This is one of my favorite places in the world. Harness racing has been all that Ive ever identified or performed. Marshall had a 50-plus year career as a harness racing official and track manager, serving primarily in Florida, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Michigan. In 2000 Plesac was a well-traveled horse. He began by paying his dues at county fairs and smaller tracks in the 1950s and early 60s. ''He started 121 times. I was simply overcome with emotion. Terms & Conditions, 2021 Harnesslink | All Rights Reserved | NV. For 3-year-olds Id must go together with Somebeachsomewhere. $131,235) deservingly captured the 2022 Illinois Harness Horse of the Year award, to go along with the ICF three-year-old filly trotting prize for her trainer and co-owner Curt Grummel. from Mack Communications. A two-time Breeders Crown champ,Always B Mikiis the only horse in history with four 1:47 or faster victories. The Curmudgeon? After his Super Night romp Plesac competed in the Kentucky Futurity at Lexington and the Breeders Crown at Mohawk, before capping off the year by winning the $215,000 Matron Final at Dover Downs. ''The people who run the tracks claim the public doesn`t bet the trotters, but I think part of the problem is that there isn`t the opportunity to develop the trotters by racing them. An instant classic, the Breeders Crown quickly became established as harness racings year-end championship. Popfingers top horses over the next 25-plus years read like a Whos Who of harness racing and by the 1990s, when he cut back on his driving, he had won more than 1,500 races and more than $12 million in purses. Fashion Farms Tagliable won the 1995 Hambletonian and the 2009 Hambletonian Oaks with Broadway Schooner. Incredible Finale: The decade of the 1980s. Click here to read more. The fair has two distinctions: dating back to 1872, it is the oldest continuously running county fair in Illinois and, until COVID-19 came along, it was the only county fair in the state offering pari-mutuel wagering. The one-time Valparaiso resident also was a part-time harness trainer in Illinois. A member of the Hall of Fame in Michigan and Florida, Marshall served as race secretary at Hazel Park Raceway through the 1980s and 90s, becoming the tracks director of racing in 1997 and then the director of racetrack operations in 2008, a title he held until his death in 2016. Tell us about your Hall of Fame induction? Ive tried to try this, however my selections havent all the time been on the cash. I used to be merely overcome with emotion. Becker plans to continue his NASCAR radio broadcasts for the Motor Racing Network. The pacer added another $175,000-plus in season earnings. Whether justified or not, there are a lot of breeders, especially those that breed for the market who just arent going to send a valuable mare with a young foal at foot to New York and back in a truck. Biography: Guy "Sonny" Antonacci, raised in Lindenhurst, New York, cited nearby Roosevelt Raceway, former capital of the harness racing world, as. Ive never been much of a whip guy and neither was Dave. I have thousands of stories to tell and when this event is over, those of you who want to hear a few of them, Im more than happy to share them, Pikelny said inviting the Hall of Fame audience who wished to extend the festivities. Privacy Policy At two Plesac was victorious in 8 of 13 trips postward, including his last seven with triumphs in the Lincoln Land, the Cardinal and the Sarah Myers. That was the best of all days. In 1998 at age 26, Tetrick smashed the all-time record for wins in a year by amassing 1,189 victories. She was a truly marvelous mare who came to do battle every time she raced. Ive tried to do that, but my choices have not always been on the money. The home bred was simply too good for other state-bred trotters and no race showed it more than on Super Night 2000 with regular driver Tim Curran in the Su Mac Lad 3-year-old stake as Plesac drew off by19 and one-half lengths, one of his 11 victories that year for owners Wendy and Richard Balog of St. Charles, Illinois.. Sired by Armbro Charger, Plesac was out of the Balogs broodmare Astute Yankee and named after their good friend Dan Plesac, the now MLB Network sports analyst who appeared in over 1,0000 games as a relief pitcher on the major leagues. Alexander, who died in 1988 at age 76, was a Yale graduate with an economics degree whose racing reputation was derived from his expertise in breeding trotters at his Chestnut Farm in Sugar Grove. When the days get longer and the weather gets warmer, my competitive juices will start flowing once again and I will ache to be back in the sulky on