Pompano Park concluded a record-breaking meeting on Sunday (May 2) with the famed South Florida oval setting several pari-mutuel records during their slightly shortened 105 night season.

With a record 21 nights of handle exceeding $1,000,000, Pompano Park’s average per-night handle was $765,001, also a record. (Pompano Park had but six million-dollar handle nights during their 57 year history dating back to 1964.)

The competition was very hot in the top class for pacers from start to finish, with Ideal Feeling winning the first two Open Handicap pacing events in November in identical times of 1:50.4 for Dave Ingraham, who was in the bike for trainer Peter Blood and owner Rick Berks.

Just days later, Bell I No broke the coveted 1:50 barrier with a stunning 1:49.3 performance for driver John MacDonald and trainer Tee Wine in a conditioned pace. Two weeks later, he was in the winner’s circle after a 1:50.2 victory in the Open.

Other Open winners to close out the year 2020 were Seeing Eye Single and Lyons Night Hawk—the latter stopping the timer in 1:49.4 for Kevin Wallis, who was in the sulky seat for trainer Joe Pavia, Jr. and owner Lon Frocione. Prairie Panther then closed out the year of 2020 with a win in this top class in 1:51.

Dec. 20 was “Super Night” at Pompano Park with over $400,000 in purses distributed to the top Florida bred trotters and pacers.

Hurrikanekingjames, perfectly handled by Carl Garofalo, made it a perfect five-for-five during the FSBOA season by taking home the major share of the $51,500 pace for three year-old colts and geldings in 1:53.2.

The sophomore distaff pace went, by disqualification, to Laurie Lee, driven by Wally Hennessey. That race's purse was also $51,500.

Prairie Romeo, with Corey Braden handling the lines, took advantage of miscues by his competitors to win the $51,000 Bedders Stake for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings in a lifetime best 1:59 while Brasen Bo, driven by John MacDonald, only needed to mind her manners to win the major share of her $49,000 event for the distaff three-year-old trotters.

Theflyingrock, with Mike Simons in her sulky for owner Marie Marsh, took top honours in the two-year-old event for pacing colts and geldings with a sharp 1:54.1 performance. And, in the companion for the trotting colts and geldings, Seeking Matthew was the only combatant to mind his manners the entire route to win the major share of his $51,500 event.

In the $52,400 Breeders Stake for two-year-old trotting fillies, Ifnotmewho, driven by Wally Hennessey, edged past arch-rival Prairie Virtue by a neck in 1:58.4.

Finally, Ms Rodeo Drive, with Dave Ingraham driving, picked a very opportune time to break her maiden with a win in the $54,500 Stake for two-year-old pacing fillies.

As 2021 kicked off, Lyons Night Out started his year with a 1:50.3 win followed by Rebellious, wiring the field in 1:50.3 for Wally Hennessey, driving for trainer Mike Deters, who co-owns with Joel Warner.

In mid-January, Joe Chindano, Jr.’s Skip To My Lou, the tiny son of Sweet Lou, finally tackled the pacing Open class with success, as he won in 1:50.4 before taking a week off and then winning again as February rolled in, stopping the timer in 1:51.2.

In late January, Seeing Eye Single, well off the sizzling pace of :53.3 for the first half, circled on the backside to take charge around the final bend to win in 1:49.3 for John MacDonald, subbing for Devan Miller—Miller’s daughter. Devan trains that one for owner Sylvia Burke.

Also in late January, the grand gelding Southwind Amazon recorded his milestone 100th win when taking a conditioned event for David Miller, who drove for trainer Paul Holzman and owner Ameer Najor.

Yet another sub-1:50 performance was achieved by Skip To My Lou on Feb. 8, as he too did not join the fray through sizzling opening panels of :25.4 and :53.3 before a vicious backside blitz eventually brought him to the finish line in 1:49.

From that point, the Open Pace class remained ultra-competitive with Rebellious, Prairie Panther, Skip To My Lou and Ideal Feeling reaching the coveted winner’s circle—the latter on three different occasions.

In the top class for pacing mares, Tempus Seelster, Prairie Westerngal and Ask Me Ifi Care were the dominant forces as the meet opened with Crisp Mane, Cult Icon, Lucky Artist, Beach Journey, Shesgotitgoingon and Casies Believer all reaching the winner’s circle throughout the season.

The fastest mile for the mares was achieved by Tempus Seelster as the eight-year-old daughter of Big Jim toured the Pompano oval in 1:50.2 for Joe Chindano, Jr., who was in the sulky for trainer Rob Rittof and owners Dandy Farms and the FT Racing Stable.

