• Hugh Millar keen to break down Kiwi EI barrier, Herald Sun
• Saturday night’s Globe Derby meeting will feature a seldom-run Monte, Australian Harness Racing

New Zealand

• Green machine oils wheels, Sunday Star Times
• Error nets windfall, Otago Daily Times

Europe

• Polytrack surface for harness racing! - Herald Ireland
• Disqualified horse to set record straight, Daily Post (UK)

Best of the Best

• Outside the Box: Sound and Fury, Bob Carson - USTA
• Breaking Down Barriers, Pull the Pocket

Bonus Video: Somebeach wins NA Cup

From the Harness Racing Blog Network

• Menangle Park Raceway Opening Day TAB Wagering, Harness Odds