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General Category => Harness Racing => Topic started by: theokodjak26 on September 11, 2023, 01:18:55 PM

Title: Harness Racing Greatest Nights
Post by: theokodjak26 on September 11, 2023, 01:18:55 PM
There have been many great races over the years but I have only been to a few where the grandstands were literally shaking. I will only mention two and let other Ploppers share their experiences.

August 23, 1969 39,000 fans at RR to see Nevele Pride park the mare Uni de Mai for 1 1/4 miles only to lose to this incredible trotter. For the last half mile RR felt like a 5.0 earthquake was unfolding. And although most fans were rooting for Pride, when that French mare came back to the winners circle everyone was on their feet applauding her. It was an incredible performance and night.

My second entry was not about a race although racing did occur. August 31, 1973. Monticello Raceway’s biggest crowd, about 17,500, packed the place to watch the Ike and Tina Turner Review. We had great seats in the grandstand, windows down, dining room packed and this place was ready to take off. A young Tina Turner was shaking and singing her stuff without ever breaking stride. People were standing up singing and dancing. The sweat was dripping off Tina on this warm August night. Standing ovations multiple times. Another fabulous event in my lifetime.

So what are yours fellow Ploppers?
Title: Re: Harness Racing Greatest Nights
Post by: Fuguzzi on September 11, 2023, 01:34:35 PM
I was 19 years old and on my own for the first time grooming 2 horses for a trainer named Bernie Proud at Pocono in 1983. Late summer, the track put on a free concert, literally free starring a young and relatively new , Bryan Adams, along with Joan Jett. Needless to say, given the price, FREE, the place was packed beyond belief. Kevin Reynolds and his father literally sat with shotguns in front of their barn for fear the "hippies" would try to do damage to their horses. Awesome concert, real loud, lotsa hot girls. Great memory especially being out on my own...
Title: Re: Harness Racing Greatest Nights
Post by: comeonman on September 11, 2023, 01:35:55 PM
when Vernne won the hambo.....it was rockin  .fans ran to winner circle.. the home base fans of Vernne were all there.... insanity
Title: Re: Harness Racing Greatest Nights
Post by: riley on September 11, 2023, 03:44:36 PM
 tmbz1  ngc3  ngc3  ngc3
Title: Re: Harness Racing Greatest Nights
Post by: Jazzman on September 11, 2023, 03:45:36 PM
thankyou also eligable great memory everone cheering for jeff it was great and i was there
Title: Re: Harness Racing Greatest Nights
Post by: Fuguzzi on September 11, 2023, 03:49:42 PM
https://youtu.be/UwUV3GVOehw?si=Qiw9IajyrXmmOd31
Impressive 2 yo performance by Dragons Lair, parked out good by Tommy to blazing quarter 26.3 Stillings heavy with the whip deep stretch. No response from Nihilator when tipped, but he will sure make up for it at 3   Nice video  Ty for sharing.
Title: Re: Harness Racing Greatest Nights
Post by: theokodjak26 on September 11, 2023, 04:09:36 PM
Great performance, great crowd. The only thing I didn’t care for was having to listen to Roger Houston’s annoying voice and calls. He’s never been my cup of tea.
Title: Re: Harness Racing Greatest Nights
Post by: Fuguzzi on September 11, 2023, 04:26:53 PM
Great performance, great crowd. The only thing I didn’t care for was having to listen to Roger Houston’s annoying voice and calls. He’s never been my cup of tea.
Preaching to the choir. I never got the Roger Huston thing. Trying to create excitement where it doesn't exist. Screaming "3 WIDE" on some random Wednesday in March because some $7500 claimer is going wide to nowhere with mike Wilder while the leader has 4 lengths on top. He sucks huge.     Interestingly, Roger is much better when doing color commentary or recounting history in a subdued voice.
Title: Re: Harness Racing Greatest Nights
Post by: Harness Stats on September 11, 2023, 04:54:14 PM
I disliked listening to him to when he was "The Voice" at The Meadows and would take Bergstein over him any day of the week for the Jug, but his race calls and his shout out bet nowwwww  are just his announcer persona. 

No one could be like that 100% of the time without keeling over a long time ago.  Could they? ngc3
Title: Re: Harness Racing Greatest Nights
Post by: Fuguzzi on September 11, 2023, 06:17:04 PM
Prolly not!  LOLOL
Title: Re: Harness Racing Greatest Nights
Post by: SeattleSlew on September 11, 2023, 07:36:45 PM
1964 Roosevelt International-Was relatively young, had never been in a crowd like that in my life anywhere, except for the ballpark.. and that is not the same as being elbow to elbow.  I am not sure of the exact attendance that night, but it was >40,000) and Speedy Scott put on a great show (really powerful, big trotter, with Ralph Baldwin at the lines).  I had been to YR and RR several times, but this night got me "hooked" with the pageantry, parading with flags, lights dimmed etc. 

In the following 10 years the International Trot was won by a mare 8 times, and living nearby, I was able to enjoy being there in person each of those years (and many years after.)