Tempus Seelster won the first Open Pace for the mares in mid-November and completed her “bookends” season at The Pomp with a win in the final Open for the mares as the season neared its conclusion.

On the trotting side of the ledger, Muscles For Life, DGs Caviar and Born To Thrive traded barbs throughout much of the season, with In Secret and Enzio also hitting the winner’s circle in the absence of the aforementioned “Big Three.”

Muscles For Life, the Steve Oldford-trained and Jerold Hawks-owned eight-year-old son of Muscle Mass, won three of his first four starts in this top class, but had to share the limelight with DGs Caviar, trained and driven by Andy Shetler for owner Daniel Graber.

This product of Prime Time Caviar won his first four upon arrival to South Florida and set a track record for four-year-olds by scorching the oval in 1:53 on Dec. 28.

Born To Thrive, the forever-grinding gelded son of Swan For All, gnawed his way to multiple wins in the top class, with his most impressive outing coming in mid-February when he stopped the timer in 1:52.4. Rick Plano was in the bike for owners Maryann Plano and John Campagnuolo.

Yet another emerging star from the Plano Stable was Toys For You, owned by Rick Plano, himself.

The five-year-old gelded son of Airzoom Lindy began moving up the ladder in February with a track-record-tying 1:52.2 performance in a conditioned event, then reeled three more wins — the last one in the top class.

There were several noteworthy performances by drivers and trainers during the season, with Hall of Fame driver Wally Hennessey reaching the 200-win plateau while winning at a percentage rate of over 27 percent. David Miller came to town for the winter months and won 106 races while his win percentage was at a lofty 26 percent.

Others on the top-10 list were Kevin Wallis, Mike Simons, Rick Plano, Joe Chindano, Jr., John MacDonald, Dave Ingraham, Braxton Boyd and Joe Sanzeri.

Chindano and Boyd, both 21, have emerged as the future stars of the sport with their prowess in the bike, as Chindano had 68 wins for the season with Boyd in the winner’s circle on 38 occasions.

Plano lead the trainer’s list in wins with 54, followed by Melissa Beckwith, Tee Wine, Jake Huff and Mike Deters. Cory Kreiser, Chindano, Peter Blood and Jim McDonald were next while there was a virtual “dead-heat” for 10th with Mike Simons, Jason Merriman and Gaston Lareau in the mix.

In the all-important purse-money standings, owners who had Hennessey in their sulkies benefitted to the tune of $1,170,105. Kevin Wallis, Mike Simons, David Miller and Joe Chindano, Jr. were next on that list.

In the trainer’s category, Mike Deters led the way with over $400,000 in purses for his owners, followed by Rick Plano, Jake Huff, Tee Wine and Joe Chindano, Jr.

Ladies played a vital role on the success of the 2020-2021 season, with the aforementioned Melissa Beckwith leading a strong contingent of female trainers with 45 wins and a winning percentage exceeding 25 percent while vaulting over the $200,000 plateau in earnings.

Jennifer Giuliani was second in the women’s standings with 19 wins, followed by Devan Miller (17), Cassandra Uppal (16) and Brandy Wine (14). Melanie Wrenn, Marna Shehan, Jennifer Sansone and Jamie Macomber were next with Wine and Wrenn one-two in terms of win percentage with trainers with 30 or more starts.

Kelly Case, Kim Sears, Maggie Audley, Miriam Toland, Stacey McLenaghan, Donna Riedel and Marie Dupont also had success reaching the winner’s circle this season.

The Florida Amateur Driving Club added zest to the racing season with weekly high-spirited competition, and a flurry of donations from their member drivers donating all earnings back to the club for charitable distribution. Since their inception, the club has helped worthy causes such as Make-A-Wish, Go For The Greens, cancer research, horse rescue organizations and many others to the tune of over $220,000.

Among the leading amateur drivers this season were Ron Cusimano, Dein Spriggs, Joe Pennacchio, Sky Walker, Steve Oldford and Leon Cable.

In the “better for the bettor” department, wagering was bolstered by the huge buffet of wagering options offered by the track, including the traditional early and late daily doubles, Pick 3s and Pick 4s — these popular offerings boosted further by the nightly Pick 5, Pick 6 and Super Hi-5.

The popularity of the Pick 4 increased dramatically with generous guarantees offered by the track under Director of Racing Gabe Prewitt.

Of the growing interest in that specific wagering option, Prewitt said, “The guarantees helped, of course, but the ‘kicker’ was that we offered the Pick 4 with a 12 percent takeout — the lowest in the industry.”

Pompano Park will soon put the finishing touches on plans for the 2021-22 season with 126 racing nights scheduled to begin in the fall.

(Pompano Park)