By the accounts of his connections, he was one of the smallest horses they've encountered yet Wild Request proceeded to make the biggest impact

in the month of November on the racetrack in Florida. During the December 20 program at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park, three-year-old pacer Wild Request and Melanie Ricco were saluted as recipients of the November Horse And Groom Of The Month Award. The honour is handed out resulting from a vote by members of the Florida chapter of The United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA).

"He's probably the smallest horse and gelding pacer I'll ever care for in my career, but what he lacked in size he sure made up for with heart and determination," Ricco said in a live trackside interview when being presented with the monthly $50 groom's cheque by Fred Segal, President of the Florida chapter of the USHWA. "I think I speak for all the grooms on the Pompano backstretch in saying we really appreciate being included in this monthly award at the track, and it's so great at Christmas time, I don't even have to share this $50 cheque with anyone!" Ricco added.

Wild Request won three times in November in restricted claiming company for owner Robert Weinstein of Bellmore, NY before being claimed away for $11,250 on December 7 by owner-trainer Diane Hellen. The three-year-old Capital Request-Ima Working Jewel was bred and developed by Julie Working before the November 2 claim into the care of trainer Chris Marino.

"We saw Wild Request as a prospect to fit the innovative classes they offer here for the inventory of horses at the meet here in Florida," offered trainer Chris Marino. "He's a small horse but with a handy turn of speed. I hope I'm as fortunate with the future claims we make since I plan to stay here until March at least before I consider shipping north to The Meadowlands," Marino added.

The monthly award this time also happened to go a Florida bred in Wild Request, and that fact was not lost on USHWA Florida chapter member Tom Hicks, who is also serving as President of the Florida Standardbred Breeders And Owners Association (FSBOA).

"Here's the proof positive again that the Florida-bred horses can race competitively in the State program and other classes at Pompano, or at the northern tracks in the USA and in Canada," Hicks said during the ceremony. "There's a long history of Florida-bred successes dating to Red Bow Tie with $2.4 million earned, and more recently to horses like Famous Mark at $443,000 on his card and still going, and the pacing mare Bling who's made over $140,000 against the top mares at Yonkers after her successful two and three-year-old campaigns in Florida. It was great to see Wild Request become such a useful racehorse and we hope he can keep going forward in his career" Hicks added.

A plaque presentation also accompanies the monthly award at Pompano in the trackside ceremony on live TV during a race program. The Wednesday evening, December 21 program at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing features 13 races including the weekly Open Handicap Trot, and it's the last live card at Pompano until December 27.

(Isle Pompano Park)