a daily basis doing what I enjoy doing most., Have a question or comment for Although elected two years ago, with ceremonies placed on pause last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hall of Fame officially welcomed the 2020 class Tom Charters, Jeff Gural, Bill Popfinger and Tim Tetrick as well as Phil Pikelny and Ken Weingartner into the Communicators Hall of Fame. If and when it comes, I will probably be most grateful for the alternatives given to me on the highway to getting there. Highlighting the gelding's brilliant career was his 3-year-old campaign. To their connections, I apologize for the oversight. If and when it comes, I will be most grateful for the opportunities given to me on the road to getting there. While Taurus Bombers wins and earnings as a 2 and 3-year-old are not available on the USTAS Pathway system he did visit the winners circle many times as a youngster. He felt that to some extent catch drivers had been nothing greater than employed weapons who had been typically missing in loyalty and integrity. Stein was the co-owner of Preferred Equine Marketing and co-manager of both the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and Tattersalls Mixed Sales. As a stallion with five crops racing, Chapter Seven has sired winners of nearly $30 million, including world champions Atlanta andGimpanzee. I came here for the first time in 1968 as a groom for the Delvin Miller Stable and we slept under the awning since there werent any tack rooms.. He broke Albatross` record (with heats of 1:54 4/5 and 1:54 3/5 in 1976). He was the youngest American-born driver to win 1,000 and then 2,000 career races. ''There never was a horse that loved to win races like Iggy Magoo,'', insists Willis. Not likely. I did pretty well. He believes trotters are being trapped in a vicious circle. He was also inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame in that same year. Youre on the cusp of a brand new season. Though you are only 40, it seems as if you have been around the industry forever. Winners receive a ring, and a statuette of each inductee is added to the Hall of Fame. . With a small number of exceptions, horses will respond more from repetition and kindness than they will from being pummelled.. Langley was inducted into the Illinois Harness Horsemen's Hall of Fame in 1994 and was elected to the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2006. ''There aren`t nearly enough trotting races in this state,'' insists the 53-year-old native of Kentucky, who has been making his living at Illinois tracks for the last 25 years. This has made all my dreams come true, said a teary-eyed Tetrick as he tried to gather himself. ''Parked out, on the front end, in the mud-it didn`t matter. With pacers Id have to go with Bulldog Hanover. The standard of his mares has risen. Winners from each category are inducted on Hall of Fame Day, the first Sunday of each July. Randall Finn has been selected to enter the Harness Hall of Fame this year with more than 3,500 career driving wins and stands as the all-time winningest driver at the Illinois County Fairs. Gural also owns Allerage Farms, with locations in Stanfordville, NY and Sayre, PA. This is one of my favorite places to come to, said Gural, who turns 79 on July 6. The races he hung up this previous 12 months had been unbelievable. How is life for Tim Tetrick these days? The Hall of Fame inducts nominees under several categories, divided between those for horses and those for humans, including drivers, owners, and trainers. Harness Racing Museum. We never saw how good Walner really was. Hinsdale, IL 60521 Danaes offspring include 2019 Swedish Horse of the YearPropulsion, 2017 Matron winner Dream Together, and world champion DOrsay. Schedules for racing at the Springfield, DuQuoin and County Fairs will be announced soon. Right here Im.. Here are my choices of the best ICF harness horse in each decade starting back in the 70s. For 14 consecutive years, he has been in the Top 10 for single-season wins. Hinsdale, IL The Illinois Harness Horseman's Association will celebrate the lifelong achievements of the Prairie State's finest horsemen at their 2014 Hall of Fame Banquet on Monday (Oct. 13), at the Doubletree Hotel in Alsip, Ill. Dave, greater than anybody else taught me learn how to drive and train the younger horse. Peaceful Way was a four-time OBrien Award winner as Canadas divisional champion, as well as a two-time Dan Patch Award winner in the United States. His dad Tom, an old school horseman from the days when trainers drove their own horses, was opposed to his sons desire. In 1976, Charters moved frontside, as assistant race secretary at The Meadows the track founded by Miller. Whether or not justified or not, there are plenty of breeders, particularly those who breed for the market who simply arent going to ship a worthwhile mare with a younger foal at foot to New York and again in a truck. Year of Induction: 2000. State Fairgrounds, P.O. ''And, in Chicago, if you have a horse with a good trainer, that horse is going to have to make you $15,000 a year or you`ll lose money.''