The well chronicled story of the Philadelphia Police Department's Owen Eiler Jr. and his devotion to harness racing is having a new chapter added with the expansion of his Florida holdings at Pompano Park
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The 49-year-old police constable whose passion for the harness sport dates to his youth at the now defunct Liberty Bell racetrack reached into the claiming box again on Tuesday at Pompano as he gained ownership of Scoot Diablo. The six-year-old gelding by Scoot Outa Reach-Lure Hanover was dropping a class and was offered for $6,000 and came up a winner in 1:53 in his last start for the tandem of Maryann and Rick Plano of Pompano Beach, Florida.
In addition to the newly acquired Scoot Diablo, Eiler's other recent starters in Florida have included trotter Claim Jumper along with pacers Cascata and Lucky Asset. All are being trained at Pompano by Frank Petrelli. In addition to his ownership shares of almost 300 horses over the years, Eiler also is active as a trainer with three wins from 34 starters for over $56,000 in purse earnings this year, and he sports a total of 18 lifetime training victories.
Because of a Pick 4 carryover of more than $5,200 from Monday evening, Pompano recorded one of its highest Pick 4 wagering totals on the meet with more than $22,000 in the pool. The Florida track's Pick 4 has a reduced 15 per cent takeout and $5,000 minimum guaranteed in association with the USTA Strategic Wagering Program on weeknights, and the March 20 Pick 4 returned a generous $640.00.
Through the end of March, post time is 7:15 p.m. Eastern every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday at Pompano Park. Tuesday cards are dropped from the schedule in April.
(Pompano Park)