CANE RUN FARM

Goshen, NY — A crowd of 270 people gathered Sunday evening at the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame to celebrate the induction of the Hall of Fame Class of 2025.  Racing executive Tom Aldrich, bloodstock expert Bob Boni, and trainer Chris Ryder led the group, which was honored during the annual induction dinner on the museum lawn. Inducted posthumously was renowned amateur driver Mal Burroughs, who was elected in July 2024 and passed away 11 weeks later at the age of 83. Also inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sunday were immortals Lester Hollenback, Bob Key, Harmon Showers, American Winner, Grades Singing, Magician, Romalie Hanover, and Town Pro. Inducted into the Living Horse Hall of Fame were Ariana G, Marion Marauder, Put On A Show, and Shartin N plus broodmares Fireworks Hanover and Steamy Windows. Inducted into the Communicators Hall of Fame were Judy Davis-Wilson and Debbie Little. Aldrich is best known for his 28-year stint as general manager, chief operating officer and executive vice president at Northfield Park, working with a team that pioneered a renaissance at the Cleveland-area half-mile oval. During his tenure, the track created the Battle of Lake Erie, which has remained the centerpiece of its signature night of racing, in addition to hosting several Breeders Crown events and, more recently, the Ohio Sire Stakes championships. He was named to the Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 1999. Aldrich thanked his colleagues, “who stuck by a green GM despite his rookie mistakes and demanding nature,” as well as the state of Ohio for “cherishing its harness heritage,” and “especially” the Northfield horsemen, devoted caretakers and backstretch employees. “In the classic movie ‘Pride of the Yankees,’ Gary Cooper, portraying Lou Gehrig, uttered the Iron Man’s famous line: I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth,” Aldrich said. “Dramatic license aside, that’s how I feel about my career in harness racing. Lucky. Blessed. Grateful. “Few people in life get to live out their dream. I did, thanks to all of you here tonight, and stablemates no longer with us who made that possible.” Boni was drawn into harness racing by attending Roosevelt and Yonkers with his parents as a child. After graduating from high school, he set off to work in the industry and landed a job at Pine Hollow Stud Farm, where he climbed the ladder to become executive vice president. In 1980, he started International Standardbred, which later would become Northwood Bloodstock. He also is known for his work with Lou Guida’s Wall Street Stable and Dreamaire Stud. Boni has been associated with a number of great horses over the years, including six Breeders Crown champs, two Horse of the Year recipients – Nihilator and Always B Miki – and Pacer of the Year Camtastic. He also established the usage of video as a marketing tool for selling top horses, dating back to the mid-1970s. “I’ve led a blessed life,” Boni said. “I’ve had great horses, met great people. The horses bring us into this business, I feel, but inevitably it’s the friendships and relationships that we make that carry us on. I’ve made more than I can even begin to count. “It’s the people that have touched you, that I hope I’ve had some impact with, and friends and people that I’ve worked with, that make this so very, very worthwhile. In closing, I just want to thank you all for your friendship and support and for sharing this special evening with me.” Ryder, a native of New Zealand who has been racing in the U.S. for decades, has won more than 1,900 races and $58 million in purses during his career. His purse earnings rank 14th since the inception of official trainer stats in 1991. He has won eight Breeders Crown trophies and conditioned 10 different horses to receive year-end honors in the U.S. and/or Canada, most notably 2024 Horse of the Year Twin B Joe Fresh. From 2019 to 2021, he was second in Horse of the Year voting with three different horses: Bettor’s Wish, Party Girl Hill and Niki Hill. Other stars include Miki And Minnie, I Luv The Nitelife, Put On A Show, Mystical Sunshine, Cathedra Dot Com, Sealed N Delivered and McArdle. “Believe me, in all these years of training, it never crossed my mind that just to win a few races would lead me