Harrah's Philly Sets New Handle Mark

The Christmas Eve (Friday, Dec. 24) program at Harrah's Philadelphia was not only the fourth instance of over $1 million in all-sources handle on a single card this season at the riverside harness racing venue, but it also gave the track its highest single-season handle figure in its 16-year history with four race days to spare.

All-sources handle of $1,194,167 on the 14-race card lifted total 2021 turnover at Harrah's Philadelphia over the previous high water mark of $80,596,031, which was achieved in 2010.

"What a great accomplishment for the racing team at Harrah's Philadelphia," said Barry Brown, director of racing operations. "We had a spectacular year from start to finish, and we all look forward to 2022."

Driver Victor Kirby got the job done in the two pacing features among the three $14,400 headliners.

The contest for the pacing males was a fierce one, with Jackie Moon making the lead past a :27.3 quarter, then pushing Moonlight Shadow most of the way to the :55 half before surrendering the advantage. Kirby kept Jackie Moon in the pocket to the 1:23.2 three-quarters and to headstretch, where he pulled the Racing Hill sophomore gelding, and the pair just reeled in a game Moonlight Shadow by a neck in 1:52.3, completing the double moon Exacta. Rob Harmon saw his new acquisition score in only his second start for the barn; his ownership is Anthony and Michael Hill.

In the pacing distaff contest, Kirby teamed with trainer Ron Burke, who swept all four features at Harrah’s yesterday, to win with the Bettors Delight sophomore filly Divine Deo in a new mark of 1:54.2. Kirby sent the winner right to the top near the quarter and kept control to wire with a :56.3 last half, recording her seventh score of the year and second since being acquired by Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.

In the trotting feature, the Yankee Glide mare Brigitte Bi took early control from the pole for driver George Napolitano Jr., sprinting home in :57.3 to maintain a 1 1/4-length advantage over Storm Bringer in 1:56.3. On her best behavior, the Juan Cano-trained distaff has shown solid ability for owners Timothy Betts and Deerwood Trail Racing LLC.

18-year-old Brett Beckwith made his Philly winner's circle debut in style, bringing home Lanas Desire for new owner/trainer Walter Birney Jr. while paying $128.80 as only the third horse to win from fourth-over all year at Philly. Young Beckwith is close to a million dollars in earnings in this, his first full year of driving, and he certainly has a million-dollar pedigree: father Mark (5,869 driving wins) and mother Melissa (2054 training wins and having her best season with $1.38M in earnings in 2021), and grandfathers Jerry Silverman, Hall of Famer, and Bert Beckwith, one of New England’s best for many years from the 1960s on.

Four cards of racing remain this year at Harrah's Philadelphia: After a 14-race card on Sunday (Dec. 26) at 12:40 p.m., and 12-race programs on Wednesday (Dec. 29) and Thursday (Dec. 30) at 12:25 p.m., Harrah's Philadelphia will bring down the curtain on their 2021 stand on New Year's Eve (Friday, Dec. 31) with a twilight card beginning at 2:30 p.m.

(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)