28DEC: 2010 Dan Patch Division Winners announced

Here are the 2010 Dan Patch Divisional winners:

TWO-YEAR-OLD MALE TROTTER OF THE YEAR

Pastor Stephen (56 votes)
Cantab Hall-Gala Dream-Enjoy Lavec
Breeder: Brittany Farms.
Owners: Christina Takter, John Fielding, Brittany Farms.
Trainer: Jimmy Takter. Driver: Yannick Gingras.
Races: 11-6-4-0. Purses: $653,748. Mark: 1:56.0 at Mohawk.
Top wins: $485,000 William Wellwood Memorial; $98,489 Champlain.



TWO-YEAR-OLD-FILLY TROTTER OF THE YEAR

Crys Dream (94 votes)
Taurus Dream-Crystas Image-Balanced Image
Breeder: Reve Avec Moi Dreamwithme.
Owners: Reve Avec Moi Dreamwithme, Deo Volente Farms, TLP Stable.
Trainer: Henrik Hollsten. Drivers: Jean Dubois, Luc Ouellette.
Races: 8-7-0-0. Purses: $584,392. Mark: 1:54.3 at Woodbine.
Top wins: $502,000 Goldsmith Maid; $452,020 Peaceful Way.



THREE-YEAR-OLD-MALE TROTTER OF THE YEAR

Lucky Chucky (108 votes)
Windsongs Legacy-Aerobics-Muscles Yankee
Breeder: Perretti Farms.
Owners: SGS Partners, Perretti Racing Stable, Lindy Racing Stable
Trainer: Chuck Sylvester. Driver: John Campbell.
Races: 11-5-3-1. Purses: $1.43 million. Mark: 1:50.4 at the Red Mile.
Top wins: $970,000 Canadian Trotting Classic; $500,000 Colonial.



THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROTTER OF THE YEAR

Bar Slide (69 votes)
Yankee Glide-Marla Bar-Malabar Man
Breeder: Fair Winds Farm.
Owners: Fredericka Caldwell, Bluestone Farms.
Trainer: Joe Holloway. Driver: Tim Tetrick.
Races: 14-5-2-1. Purses: $568,529. Mark: 1:52.4 at the Meadowlands.
Top wins: $750,000 Hambletonian Oaks; $70,500 Bluegrass.



OLDER MALE TROTTER OF THE YEAR

Enough Talk (73 votes)
Enjoy Lavec-Fashion Setter-Donerail
Breeder: Perretti Farms
Owners: Peter Kleinhans Racing, Jerry Silva.
Trainer: Peter Kleinhans. Driver: Ron Pierce.
Races: 17-5-4-1. Purses: 641,022. Mark: 1:51.0 at the Meadowlands.
Top wins: $600,000 Breeders Crown; $235,750 Titan Cup.



OLDER FEMALE TROTTER OF THE YEAR

Buck I St Pat (131 votes; unanimous)
Jailhouse Jesse-Name It Something-Speed In Action
Breeder: Ron Fuller.
Owners: Howard Taylor, Edwin Gold, Abraham Basen, Ron Fuller.
Trainer: Ron Burke. Driver: Tim Tetrick.
Races: 19-9-3-4. Purses: $715,135. Mark: 1:51.0 at the Meadowlands.
Top wins: $340,470 Armbro Flight; 250,000 Breeders Crown.



TWO-YEAR-OLD MALE PACER OF THE YEAR

Big Jim (120 votes)
Western Ideal-Bold Pink-Big Towner
Breeder: Hanover Shoe Farms.
Owner: Jim Carr.
Trainer: James “Friday” Dean. Driver: Phil Hudon.
Races: 10-6-1-2. Purses: $827,204. Mark: 1:49.1 at Woodbine (world record).
Top wins: $709,000 Governor’s Cup; $600,000 Breeders Crown.



TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACER OF THE YEAR

See You At Peelers (99 votes)
Bettor’s Delight-West Side Glory-Western Ideal
Breeder: Christina Takter.
Owners: Christina Takter, John Fielding, Jim Fielding.
Trainer: Jimmy Takter. Driver: Jim Morrill Jr.
Races: 13-13-0-0. Purses: $581,649. Mark: 1:51.3 at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
Top wins: $600,000 Breeders Crown; $200,000 New York Sire Stakes championship.



THREE-YEAR-OLD MALE PACER OF THE YEAR

Rock N Roll Heaven (129 votes)
Rocknroll Hanover-Artistic Vision-Artsplace
Breeders: Steve Stewart, Charles “Cotton” Nash, Julie Nash, Francene Nash.
Owner: Frank Bellino.
Trainer: Bruce Saunders. Driver: Dan Dube.
Races: 21-16-2-1. Purses: $2.15 million. Mark: 1:47.3 at the Meadowlands.
Top wins: $604,100 Little Brown Jug; 604,000 Tattersalls; $500,000 Breeders Crown.



THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACER OF THE YEAR

Put On A Show (118 votes)
Rocknroll Hanover-Stienams Place-Artsplace
Breeders: Green Mountain Farms, Kentuckiana Farms General Partnership.
Owners: Craig Henderson, Richard Young, Joanne Young.
Trainer: Chris Ryder. Driver: Tim Tetrick.
Races: 16-12-3-0. Purses: $1.16 million. Mark: 1:49.4 at the Red Mile.
Top wins: $500,000 Breeders Crown; $350,000 Valley Forge.



OLDER MALE PACER OF THE YEAR

Won The West (90 votes)
Western Hanover-Gabrielle-Dragons Lair
Breeder: Fair Winds Farm
Owners: Strollin Stable, William Robinson, James Koehler.
Trainer: Ron Burke. Driver: David Miller.
Races: 19-7-8-3. Purses: $1.36 million. Mark: 1:48.1 at the Meadowlands.
Top wins: $748,800 Canadian Pacing Derby; $500,000 Breeders Crown.



OLDER FEMALE PACER OF THE YEAR

Dreamfair Eternal (123 votes)
Camluck-J Cs Nathalie-Flight Of Fire
Breeders: John Lamers, Mary Lamers
Owner: John Lamers
Trainer: Patrick Fletcher. Driver: Randy Waples.
Races: 22-16-4-1. Purses: $925,575. Mark: 1:49.4 at Tioga Downs.
Top wins: $364,560 Milton; $300,000 Breeders Crown.

Mark MacDonald responds to Driver of the Year nominations

Mark MacDonald driving Western Silk



First off the gate was Mark's father Fred MacDonald, who penned an op-ed column in the Charlottetown Guardian stating the case that his son should have been nominated as Canada's harness racing Driver of the Year for 2010.

Highlights of Fred MacDonald's comments:

Fred on Waples in 2010:

Waples had a great season as well. He won the Breeders Crown with aged mare Dreamfair Eternal as she dominated the Open Mares throughout the season. He won the $600,000 Maple Leaf trot with sensational San Pail, and the $539,000 Valley Victory trot with Blue Porsche. In addition, during OSS Super Final night at Woodbine, he won two $300,000 events on the same card, including one with trot standout Text Me.

A little passive-aggressive there Freddie, but okay, Randy did have some good horses; go on...


Fred on Scott Zeron in 2010:

Zeron led all drivers in the country with 592 wins and a career-high $4.3 million in earnings. Zeron, the son of veteran driver Rick Zeron, campaigned mostly on the 'B' circuit, including Western Fair, Flamboro and Georgian Raceway. He posted 27 wins on the tough Woodbine/Mohawk Circuit. His most important win of the campaign came in the $50,000 Gold Cup and Saucer at Charlottetown with Part Shark, the youngest to ever win the event.


Alright, so Scott has yet to be tested in the big events...


Fred regarding his son Mark in 2010:

Mark’s major wins: $1.5-million North America Cup, the richest race in North America, with Sportswriter in 1:48:3; the $800,000 Fan Hanover Stakes, the richest race for three-year-old fillies with Western Silk, the $240,000 Jugette at Delaware, Ohio, with Western Silk, a rarity for an Ontario-bred; the $100,000 Senior Jug with Lucky Man p, 1:49:2 World Record, the Eternal Camnation Stakes, all three $100,000-plus legs in one night with Idyllic, Pretty Katherine and Mater Deo.


Response of Mark MacDonald (from StandardbredCanada.ca comments on Feed MacDonald's article on Mark MacDonald):

Hell hath no furry like a scorned father! LOL

This is Mark MacDonald and I am so proud of the year I had and so grateful for all the Owners & Trainers that had the confidence to let me drive some of the best horses in some of the biggest races in the world. There is no feeling like crossing the wire after winning a 1.5 Million dollar race about 20 minutes after winning a $700,000 Race. The Jugette with Silky (my girl), the Simcoe with Kyle, sweeping the Champlain on grand circuit night at moh and three Super Finals was the a cherry on top. God must love me and I really dedicate my year to all the people who were blessed with a second chance in life.

I am so happy for Scott Zeron leading driver in Canada by wins and of course our leading driver at WEG Randy Waples. They both deserved to be nominated, with out a doubt they both had amazing years. Obviously, a nomination would have been nice but I have been fortunate enough to already have won two O'Brien Awards.

I am thrilled that the public (my dad lol) think that I am deserving enough for this honor. I also think, the two people nominated are equally deserving for an O'Brien Award. Hopefully, Standardbred Canada will let me be there to announce the winner and present either nominee with their trophy.