to the Hall of Fame,” Ryder said. “It’s a big honor, of course. I was just focused on getting by day by day and winning a few races. “Like any of us in this position training racehorses, it takes more than just one guy. I’ve got a lot of people to thank. I’ve had a lot of terrific owners, and I still do. The staff, Peter Trebotica has been my second trainer and done a massive amount in running the barn for me for 20 or more years. Thank you, Peter.” Ryder also thanked veterinarian Steve Dey, and “most of all, the family that stood behind me,” including son Patrick, who works daily at the stable and also is a driver, and wife Nicola for her behind-the-scenes efforts. “But the terrific horses that have come my way, they’re really the ones that deserve the accolades,” Ryder said. Burroughs spent part of his childhood in Rutherford, less than three miles from the land that a couple decades later would become the Meadowlands Sports Complex. As an adult, Burroughs’ construction company helped build a racetrack on the site, with Burroughs participating in the work atop heavy equipment. This laid the groundwork for Burroughs’ participation in harness racing, and his greatest moments in the sport. Burroughs became an amateur driver in the early 1980s and in the ensuing years won both the Hambletonian Oaks and Hambletonian – the two most prestigious events for 3-year-old trotters – at the Meadowlands. He was the first, and still only, driver with amateur status to win the Oaks. He also remains the only amateur to capture both the Oaks (with the filly Gleam in 1994) and the Hambletonian (with the colt Malabar Man in 1997) in history. He finished his driving career in 2005 with 109 victories. He is one of only 14 drivers in history to win both the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks. “Mal had three expressed desires in his life,” said Bob Heyden, who accepted on Burroughs’ behalf. “One was to build a racetrack that would make a difference. One was to drive a Hambletonian winner one day that was his own. And one was to make it to the Hall of Fame right here. The way I look at it, by all accounts, that’s a cold trifecta. Mal Burroughs, welcome to the Hall of Fame.” Davis-Wilson was born into one of the biggest and most successful harness racing families in the state of Delaware, but she switched her focus to the frontside by age 15 at the defunct Georgetown Raceway. Her work as a program director, primarily at Brandywine, when the USTA was implementing its program computerization system was invaluable and served her well at the Hambletonian Society, when she worked many years as that organization’s stakes manager. In 2001, Davis-Wilson returned to her home state to become the administrator of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund for the state’s Department of Agriculture. She remained at DSBF until officially retiring in November 2024. In addition, she has been a director of the U.S. Harness Writers Association for 22 years. She is a past president and treasurer of the organization. “I did not get here alone, and this honor belongs to many great friends and family who helped me along these past 73-plus years,” Davis-Wilson said. “ Little worked at New York City area tracks, at a trade organization, and as a writer. During this early period in the sport, she met her future husband, Dave. The two were married in the winner’s circle at Yonkers, and now Debbie joins Dave as the first married couple in the Communicators Hall of Fame. Dave was inducted in 2019. Debbie worked as a handicapper and writer covering harness racing at the New York Post for nearly 27 years. In addition, she was a 2021 Hervey Award recipient for feature writing and served as a past president of USHWA as part of an ongoing 25-year stretch as a director of the organization. She remains busy as a writer while also serving as associate editor for Harness Racing Update and co-chair of USHWA’s Clyde Hirt Journalism Workshop. After thanking the publications and editors she has worked for during her career, as well as friends, family and extended family, Debbie turned to her husband of 35 years and said, “I’ve always thought we had a Hall of Fame marriage. This proves I’m right.” To watch a replay of the 2025 Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, click here .

