Mark Deaton, Hoosier Park’s defending training champ, is back in action for the 2010 racing season. With 27 horses, Deaton has a wide variety of contenders under his supervision from the top to the bottom
in both the claiming and conditioned ranks.
A native of Ohio, Deaton has brought the majority of his horses into the Hoosier State this season. With a few horses left behind at Northfield Park near Cleveland, Ohio, Deaton hand- picked the ones he felt would prosper in Indiana.
“I started looking for Indiana-breds to race here this year and actually bought a couple for this meet,” said Deaton. “We’ve got some of the same horses from last year and some new ones.”
One of the most recognizable horses that wears the familiar green and gold colours of the Deaton Stable is Blowlowsanta, a consistent top trotter on the Indiana circuit. The Saint Nick Hanover gelding has been with Deaton for the past four years and turned in his best year to date in 2009. Earning more than $123,000 last year, Blowlowsanta pulled in eight wins and solidified his spot in the Deaton shedrow.
“He (Blowlowsanta) was the first horse that Larry and Le Anna Muckenhirn bought,” said Deaton. “He has a home for life. The Muckenhirns said they will never get rid of him. He’s been a great horse for them and is a pleasure to be around. He’s easy to take care of and does everything right.”
With 10 horses in Deaton’s barn now, the Muckenhirns have made a big investment in the sport of harness racing. Besides increasing their horsepower, they have purchased a nearby farm with more than 150 acres and plan to put in a training center complete with a training track.
In addition to the Muckenhirns, Deaton has also acquired another local owner in Hank Rossman. A longtime racing fan, Rossman got into the business a few years ago and went to the yearling sales this past fall to purchase two Indiana-sired colts. Both trotters, the colts are now in training and preparing for the upcoming stakes season later this year.
Deaton is closing in on 1,100 career training wins. The 42-year-old trainer began racing at Lebanon Raceway in southern Ohio in the mid 1980’s. His older brother, Elliott, has served as the stable’s primary driver in recent years and has accumulated more than 1,700 career wins.
Because of the volume of horses, Deaton has a strong nucleus of workers for his operation. Nine people work to get the best from the Indiana operation.
“Everybody but two people came back with us to Indiana this year,” said Deaton. “Everyone works hard and does a good job. They all like it over here in Indiana and we are looking at relocating here permanently.”
Following the meet at Indiana Downs last fall, The Deaton Stable returned to northern Ohio and was based at Sahbra Farms with a majority of the horses. Deaton shipped over to The Meadows to race on a consistent basis while Kim Sloan kept 15 horses at Northfield Park and oversaw the day to day operations with them. Also an owner, Sloan has five horses on the grounds including Depravedhedonist, a nine-year-old son of Pacific Rocket she has had since he was four-years-old. The petite gelding now has more than $141,000 in career earnings.
Deaton has already visited the winner’s circle twice in the first six nights of racing. He earned 39 wins last year to secure the title over Ron Burke, who had 38 wins. The title for Deaton was his first at Hoosier Park. He finished third in the standings in 2008, his first full season of racing in the state of Indiana.
(Hoosier Park)
Great story, way to Go Mark!!
Great story, way to Go Mark!!