Canadian Horse Racing Hall Of Fame inductee Doug Brown has wrapped up his first full campaign at Pompano Park and shipped home to his native Ontario

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"The other horsepeople, track management, just everyone treated us just first class and I was really glad I tried Pompano, and our plan right now is to return in the Fall," Brown says. "I was really thankful for the people that put me down to drive and I really enjoyed training a few while I was in Florida too in addition to the year round golf and great lifestyle.”

Last October 18 resumed a long string of memorable moments for Brown at the South Florida venue as he racked up his first victory at Pompano in over 15 years since a 1995 Matron Stakes win with pacer Mattduff. Although he is a career winner of more than 8,300 races and over $88 million in career purses with a long resume of major stakes victories, Brown's first full season foray to Florida saw him rein in several longshots when he was surprisingly overlooked by the public. In the top class events, Brown's longshot parade included pacing mare Samantha Q at 20-1 and in recent weeks the top class trotter Keystone Thomas at 11-1 and 19-1. In the January 1 through April 16 period at Pompano, Brown amassed a slate of 219 - 23-15-26

Brown is also known to enjoy the challenge of training and developing young horses. Earlier this decade he developed and campaigned well known performers such as Invitro and Dr No for their two year old campaigns and Escapable Beaux for his three-year-old season. He has left two horses behind at Pompano to race from the care of his longtime friend and former employee Brian Gayman. Trotting mare Daria Hall is entered for the Tuesday evening program and pacing mare Allamerican Damsel is entered for Wednesday evening.

"We've made some changes going back (to) Ontario this year," Brown explained. "We lived for most of our lives out at Bowmanville but we've moved over to Milton. I was really thankful to get four stalls at Mohawk. After the winter I feel rejuvenated about driving, I felt I had a really solid season at Pompano. For the Summer months I hope I get some work at Mohawk but I'll go over to Grand River or the other Ontario tracks, wherever I'm put down to drive.”

His first full season at Pompano also brought Brown a fresh perspective on what constitutes cold weather to some of his fellow horsepeople.

"There were a couple of early mornings in January that it was 34-39 degrees (1-4 C.) when I got to the Pompano backstretch," Brown recalls. "I was surprised some people were taking the day off because they said it was too cold. I had to poke fun at some of them booking off for the day because they are from Canada. I followed the news and weather reports of what a tough winter it was in Ontario and I was really glad to be in Florida.”

Racing Resumes At Pompano Park

After a planned one week pause in the action the four nights per week live harness racing schedule resumed on Monday evening at Pompano Park.

Headlining the program was three year old colt trotter Celebrity Bombay. Last Fall, the son of Yankee Glide-Secret Harmony was a starter in the Bluegrass Stakes at Lexington and the Matron Stakes at Dover Downs.

Although he did not earn a race record in 2010, Celebrity Bombay was sent off as the 1-5 choice in the third race maiden trot field and he did not disappoint. With Wally Hennessey in tow Celebrity Bombay was a handy winner in 1:58.1 over Famous Dude and Boot Scootin Yankee.

Celebrity Bombay was a $7,000 purchase at the 2009 Lexington Selected Sale. Trainer Staffan Lind of Vero Beach, FL. Lind shares ownership of the colt with Celebrity Farms of New York.

(Pompano Park)