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The
first race of the 2014 spring matinee went off without a hitch
Sunday as Woebkenberg Starting Gates set the pace.
Polly Flower won the
opening race of the season, winning the mile pace with Charlie Conrad
in the sulky in a time of 2:09.1.
CNO Photos by George Starks
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Annual Spring
Matinee a huge success
Largest field of horses in many years
By George Starks
GREENVILLE- It was just a few years ago that people in the harness
horse racing world wondered what was going to become of their beloved
sport: harness horse racing.
If Sunday’s Spring Matinee was any indication, the sport is alive and
well.
Sunday’s matinee produced 96 horses and 25 races as the annual event at
the Darke County Fairgrounds was deemed a huge success by Darke County
Harness Horseman’s Association president, Kerby Wilcox.
“Every year it seems to be growing right now. Hopefully we can keep
growing the same way,” said Wilcox. “Today has been great. It was a
gorgeous day today. You couldn’t ask for a better day. Everyone was
easy to work with and no problems today.”
It was just four years ago, the matinee didn’t draw half the horses and
driver it did Sunday.
“Four or five years ago we were lucky to get 45 horses,” Wilcox pointed
out. “We’ve more than doubled that number in a short period of time and
who knows what will happen in the future.”
So what has happened to turn things around?
Something that’s been pointed at more than once.
“The racinos and casinos has a lot to do with it,” said Wilcox.
“Because of this there are more horses and more people getting
involved. A lot of people are getting away from matinees but we have
been successful with this one and we’re not planning on quitting this
one anytime soon.”
One person that had some to celebrate Sunday was Mandy Jones.
In the fifth race of the day, Jones had a third place finish behind
Sign Of A Diamond.
Jones bounced back in a big way in the 11th, pulling off a huge win
driving Hotrod Pete to the winners circle in a pacing time of 2:08.1.
Hotrod Pete was a huge success for Jones as a two year old and now, the
three year old started the year off on a positive note.
“This was a good training mile for him today,” said Jones. “We won with
him last year and look to do better things with him this year.”
Hotrod Pete started the race off, trailing the field early.
Then, the light switch was turned on and Pete was like a horse that had
been shot out of a cannon, passing through the field like a hot knife
through butter.
“I didn’t want to lead with him, I wanted to follow,” said Jones. “They
(the field) was going a little slow through the quarter. I looked up
and dad (Brian) gave me the go sign so we pulled the trigger and it was
game on from there.”
Hotrod Pete literally left the field behind.
“This was a good sprint for him,” said Jones. “I’ve had him since he
was a yearling and I’m hoping this was a sign for the rest of the
season.”
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Brian
Jones took second in the fifth behind Shot Thru The Heart with
Ranger Sure Shot getting the win with Dave Brumbaugh driving to the win
in a time of 2:15.3.
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