Simon Allard, the young Canadian driving sensation, will make his Meadowlands debut on Saturday night
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Allard is listed to drive three horses on the Saturday card for his brother, trainer Rene Allard, including Strand Hanover in the $100,000 final of the Four Leaf Clover.
Simon will also be the In The Sulky guest on Meadowlands Racetrack's Friday pre-card broadcast. Fans can email questions for him to answer on-air to [email protected]. The broadcast airs live beginning at 6:30 p.m. on the Paddock Level television set and online at MeadowlandsRacetrack.com.
"It's a dream come true for me to drive at the Meadowlands," Allard said. "I've always wanted to drive there. The only time I've driven outside of Canada is at Pompano Park. I'm very much looking forward to it."
In addition to Strand Hanover, who will start from Post 6 in the Four Leaf Clover (Race 5), Allard will pilot Most Happy Keene in the first race and Dinner Guest in the sixth.
Allard had a career season in 2010, as he won 468 races, $3.6 million in purses and the Georgian Downs driving title. The 28-year-old reinsman made a full-time move to the Woodbine Entertainment Group circuit this year and has made his presence felt. Through March 14, the Quebec native ranks fourth in the Woodbine driving colony with 36 victories and just under $600,000 in purses.
"I've been driving for five years, starting in Montreal and then moving to Three Rivers, Rideau Carleton, Flamboro and now Woodbine/Mohawk," he said. "I'm thinking about giving Chester a shot next year. For my brother and I, the last year or so has been great. We're used to racing cheaper horses, and now we're getting much better ones. I can't wait to drive with all the big names at the Meadowlands."
(Meadowlands)
For all these people who
For all these people who think that the drivers at the Meadowlands race differently here is my humble opinion. While I agree that may have something to do with it, it does not tell the whole story and anyone who has been watching long enough should easily see this. I am shocked that there are those who don't.
First of all, let's not forget that a while back WEG did experiment moving the starting and finish lines closer to the first turn. Wanna know what happened? NOTHING, they still raced single file. The problem at WEG is that far too often the goal appears to be to simply pick up a cheque as opposed to actually winning. The common strategy is sit back and then take one big run in the last quarter. While that may be a greta strategy for finishing in the top 5 it does nothing for the bettors who bet that horse to win.
A few years back Richie Silverman drove up here for a few months. He quickly made it to the top of the standings. I know a person who knew him well and it was told to me that Richard said that up here all you have to do to win races is go to the fron because most times you'll get your own way. This froma driver who was not able to crack the top 10 at the Big M. That statement holds a lot of truth and that is what drives me crazy. At the Big M those guys want to win. Unlike over here a heavy favourite at the Big M will more often then not, not sit in a 3 hole and get boxed in. They'll be on the move. How is it a certain two Meadowlands drivers who used to be in the top of the standings over there can barely make the top 10 over here?
Lightning what's his name is nowhere near lightning anymore. Did he just suddenly forget how to drive?
Oh yes and I'llnever forget the time when a certain WEG driver complained in an interview about how Ron Pierce dared to go first up and challenge him the entire mile. Did this certain WEG driver forget that it's called racing? But of course who can blame him for saying that. He was so used to up here going for the lead and not being challenged.
I do agree that yes maybe some of our boys could do well down at the Big M because they would have to alter their style of racing. What bothers me is that the style of racing should already be altered up here to actually resemble a race and not a parade. But that would actually mean putting the bettor and his interests first and we know that ain't gonna happen up here any time soon.
I live in the U.S. and lived
I live in the U.S. and lived in New Jersey for many years. I have been following the Meadowlands since 1985 and the style has changed there over the years. The drivers at the Meadowlands have adapted to the changes. I have been following W.E.G. for about 15 years and they have a great core in the driving colony. Given the same horses and some time to learn the style, the drivers from the north would do just fine at the Big M.