Lastly, I hope I don't sound like a politician but I truly believe that Scott, Randy and myself among others, like Jody Jamieson, Paul MacDonell, Etc. could have been nominated. It just comes down to a vote plain and simple. The two people with the most votes are well deserving and good luck to both of them!!

Hopefully next year the votes will be in my favour. Can't wait until 2011 hope I can win some more big races and make all of P.E.I., Canada and my family proud... Especially my Mom and Dad! We LOVE "Grassroots" racing, it's essential for the success of harness racing not just in Ontario but all of Canada and the U.S.A. You can't blame dad for being my biggest fan, I'm lucky to have him......

All the best to everyone in 2011.....if you have a really good horse hopefully I can drive it for you lol....Sorry to anyone that my dad may have offended but we're grassroots through and through. Thanks to everyone who helped me have this amazing year, I'm not going to mention names (CC) because this is already to long lol.

Mark J MacDonald

December 24, 2010



Great post, Mark! You are a true gentleman (cool shout-out to Casie) and I also think you have wisely and gently planted seeds for future year votes. PEI and Canada are very proud to have watched you develop into one of the planet's premier harness racing drivers; Many Happy Returns in 2011!




Mark MacDonald driving Western Silk to victory in the Jugette (including Mark MacDonald interviews after first heat and after final heat win).

2010 Standardbred Stallions of The Year; Volomite Award

HarnessHorses.info is please to announce the winners of our Volomite Award, for top 2010 International Stallions.

Top International Pacing Stallion

Rocknroll Hanover

Special mention:

Bettors Delight, Western Hanover, Art Major, Camluck, Western Ideal, Dragon Again


Top International Trotting Stallion

Credit Winner


Special mention:


Angus Hall, Muscles Yankee, Yankee Glide, Conway Hall, Cantab Hall



Congratulations to Rocknroll Hanover and Credit Winner, and to all those fine folks who helped these stallions become what they are today.


Happy HolyDays to All!

Peace,

Joe

Harness driver Doug McNair wins 1,000 races at 20

New world record for youngest Standardbred driver to record 1,000 victories

Is Doug McNair the Wayne Gretzky of harness racing drivers? Well, it's too early to go that far, however he is the best young driver in the game and one whose technique may influence driving in ways rarely seen. The thing noticed about him recently is that he likes to get almost completely flat, becoming an aerodynamic missile the horse can pull along with ease.



Whether there is an actual physical effect on wind resistance or if it is just that the horse appreciates the athleticism of young McNair, regardless, it's a joy to watch and fascinating to ponder. Here's wishing Doug many more victories, hoping to see you on the OJC (okay, WE...) circuit more in 2011.




Guelph Mercury story on Doug McNair 1,000 race milestone, by Dave Briggs

London Free Press honours record-breaking driver Doug McNair




Harness racing driver Doug McNair (at age 18) piloting Trail Boss to victory in the Battle of Waterloo

Meadowlands harness racing to continue in January 2011

Great news out of New Jersey in that a tentative deal has been reached to continue standardbred racing at The Meadowlands in 2011, starting in January. Though New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced the deal including NJ State-backed financing through March 2011, there was no commitment for slots to go in.

Standrdabred Canada story on Meadowlands resuming harness racing

USTA US Trotting website article on Meadowlands NJ deal for 2011

Brad Auger: 2010 HPI Handicapping Champion

After agalforgordo was leading most of the day with his early win of $519.70, veteran handicapper Brad Auger hit the board in the evening with winnings of $1,001.25, and that turned out to be the biggest bankroll after everyone invested their $150 stake.




Congratulations to Brad and all of the top 5 who finished in the money! As for me, I got skunked while shooting for the moon...sound familiar anyone?

Peace 2 All,


Joe Trainor

Gambling versus entertainment, drawing the line

The past few months featured some job uncertainty for me, and I left one place of employment to begin a new opportunity at another. During the stress of this transition, I theorized (am really good at self-delusion...) that turning handicapping into a part-time job could be a benefit to myself and my family. Well, after a couple months of researching and trying different things, I have come to the conclusion that I may be too emotional to do this properly. Somebody needs to be a machine to play a system, because a good one will always be counter-intuitive, and I'm likely not that guy.

I will keep studying standardbred breeding and racing with a passion, however I am taking some time off from actually betting on the races. Before my kids were born I went several times a month, and then after that usually only a few times per year. As my kids got older over the past decade, I started going to the track with my dad more often, and all of that will continue, love going to the races with family.

The thing that has changed is the web. Before, you either had to go to the track or to a Champions, whereas with the Internet, you can play every day from home, and that can be a time and money gobbler.

Gotta take a break...