O'Donnell Draws In To Hall Of Fame Race

Published: July 5, 2013 08:44 pm EDT

Bill O’Donnell will replace Mike Lachance, who is a late scratch, in the $10,000 Mr. and Mrs. Elbridge Gerry Memorial Trot for Hall of Fame members at Goshen Historic Track on Sunday (July 7).

Now retired from driving, O’Donnell, known as the “Magic Man,” was long a major force in the sport’s major stakes races, based at the Meadowlands Racetrack. From Spring Hill, Nova Scotia, he now lives in Guelph, Ontario. He has over $99 million in purse earnings and 5,742 race wins.

Post time for the races at Historic Track, located at 44 Park Place in Goshen, is 1 p.m. After the race, drivers will meet fans and sign photos at the south end of the grandstand.

The newcomer to this year’s race is trainer/driver Dick Stillings, who will be inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame on the evening of July 7 at the Harness Racing Museum in Goshen. Stillings is best known for his success in training and driving horses from the Roy Davis stable, with the “Spur” surname. He sent out back-to-back Little Brown Jug winners, Barberry Spur in 1986 and Jaguar Spur in 1987.

The field of drivers (in alphabetical order) includes: John Campbell, Jim Doherty, Herve Filion, Wally Hennessey, Cat Manzi, Bill O’Donnell, Dave Palone, Dick Stillings and Jimmy Takter.


This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.

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