Canadian Horse Racing Hall Of Famer Doug Brown wrapped up his second career winter campaign on the Saturday evening, April 14 program. In a live trackside TV interview he reflected on the past six months of being headquartered at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park
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"I was situated in Barn E on the Pompano backstretch this past season and it was really great the way people nicknamed it 'Hall Of Fame Lane'," explained Brown. "I had known Wally and Dan Hennessey for many years, but didn't know Dale Hiteman until this 2011-2012 season. What a great guy and a great horseman Dale is. I guess people called it Hall Of Fame Lane because Wally, Dale and I have close to a combined 25,000 driving wins, and Dan has been a leading trainer here at Pompano for so many years."
For the return to his native Ontario, the 56-year-old horseman says his top prospect is three-year-old trotting filly Kylie Hall. She earned a 1:58.1 speed mark in South Florida recently and Brown was asked to assess her prospects for the Ontario Sires Stakes program.
"She had a little bit of bad luck last year at two with a break at the worst possible time in the Gold Series Super Final, but she still made over $32,000 for us," he said of the Striking Sahbra-Keystone Charity filly. "To make her way into the Gold Series this year I think she'll have to pick up a second or two, but it isn't out of the question. As it looks like right now I'll be realistic and hope she's solid in the Grassroots Series.
"It was a great Winter here since I enjoy the process of developing yearlings and young horses as much as catch-driving and I look forward to returning to Pompano again in the fall," added Brown.
On his last night of competition in Florida before departing, Brown was involved in a win dead-heat in the $8,000 purse Isle Mile 1 Handicap Pace with his fellow Ontario transplant reinsman Dan Clements. It brought Brown's lifetime win total in the bike to 8,384 for over $89.3 million in purse earnings.
Clements was in the bike with Appley Ever After to set the pace in :26.3, :56 and 1:24 before Brown tipped out of the pocket turning for home with Spartan Justice. The pair could not be separated at the wire in 1:52.4. Avantage, in rein to Mickey McNichol was third.
Mike Watson trains both of the co-winners and shares ownership of Appley Ever After with Richard Noel of Livonia, Michigan. Spartan Justice is owned by Michael Kallen of West Bloomfield, Michigan.
Later on the program, Brown won the secondary feature in the $6,700 purse Isle Mile 2 Pace with a front end score behind Red Star Paylater in 1:52.4 for owner-trainer Robert Dutilly of Pompano Beach, Florida.
Next week, there is no live racing on Monday, April 16 and Wednesday, April 18. The April and May schedule of live action on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday will resume on Saturday, April 21 at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing. The current meet concludes on July 28.
(With files from Pompano Park)