Title: Re: Harness Racing Greatest Nights
Post by: Fuguzzi on September 11, 2023, 08:12:40 PM
1964 Roosevelt International-Was relatively young, had never been in a crowd like that in my life anywhere, except for the ballpark.. and that is not the same as being elbow to elbow.  I am not sure of the exact attendance that night, but it was >40,000) and Speedy Scott put on a great show (really powerful, big trotter, with Ralph Baldwin at the lines).  I had been to YR and RR several times, but this night got me "hooked" with the pageantry, parading with flags, lights dimmed etc. 

In the following 10 years the International Trot was won by a mare 8 times, and living nearby, I was able to enjoy being there in person each of those years (and many years after.)
Hey buddy, Did Petite Evander with Eddie Dunnigan ever appear in an Int. Trot?
Title: Re: Harness Racing Greatest Nights
Post by: theokodjak26 on September 11, 2023, 08:40:50 PM
Fug this one’s for you. The attendance for the 1964 International Trot was 46,614. Aug 22, 1964. That was the year RR set all their attendance and handle records. I was only 13 years old and not there. I am sure a lot of fans were wearing suits, ties and dresses. BTW 18 nights later the RR Twin Double paid a record $172,276 for $2.00. Did you have it?  73cv.2 11.wp
Title: Re: Harness Racing Greatest Nights
Post by: Fuguzzi on September 11, 2023, 08:44:34 PM
No, I was 1 year old and asleep before post time.
Title: Re: Harness Racing Greatest Nights
Post by: Fuguzzi on September 11, 2023, 08:46:57 PM
Fug this one’s for you. The attendance for the 1964 International Trot was 46,614. Aug 22, 1964. That was the year RR set all their attendance and handle records. I was only 13 years old and not there. I am sure a lot of fans were wearing suits, ties and dresses. BTW 18 nights later the RR Twin Double paid a record $172,276 for $2.00. Did you have it?  73cv.2 11.wp
Nevele Pride vs. Une De Mai - clash of the TITANS!
Title: Re: Harness Racing Greatest Nights
Post by: SeattleSlew on September 12, 2023, 04:40:04 AM
Hey buddy, Did Petite Evander with Eddie Dunnigan ever appear in an Int. Trot?

YES...He was in the 1979 won by Doublemint.  Really heavy/muddy track.  Slowest time going back to 1968 and never slower afterwards!! Petite got mucked down...
Title: Re: Harness Racing Greatest Nights
Post by: SeattleSlew on September 12, 2023, 04:47:53 AM
Fug this one’s for you. The attendance for the 1964 International Trot was 46,614. Aug 22, 1964. That was the year RR set all their attendance and handle records. I was only 13 years old and not there. I am sure a lot of fans were wearing suits, ties and dresses. BTW 18 nights later the RR Twin Double paid a record $172,276 for $2.00. Did you have it?  73cv.2 11.wp

The original Twin Double was a sensational bet, as you could turn in your ticket on the first two races for a selection on the last two (which is what you were supposed to do) OR (as a secondary market developed amongst the sharper handicappers) buy/sell tickets between the two segments.  If two longshots came in for the first two races, you could offer a pretty good price, which, for many, for their original bet, was quite attractive, but was well under what they might be "worth in the pool".  Then you would turn around and swap those purchased tickets in for tickets on the last two races.  If there was a "standout" in one of those two races, you could almost guarantee yourself winning if you bought 8 tickets!!  Tons of wheeling and dealing ultimately led to their requiring you pick 4 at the front end... BOOOOOO.  AND the 10% ers were great.  If the price was over $600 (and most of the time it was) ..even if you had bet $1,000... they sent in a 1099-Misc to IRS, so either you would raise a red flag on your return (even if you reported and deducted losses on gambling) OR you would pay someone 10% to use their ID to cash the ticket.  Most of those people never filed a tax return ;>>)

Title: Re: Harness Racing Greatest Nights
Post by: old guy on September 12, 2023, 06:32:02 AM
Hey buddy, Did Petite Evander with Eddie Dunnigan ever appear in an Int. Trot?

Yes
Title: Re: Harness Racing Greatest Nights
Post by: Fuguzzi on September 12, 2023, 07:16:19 AM
Thank you to Seattle Slew and Old Guy on the Petite Evander update. I certainly remember Doublemint. That was a Haughton trotter, if I am not mistaken. I was 15 and my eyes and ears had just turned to harness racing.
Title: Re: Harness Racing Greatest Nights
Post by: old guy on September 12, 2023, 05:53:19 PM
Thank you to Seattle Slew and Old Guy on the Petite Evander update. I certainly remember Doublemint. That was a Haughton trotter, if I am not mistaken. I was 15 and my eyes and ears had just turned to harness racing.

Let me add that Eddie reached over to shake Peters hand after the race and pulled him out of his seat.🤣🤣
Title: Re: Harness Racing Greatest Nights
Post by: Fuguzzi on September 12, 2023, 05:54:40 PM
Cool tidbit. ngc3
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