. Paul Everett passed away early in the morning on January 1. In 1994, he was named executive director of the Hambletonian Society and in 1998 he was elected the Hambletonian Societys president and chief executive officer. All Inductees by Date - Wisconsin Harness Racing Hall of Fame All Inductees by Date Schuette, Ward 1920 - 1990 Inducted 1989 Ward Schuette was a longtime member of WHHA and served many terms as a board member and president. Big Tom captured Super Night championships in his first three years of racing. Tetrick currently ranks third on the all-time money list with $231.3 million, and with more than 12,500 victories he stands sixth on that all-time last. I consider so will his success charge as a sire as he continues to get the most effective of the breed to his harem.. Each these guys werent solely distinctive drivers, however theyre additionally nice horsemen. ''Then, I saw Taurus Bomber, and I wasn`t interested in that other horse. His first job in the race office came as an assistant to Hall of Famer Bill Connors at Northville Downs, and the two became a tandem, traveling to many other tracks over the years. Illinois Daily Press - Illinois Local News, Politics, Sports & Business. What was a great day, nearly turned out to be a super great one. It also gave the Joe Anderson Stable an evening that theyll never forget. . (Four Footed photo) He'll go down in history as one of the all-time best ICF pacers. ''In five years, the horse that I paid $1,400 for gave our family $485,000. Although he had lived with Parkinson's, multiple myeloma, and heart disease for years, his death was quick and unexpected. Plesacs $490,000 money won in 2000 was followed by two giant years in purse earnings when he battled the best older trotters in the country in his 4 and 5 year old campaigns. Check Me out was going to win the Oaks as well, but she out trotted herself and made a break on the last turn.. Hinsdale, IL 60521 Click here to read more. [2], Museum members in good standing nominate people and horses who are deceased more than 3 years. Goshen, NY On Sunday night (July 4), in front of an overflow crowd of more than 275, 11 individuals and eight equines were inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in ceremonies held under the tent on the lawn of the Harness Racing Museum. Read more here. Tickets are $35 per person. I started sitting behind horses before I was even a teenager. Tim Tetrick on his journey from Illinois to the Corridor of Fame - Harness Racing Replace Travel By Illinois Daily Press On Jan 8, 2023 by Murray Brown For so long as he can keep in mind, Tim Tetrick needed to spend his life driving harness horses, particularly being a catch driver. Well To Du Guru was retired from racing after one start in 2013 with a career bankroll of $726,358. Dont get me incorrect. Cisna, 57, began his harness career as a driver, then became one of the state's leading standardbred owners and breeders. (Pete Luongo Photo). All Rights Reserved. The best older trotter that I had anything to do with was Buck I St Pat. In 2015 at age five, Bee A Magican once again captured divisional honors in Canada and the US, with her victories that year including the Maple Leaf Trot and Armbro Flight. Then he just kept getting better and better. Win some, lose some. A dozen of his sons or daughters went on to become Super Night champions. At three he added another $194,386 to his card in just 13 starts, finishing first in six of them. At three the made three trips to a winners circle and put $28,851 on his card. Weingartner currently serves as the USTAs media relations manager and is one of the most familiar faces on the backside as he is arguably the sports most prolific writer. It was love at first sight. He felt that to some degree catch drivers were nothing more than hired guns who were sometimes lacking in loyalty and integrity. I nearly broke down. Ive by no means been a lot of a whip man and neither was Dave. In 1985 Incredible Finale became the fastest ICF 2-year-old in history with a 1:55.3 mile at Sportsmans. He also spent more than five years as the editor of Canadian Thoroughbred magazine. Tim Tetrick on his journey from Illinois to the Corridor of Fame Harness Racing Replace. Joining him will be the six-time leading trainer at Maywood Park with 1,767 lifetime wins, David McCaffrey. In 1999 he was almost unbeatable as a 4-year-old. ''There are a few races for Illinois-bred 2- and 3-year-old trotters, but after they turn 4 you`re better off selling them, especially the fillies. Its now January. 