Vernon, NY – Emoticon Legacy outlasted Maryland to capture the $320,000 Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial Open Trot for sophomore trotters at Vernon Downs on Thursday (July 3). Meshuggah (Scott Zeron) was first to the quarter in :26.3. Onajetplane (Andrew McCarthy) then took over the lead heading to the backstretch. Emoticon Legacy (Louis Roy) then made his move first-up heading down the backside. He surged to the front and led to the half in :55.1. Maryland (Dexter Dunn) then made his move heading around the final turn. He went from sixth to second in a flash as Emoticon Legacy led to three-quarters in 1:24.1. As they made the turn for home, the race was on. Second-place finisher Maryland confronted Emoticon Legacy who then found another gear and won by a length in 1:51.4. Meshuggah finished third. Emoticon Legacy, a 3-year-old colt by Walner , paid $3.30 to win. He is owned by Determination and trained by Luc Blais.  He is now three for three in 2025 with $254,940 in winnings. It was his seventh career victory in 10 starts and increased his lifetime earnings to $417,596. Torrisi wins Zweig Memorial Trot for Fillies Torrisi (Yannick Gingras) beat What A bid Hanover (Ake Svanstedt) in a thriller in the $135,000 Dr Harry M Zweig Memorial Fillies Trot. Shes A Shoe In (Mark MacDonald) took the lead and led to the quarter in :26.2. Torrisi took over the lead and was followed by Voguish (Todd McCarthy) going down the backstretch. Torrisi was first to the half in :56.2 before Voguish took a short lead but went on a break. Torrisi was back in front heading to the final turn. What a Bid Hanover came first-up heading around the final turn and reached three-quarters first in 1:25.2. Second-place finisher What A Bid Hanover and Torrisi traded blows all the way down the stretch. Torrisi dug in and used one late surge to win by a neck in a lifetime best of 1:54. My Debt Collector (Tyler Buter) finished third. Torrisi paid $24.20 to win. Torrisi is a 3-year-old filly by Walner . She is trained by Nancy Takter for owners Caviart Farms, Pryde Stables, John Fielding, and Herb Liverman. It was her first win in three tries this year. She now has two career victories from 13 starts and $293,100 in career earnings. Vernon also hosted two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for freshman pacing fillies. Odds On Enigma charged late to capture the $55,500 first division Miss Genie Mae (Buter) was first to the quarter in :28. Savage Cindy (Jason Bartlett) then took over command and led to the half in :56.3 and was first to three-quarters in 1:25.2. As they reached the stretch, second-place finisher Miss Genie Mae came first-up to take a brief lead. Odds On Enigma (Matt Kakaley) then came flying three-wide from fourth and went right on by winning by a neck in 1:54.2. Savage Cindy had to settle for third. Odds on Enigma paid $14.60 to win. Odds On Enigma is a 2-year-old filly by Huntsville -Yellow Diamond. She is owned by Odds On Racing and trained by Scott Di Domenico. It was her first career start. Odds On Monetary grabs the $56,500 second division Odds On Monetary (Matt Kakaley) was first to the quarter in :26.3. She used a :30.1 second quarter as she led to the half in :56.4. Onaorchardhunt (Mark Hershberger) was first to make a move heading around the final turn. Odds On Monetary led to three-quarters in 1:26.2. As they reached the stretch, Odds On Monetary widened the lead and won by a length in 1:55.1. Party Pumps (Braxten Boyd) came on late to finish second. American Cheese (Scott Zeron) finished third. Odds On Monetary paid $20.40 to win. Odds On Monetary is a 2-year-old filly by Huntsville -All On Top Hanover. She is owned by Odds On Racing and trained by Travis Alexander. She also broke her maiden in her first career start. Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Friday (July 4) with a post time of 5:05 p.m. For more information go to www.vernondowns.com .

A stakes record fell as the Grand Circuit made its first visit to Hollywood Casino at the Meadows this year with the 51st edition of the Currier & Ives for three-year-old trotters on Thursday, June 26. Two $64,993 open divisions, along with a pair of $35,575 filly divisions, highlighted 13-race card.  The final Currier & Ives open division was the most hotly-contested event of the day, resulting in a new stakes record. Cheers Hanover (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) and Arrowhead Hanover (Anthony MacDonald) battled through the opening half, creating splits of :27.1 and :55.1 Aaron Merriman moved the Gimpanzee-Weslynn Dancer colt Gimpanzee Dancer to the outside past the half before going three-wide before the three-quarters in 1:23.2 to overtake the tiring leader. On top at the head of the stretch, the Chris Beaver trainee held off a stubborn Jet Wings (Dave Palone) for a half-length win in a personal and stakes best 1:52.1. Bombay Tom (Mike Wilder) finished third. “(He) looks phenomenal until (he) clears, and then he makes it look harder than it is at times”, said Beaver, who co-owns Gimpanzee Dancer with breeder Derek Ivany of Toronto, Ont. Beaver continued that the Hambletonian