Other Racing: Quarters, Harness, Jumps

[Flanders]

I meant they had switched to Thoroughbred racing but its back to harness racing again.

[Miss Woodford]

Cannibal, It's My Show and Redwood Hanover to the final from the 3rd elim.

Final is in just under an hour. BTW if any of the 9 scratch in that time one of the 4th place finishers can take that spot.

[brunanas]

do they run twice in the same day then?

[Miss Woodford]

do they run twice in the same day then?

Yes! It's the last major heat race in the USA (they still do heats at a few other county fairs, and sometimes in Europe/Aus/NZ).

[BaroqueAgain1]

Yes. And this may be less demanding than some of these harness classics were in the past, when the horses would need to pace/trot several heats before the final. On the same day.

[brunanas]

neat!! thank you!

[Miss Woodford]

Yes. And this may be less demanding than some of these harness classics were in the past, when the horses would need to pace/trot several heats before the final. On the same day.

Yeah the LBJ used to have a 2 out of 3 format (if a horse won the final but not their elim they had to come back for a 3rd race with just the other elim winners). I think the changes are mainly because horses are going so much faster now and putting in max effort every time, so trainers are being more tactical with where they place them to get the best miles.

[Miss Woodford]

It's My Show noses out Seven Colors to win the Little Brown Jug final! 1:49. Can't wait for him to spar with Confederate and the rest in the next few weeks. Between him and Bythemissal (among others) we've got some really nice pacing geldings to enjoy for years to come.

[Miss Woodford]

Even more great Grand Circuit harness racing tonight and tomorrow night. Tonight (Friday) Hoosier Park has the Hoosier Pacing Derby (for all ages, Derby doesn't mean anything in harness-land) co-headlining with the Caesar's Trotting Classic. Saturday is Mohawk Million Day at Woodbine/Mohawk. Both nights have top horses in stakes from several division, full fields, and will be broadcast on America's Day at the Races.

And on the opposite end of the spectrum, Tioga Downs is holding a match race tomorrow to decide who will be their Pacer of the Year https://ustrottingnews.com/match-race-f ... -at-tioga/

[Miss Woodford]

T C I makes a break at the start of the Mohawk Million, spots the field several lengths and trots past them all down in the stretch to win! He's now 9 for 10. Very special 2yo colt. And very patient as he waited for the inquiry in the winner's circle

[Miss Woodford]

Tactical Approach won the Kentucky Futurity on Sunday. Having won the last 2 legs of the Trotting Triple Crown he is likely a shoe-in for 3yo trotting colt championship honors.
https://ustrottingnews.com/tactical-app ... -futurity/

[Squeaky]

Have TCI and Tactical Approach ever faced each other? Or are they in different divisions?

[Miss Woodford]

Have TCI and Tactical Approach ever faced each other? Or are they in different divisions?

T C I is a 2yo and Tactical Approach is a 3yo. 2- and 3-yos do face each other sometimes in the lower levels of harness racing, but not on the Grand Circuit.

T C I raced on Friday in a division of the International Stallion Stakes also at the Red Mile. He got his nose in front of another excellent freshman, Karl, who was undefeated in 5 starts coming in. Nice race, should be a good rematch in the Breeders' Crown later this month. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXE7dZgIHeA

edit: rewatched the Kentucky Futurity and it almost looks like the hole he slipped through on the pylon was just wide enough for him to get up in front but not the sulky https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLPgjfKblWY Absolute balls of steel on Scott Zeron.

[Le Beau Bai]

Also posted in the trainers thread but this is horrific.

Harness racing trainer/driver Dale Hiteman has had his USTA license revoked due to conduct deemed detrimental to the association.

While in the barn area of Hoosier Park on the morning of June 1, 2023 licensee Dale Hiteman was observed on video striking a prone horse, later identified as Princess Laa, with a line, multiple times about the head and body.

https://harnesslink.com/usa/trainer-dr ... e-cruelty/


CONTENT WARNING - DISTRESSING VIDEO
https://x.com/robin0751602/status/1711 ... RGGQfkG60A

[Miss Woodford]

Absolute disgrace of a human being, he needs to be arrested and sent to jail.

[Miss Woodford]

Far Hills races including the G1 American Grand National on FS2/America's Day at the Races! Irish will be strong once again with soft ground, Gordon Elliott-trained Kyogo won the opener the Gladstone for 3yos.

[Miss Woodford]

G3 winner on the flat Abaan relished the distance and yielding turf to take the Foxbrook Champion Hurdle for novices. It was just his third start over fences but he looked like an old pro. He'll be fun to follow in the years to come.

[Miss Woodford]

Noah and the Ark bests the Irish invaders to win the American Grand National, throwing another wrench into the Eclipse award voting. 5 G1s and a different horse wins each of them.

[BaroqueAgain1]

Snap Decision did not seem to like the soft going.

[Miss Woodford]

Snap Decision did not seem to like the soft going.

Fisher said he'd scratch him and Awakened if the ground was too soft. He did that with Awakened (who if he wins the G2 hurdle at Great Meado next week may become the Eclipse front-runner) but I suppose tried to be sporting for once with Snap and it didn't pan out. I suspect Snap will be retired after this; being 9 he won't be eligible to run in NYRA next year. Neither will Noah for that matter. Such an idiotic rule that should not apply to steeplechasers. 10yo Seddon certainly didn't look long in the tooth as he glided over the fences and simply lacked the flat speed of the American-trained horses. It sounded like Noah's connections were likely to retire him anyway but still a shame to press down on horses' careers like that.