He joined the half century club with his 50th birthday last Wednesday and stated last week in a live trackside TV interview that he’ll soon be cutting back on his catch-driving workload. Bruce Ranger, the winningest driver in the history of The Isle Pompano Park, is showing absolutely no signs of slowing down yet if the track’s first month of the new season is any indication

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The lifetime winner of more than 7,600 races in the bike added another pair to his total on the Friday evening, September 25 card. His first tally of the program wasn’t until the eigth race when he timed a late stretch move to get across first with claiming trotter Amazing Hanover. Ranger also won the 10th race nightcap with Fox Valley Michael as he skimmed the cones after a pocket trip to win a three horse photo. On the meet’s opening card of September 19 he was the only driver to compile a driving triple and on a non-wagering Florida Sunshine State Stakes program he won a modern day record of 13 races on a single 20 race program.

Originally from Maine, Ranger campaigned last Summer at Rockingham Park. His career trademark has been a remarkable run of consistency with 300 or more winning drives every year since 1997. His driving purse earnings have surpassed $1.3 million every year without fail since 1998, topping out at over $2.4 million in 2004.

Thrilling Mares Open

The September 25 Mares Open Pace at the Isle Pompano Park featured a final half toe-to-toe duel, which went down to the final strides. Allamerican Celeb with Fern Paquet, Jr. raced on the outside of pacemaker Nillabomb and driver Greg Merton and edged by within the shadow of the wire for a narrow decision in the $13,000 purse affair. Allamerican Celeb campaigned last Summer at Vernon Downs and the four-year-old Pro Bono Best-CDs Girl mare is trained by Jamie Paquet for In Front Stable of Riverview, Florida.

The Friday evening program also featured the Open Trot for a $13,000 purse. Gale Warning was sent to the front by Tom Sells and uncorked a flawless tour of the South Florida oval in 1:55.2 over favoured Battleshoe Victor with Diva Diva third. It was the 30th career victory for the Strong Gale-Lizs Promise six-year-old gelding as his lifetime earnings were pushed to more than $300,000. Gale Warning was making just the third start of 2009 after being sidelined with sickness since late in January. Michile Lorenzo trains for Rod Lorenzo, Ciro Gentile and Pomtambo Stable of Boca Raton.

On Saturday night, the on-track feature is the $13,000 Open Pace with a wide range of festivities planned before and during the program for the Boys and Girls Club Of Broward County Night At The Races. The inaugural Bounce Horse Race will feature six local celebrities, including former Miami Dolphins All-Pro Guard Keith Sims, Pompano Beach Mayor Lamar Fisher, and Light Heavyweight Boxing Champion Jose Morales.

Post time is 7:05 p.m. at The Isle Pompano Park each Friday and Saturday evening. Wednesday evening cards are added to the schedule on October 14.

(Pompano Park)