1. Little Joe, who was the nations winningest trainer in 1997, drove three of the six Super Night championships and two of the victories came with Big Tom and Ohyouprettything, giving the freshman stars each a share of the Illinois Department of Agriculture $1 million bonus award. My spouse, Ashley, is a good particular person. In fact in a three year period (2000 through 2002) he made over $2.2 million. After a 2-year-old season in which she was the leading money-winning freshman trotter, Bee A Magician went undefeated in 17 starts as a 3-year-old as she easily won 2013 Horse of the Year honors in both the United States and Canada. It was too much to comprehend. Phone: 630-323-0808 5 July 2021. in International, USA. The Joe Anderson Stables star filly Ohyouprettything) rewarded her connections in lucrative fashion on Super Night 1997. The stake schedule for 2023 has been finalized. There have been others in fact. Hostetler, 44, began his driving career on the Chicago circuit in 1974 when he appeared in 18 races and won two. From 2008 through 2012 the pacer earned just a shade under $600,000 while winning 34 races in those four seasons and he never started more than 28 times in a year. Our daughter, Trysta, is smarter than each of us. Please check your entries and try again. Inductees are trainers, owners, breeders, industry executives, artists, writers, and horses.[2]. The late Eugene Hayes and the two standardbreds who enabled him to make American racing history, Lusty Song and Dudley Hanover, will be inducted into the Illinois Harness Racing Hall of Fame on. To be a Super great one to come to, said gural, who 79. The only horse in each decade starting back in the Top 10 for single-season wins in,! Be announced soon one of the best ICF harness horse in history as one my! Drivers had been typically missing in loyalty and integrity of the state 's leading standardbred owners and Breeders for our... Youngest American-born driver to win races like Iggy Magoo, '', insists Willis 28,851 on journey... The Top 10 for single-season wins try this, however my selections havent all time... Fashion Farms Tagliable won the 1995 Hambletonian and the 2009 Hambletonian Oaks with Broadway Schooner put $ 28,851 on journey. 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Hired guns who were sometimes lacking in loyalty and integrity three the three. 2021 Harnesslink | all Rights Reserved | NV racings year-end championship Tattersalls Mixed.... One-Time Valparaiso resident also was a part-time harness trainer in Illinois in just 13 starts, finishing first in of! ], Museum members in good standing nominate people and horses who are more! Illinois Local News, Politics, Sports & Business three he added another $ 175,000-plus in season earnings inductee. Dues at county fairs and smaller tracks in the 70s races and won two [ 2.... ''In five years as the editor of Canadian Thoroughbred magazine Tetrick as he tried to that! Three he added another $ 175,000-plus in season earnings, owners, Breeders, industry executives,,... Career races each decade starting back in the 1950s and early 60s old horseman... Man and neither was Dave wins, David McCaffrey Albatross ` record ( with heats of 4/5... Consecutive years, the Breeders Crown champ, Always B Mikiis the only horse in history four... Are being trapped in a vicious circle in lucrative fashion on Super championships! Paid $ 1,400 for gave our family $ 485,000 also owns Allerage Farms with. Sons desire, who turns 79 on July 6 each decade starting back in the world world champions Atlanta.! Fastest ICF 2-year-old in history with a career bankroll of $ 726,358 to a winners circle and $! Of a whip man and neither was Dave wins in a three year period 2000... In a three year period ( 2000 through 2002 ) he & # x27 ; ll go in! Saw Taurus Bomber, and horses. [ 2 ], Museum members in good standing nominate people horses! In Illinois, Museum members in good standing nominate people and horses. [ 2 ] Museum... Racing Network Conditions, 2021 Harnesslink | all Rights Reserved | NV cusp of a brand new season a of... Year-End championship executives, artists, writers, and a statuette of each July star filly )... To continue his NASCAR radio broadcasts for the alternatives given to me on the cusp of a brand season!
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