I don't blame the lack of
I don't blame the lack of flow all on the weg drivers, it has much more to do with track configuration. Weg had no way of knowing that when they shifted to a 7/8ths mile track that it was going to be the disaster it turned out to be. It is way to far into the first turn and as a result horses who can leave get away from horses who can't. They get gapped out all over the race track and as a result it is to often single file racing. When the drivers from the big m come to weg it is still single file racing. If weg drivers go to the big m they will get into the flow of the race they will have no other choice.
Even though the big m is a mile track the first turn comes up very quickly keeping horses bunched up and as a result there is a lot of flow. Where weg is to blame however is they have had years to address the issues caused by a 7/8's mile track and they have done nothing about it. They either have to bite the bullet and shift back to a 5/8ths mile or shift to a mile track and if they do that they would be wise to use the exact same configuration that the big m uses. They have no excuse not to do this if they are serious about harness racing as they have two tracks and they can race at one track and fix the other, racing does not have to be shut down to solve the problem. This will cost millions but they made the mistake and at some point they have to bite the bullet and fix it.
There really isnt a lot more
There really isnt a lot more flow at the meadowlands watch there races and you will see so many races where the horse sitting 3rd or 4th pulls clears to the front then backs the pace down. It happens just as much at the Meadowlands than at Woodbine and Mohawk!
In reply to There really isnt a lot more by adam1981
If jody jameison mark
If jody jameison mark mcdonald and randy all weant down to the meadowlands and got good horses to drive they would be at the cream of the crop there as well! I love how so many people comment and dont seem to really know what is going down at the tracks with race flow and quality of drivers and when the the big m regulars come to the ojc circuit for the stakes races they may win more of the big races but it is only cause they have the best horses!
Mr. Holub has it exactly
Mr. Holub has it exactly right, when the Meadowlands drivers come up here for stake races they give the WEG drivers a lesson. When the WEG drivers go down there for stake races the Meadowlands drivers give them a lesson!!
You say there isn't more
You say there isn't more flow at the Meadowlands? Just look at how many times a lead changes in a Meadowlands race compare to a Woodbine Race.
The comment saying the race
The comment saying the race flow at the meadowlands is much more isnt all that true. How many times do you ya see sears or tetrick move to the front then back into the field and turn for a sprint to the finish - quite a bit!
the only diference is the big longshots will move to the lead off the gate then they do on the ontario circuit then the big horses go around them then back inot the field at the big m!
I totally agree with Karl
I totally agree with Karl Holub. If you're going to go to the Big M you'd better be prepared to drive for the ENTIRE MILE not just the last quarter like they do at Woodbine.
At the Big M if you are the leader the other guys don't let you put on the brakes coz if you do they will blow by you in a heartbeat. You can be third over at the Big M and still be in contention at the top of the lane because the cover carries you. I have absolutely no confidence in betting the WEG tracks because 90% of the time you just don't get a race.
At the Big M they are almost always 5 or 6 horses separated by one or two lengths at the wire. At Woodbien or Mohawk, you have the leader, the guy coming out of the pocket and that's usually it. At least at the Big M your horse gets a call. I have bet horses on WEG that I never even hear their name called during a race because they never move. And I'm not talking 30-1 shots either. There is simply no comaprison between drivers in Canada and those in the US. The US drivers are far more aggresive and give you much more bang for your buck.
It's a shame the Woodbine drivers haven't taken notice yet.
Good luck Mr. Allard.
Just a little reminder Mr.
Just a little reminder Mr. Allard, cast aside the WEG way of driving strategy, Meadowlands caters to movement throughout the race. Not being a fan of the single file style of racing that scares me away from WEG, I am quite keen on witnessing what you have to offer at an establishment that in my opinion offers a superlative harness racing product! If you take a look at the anemic pools at WEG's tracks, thoroughbreds excluded, it is time for someone sitting in a director's chair to pay attention, grab hold of the defibrillator, and bring a dead product back to life!
Good luck. Love your driving
Good luck. Love your driving style.
Good luck at the Meadowlands!
Good luck at the Meadowlands!