Start Of Pompano Meet Recapped

There was an astonishing track record, numerous trainer and driver milestones and over 50 action-packed programs crammed into the opening segment of the

2009-2010 season at Pompano Park.

Here is a chronology of notes and highlights from the fall meet which began on September 5 and concluded on December 30, 2009, as the South Florida harness track began its 46th anniversary season.

SEPTEMBER, 2009:

• the track retained the services of Charles E. Coon and Sons prior to the unveiling of the new and upgraded racing surface
• on September 5, a 20-race, non-wagering Florida Breeders program was held; Bruce Ranger was in the bike for 13 wins on that card, establishing a single-program driving wins record according to the United States Trotting Association's 'Album of Pop Records'
• drivers Bruce Ranger, David Ingraham, and Wally Hennessey were trackside on September 19 for a pre-race meet and great autograph session, and the meet's opening program was topped off by a huge fireworks display
• in September, Pompano Park's all-time leading driver, Bruce Ranger, marked the occasion of his 50th birthday with more than 7,600 wins to his credit
• Object Of Art won the Open Handicap Pace three times with trainer-driver Ray Vizzi before undergoing a private sale and being shipped to the Meadows

OCTOBER, 2009:

• the training and driving brother duo of Dan and Wally Hennessey had the very rare situation of two dead-heat wins on the same program...pacing filly East Coast Girl dead-heated with Stoke and driver Walter Ross, Jr.; and pacing horse Seeyall Later dead-heated with Doctor Gates driven by Andy Santeramo
• Prime Time Talent became the first 1:51 winner at the meet in the Open Handicap Pace; that fastest time of the meet would later be tied by Mai Tai Guy
• 47-year-old driver David Ingraham earned his 6,000th lifetime win with trotter Henrytheeighthiam
• director of racing operations John Yinger implemented a free program policy for Pompano Park's on-track patrons for every live race night
• 21-year-old driver Matt Kakaley debuted at Pompano Park on October 29, less than four months after becoming the youngest driver in history to surpass 1,000 wins; he would later confirm in a December 1 interview that he'd be staying for the entire 2009-2010 season in Florida

NOVEMBER, 2009:

• Joe Pavia, Jr. and Kevin Wallis returned for 2009-2010 at Pompano Park. Both horsemen have competed seasonally in Florida for over 20 years, with the 49-year-old Pavia wrapping up his best personal career year in the bike
• Special Sweetheart wins the Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace in 1:52.1 for trainer Tom Artandi and driver Matt Kakaley; it was a three-year-old filly pace track record besting the 1991 track standard of 1:52.2 set by Miss Easy with John Campbell in the Breeders Crown
• 21-year-old horseman Dustin Ingraham shipped in from Colonial Downs and won his first start with pacing mare Canaco Piment

DECEMBER, 2009:

• Florida Breeders Super Night saw eight finals contested for over $325,000 in purses; trotters Pocohontas Fame and Whosgoingwhosstayin recovered from breaks in stride to win their division titles; two-year-old fillies Pocohontas Fame and Black Diamond Girl shared the Florida Breeders $100,000 bonus for sweeping all four of their major fall stakes events; two-year-old pacing colt Stiletto Jake was the evening's impressive most performer in a 1:54.1 life's mark romp
• trainer John Hallett donated several historic whips for a charity auction in support of the Lebanon Raceway barn fire relief fund; the local donation from Florida swelled to over $20,000 in cash, equipment and horses in a huge shipment sent north on a rig donated for use by Tom Harmer
• Saturday double programs began with increased trackside interaction and cash prize games for on-track fans
• 50-year-old horseman Kevin Sizer returned to campaign at Pompano after 12 years away from the South Florida track
• trotter Tom Cango, the third-place finisher to Muscle Hill in the 2009 Kentucky Futurity, was shipped into the care of Pompano-based trainer Bill Gallagher
• a purse increase ranging from 2.5% to almost 9% was implemented for selected claiming and conditioned race classes
• the track's gradually increasing handle trend of the past four months saw nightly handles of almost $400,000 for the final two Wednesday programs of December
• a new program cover emphasizing the track's marketing initiative 'The Winter Capital of Harness Racing' was unveiled on December 30

The concluding segment of the 2009-2010 meet at Pompano Park runs from January 1 through May 22, 2010. First-race post time is 7:05 p.m. (EST) each Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at The Winter Capital of Harness Racing.

(Pompano)