hopeful's performance today was “encouraging, he broke Il Sogno Dream’s 11-year-old stakes record, and (Il Sogno Dream) performed very well for us in the Hambo.” Merriman, who drove Il Sogno Dream to a fourth-place Hambletonian showing in the 2014 edition, added a similar assessment of the young trotter, saying “He follows great on a helmet, travels easy, but at this point he waits on other horses but does enough to win.” Gimpanzee Dancer sliced more than a second off his mark with the win, his fifth lifetime in 14 career outings. The colt has now earned $194,539. He became the fastest all-time winner in the Currier & Ives as his 1:52.1 mile beat both Il Sogno Dream's open division record of 1:53.2 and Allegiant's mark of 1:52.3 in the filly split set last year. Aunt Laura and Hall of Famer Palone started the stakes racing action with a lifetime-best 1:53.1 score in the first filly Currier & Ives division. After a brief give-and-go with Trump Over You (Merriman) before reaching the first station in :27, the Uncle Peter-Tori Ann filly led uncontested through the half in :57. Payback Moni and Brady Brown gave chase to the leader through three-quarters in 1:25, but Aunt Laura answered the call and withstood a two-pronged attack in the stretch to hold off Payback Moni, who was a half-length back in second, and third-place finisher Trump Over You. “Virgil (trainer Morgan Jr.) brings them prepared,” Palone said after the win. “We were able to get a nice comfy lead and when they came to her, she fought on.” Aunt Laura , the 2024 Ohio two-year-old filly champion, is a homebred for Joycea McClelland Stb LLC of Zanesville, Ohio. She is now seven-for-15 lifetime with $432,422 in earnings. In the second split of the filly Currier & Ives, driver Brian Zendt and Dearly Beloved found themselves five lengths off the leader at the three-quarter pole and in the wrong flow. “I wanted to get behind Aaron (Merriman) early, but after I saw that wasn’t gonna happen, I looked for a helmet,” Zendt said. “At that point my filly was relaxed on the helmet, and I figured the front would come back to us. Once I did move, she tore home.” Settling in third, the duo elected to sit in and watch the race develop, with Mega Money (Merriman) putting up panels of :27.2, :56.2, and 1:24 on the engine. Finally, after three-quarters, Zendt was able to angle the Greenshoe-Broadway Chuckles filly into the outer flow, still three lengths off the lead. It would take the Jenny Melander trainee the length of the stretch to track down Mega Money and in the process take a new lifetime mark of 1:53.2. Mega Money was short by a half-length but clear of show finisher Country Victory (Palone). Dearly Beloved has now won five of 11 career starts and earned $70,880 for owner Donald Bartling of Hanover, Md. Zendt’s second stakes victory on the afternoon with Aperol Hanover, in the first Currier & Ives open division, had a cleaner trip but needed every inch of racetrack to take a career-best 1:54.3 win. Following the break of the favourite on the first turn, Zendt sat a loose fifth and waited for cover through first-half splits of :27.4 and :57.2, finally catching a helmet after three-quarters in 1:25.4. Aperol Hanover then tipped three-high and soared down the stretch, nosing out Ill Have A Double (Wilder) on the line. Honolulu Hanover (Wrenn) finished third. “I may have been a little early going three-wide," Zendt said. “But he trots the turns better, and knowing Wilder was behind me and would be coming, I wanted to try and get a jump on him.” The gelded son of Bar Hopping-Anonyme Hanover is owned in part by trainer Bill Zendt of Houston, Pa. along with Gary Saul of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Barbara McAllister of Centre Hall, Pa. It is the signature win for Aperol Hanover , whose previous best was a Stallion Series victory earlier this season. He has won four of 18 lifetime appearances and has racked up $82,644 in bankroll. The $13,699 Great Lakes Amateur Drivers Association event proved to be a coming out of sorts as third generation horsewoman Elizabeth Snyder won her pari-mutuel debut behind Spicy Nugget. Taking advantage of a pocket trip, Snyder made her move past three-quarters, and Spicy Nugget fired clear to an open-length win in 1:57. Troycen (Brandon Presto) finished second with Yo Tater (Robert Barnard) third. When asked when she knew she was a winner, Snyder said "As soon as I pulled." The young driver had previously scored a win at a fair, but Snyder was quick to point out this was the first “real” victory since the win at the fair was a walkover. Spicy Nugget, a six-year-old gelding, has won 13 of 72 lifetime starts. For the day, three drivers shared top honours. Zendt, Wilder, and Jeremy Indof each had driving doubles while thirteen different trainers had victories. For the abbreviated week - two days of racing - Dave Palone had four wins, with five stables each winning two. There will be no live racing on Friday and Saturday. Live racing resumes at Hollywood Casino at the Meadows on Wednesday, July 2 with first post at 12:45pm. (With files from the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)