It was the night at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park that the track's leading driver, Bruce Ranger, literally had his cake and ate it too
. Typical of Ranger, he then shared the huge ceremonial cake with the large crowd assembled on the tarmac by the winner's circle after the first race. The ceremony was for fans, friends and well wishers to share in Ranger's miletone 8,000th lifetime winning drive from last weekend. He became just the 19th driver in history to reach that plateau.
"I was a little doubtful about whether I should come over to this side of the fence but the good feelings from all these people is really special," Ranger said. "I don't have a computer, but the number of phone calls and text messages since I got the milestone has been just terrific. I want these people to know that like some horses, I had some breaks in stride of my own earlier in life and got the second chance I needed. This is my home, it's where I've accomplished almost three-quarters of my wins. If there's a lesson I could tell the younger people in this crowd, the financial success has gone hand in hand with cleaning up my life," he explained.
Ranger was eager to talk about the specifics of his personal turning point. Heading into 1998 he described how he defeated his addictions and began a streak of $1 million purse earning seasons in the bike, which continues to this day.
"I would say after age 50 I'm a better driver now than I ever was" he said. "When I watch tapes from 15 years ago or longer, quite frankly it scares me. I have more respect now and I would say a healthy dose of fear. As a horseman overall, I've abandoned the obstruction of excessive pride too. If I have a horse that I can't get the best out of I have no problem now telling an owner they should try the horse with someone else," he added. "As far as driving style goes, a Canadian named Bud Burke gave me the best advice I ever had. People probably remember him for the two great horses he had, A Stud Named Sue and Chippies Ruler, or from his coaching and owning the Sudbury Wolves [junior] hockey team. His advice to me about how to give horses their best chance was almost 13 years ago. Bud still calls me occasionally to remind me of that advice to this day," Ranger said.
Wrapping up the ceremony, Ranger was asked about his devotion to physical fitness as he stood in front of the huge calorie rich cake concocted in his honour.
"It's part of the package, staying fit feels great and Florida is the place to do it," Ranger told the large trackside gathering. "I mean, we're out here tonight on January 18 and it's 77 degrees. Definitely, though, I have no problem allowing myself a piece of that cake before it's all gone. I called dibs on that corner piece with the big yellow flowers frosting."
The top event on track on Tuesday evening also saw Bruce Ranger in the spotlight as he guided Im Just Special to a front end victory in 1:52.2 in the $12,000 purse winners over $10,000 lifetime for fillies and mares.
From the assigned outside eight post, Im Just Special cleared the lead from Nillabomb and driver Dan Clements at the quarter in :27. The six-year-old daughter of Camluck-Ladys Special Girl laid down middle panels of :56.3 and 1:24.2, disposing of the first over challenge of Cam Town Carrie with Anthony Napolitano in tow. In the stretch Im Just Special held off the pocket-sitting Nillabomb for an open length victory. Samantha Q, in rein to Doug Brown, followed in for third.
Im Just Special is trained by Peter Pellegrino for New York owners Susan and Ted Colby, and her lifetime bankroll was pushed to more than $575,000 with this win.
On Wednesday evening, the top trotting class turns to the gate for a $12,000 purse and there's a Pick-4 carryover of $2,672.
(Pompano Park)