A brisk and breezy early spring day did not deter 3,000 fans of harness racing from lining the outside fence of the homestretch of North Carolina's Pinehurst Training Center on Sunday, April 6.
Eight events exclusive to two-year-olds racing in jog carts lined up behind the Preferred Equine Marketing starting gate, much to the joy of throngs of railbirds and tailgaters.
More than 50 railside parking spaces lined the entire outer rail, complete with pop-up tents and elaborately catered food and drink arrangements. Prior to the races, the 82nd Airborne Division Chorus from Fort Bragg performed the National Anthem while the Pinecrest High School ROTC marched proudly while presenting the color guard.
The Pick-A-Winner contests, which rewarded handicappers with gift certificates provided by local supporters, were hotly contested and had long lines of anxious pseudo-bettors. As the races were run, well-known Canadian announcer Earl Lennox provided the call. Several well-known trainers were proud to debut their colts and fillies over the red sand half-mile track.
The first race featured the Ackerman, Brunet and Wellwood stables, while the second race was filled by pupils from Gordon Corey's Institute of Equine Erudition. Other stables participating in the matinee included Mike Medors, Normand Fluet, Roland ‘Polie’ Mallar and David Wade.
Most of the race times were clocked between 2:25 and 2:40, and usually had four or five starters. Each race had an individual sponsor and the corporate sponsor for the entire race card was Preferred Equine Marketing, Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. The starters were Bob Bloodgood and Paul Battis, and the Racing Secretary was Twila Mahar.
Staff from the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame was on hand providing information and souvenirs to visitors. Many of the drivers and trainers joined with Hall of Famer Doug Ackerman and participated in the Museum's Cracker Barrel series, part of the ongoing effort to preserve oral history from some of the sport's oldest participants.
The successful matinee event, in its 64th consecutive year, would not have been possible without the considerable efforts of scores of volunteers and the village of Pinehurst, which is very supportive of the long tradition of harness racing in the sand hills.
Garth Henry, president of the training center and the matinee race coordinator, along with D.R. Ackerman, vice president, work diligently throughout the season to ensure the success of the popular race day.
The annual Pinehurst season finale, the USTA sanctioned qualifiers, will be held on the mile track this Wednesday (April 9).
(United States Harness Writers Association)
Thanks to SC for carrying an
Thanks to SC for carrying an account of this very interesting day . Many of the elements of "old time" harness racing appeared to be in evidence as one reads through the happenings of the afternoon . To list a few ....a rather unstructured venue,people enjoying themselves,people eating ,(probably having a few beverages) and in general it sounds like it was a day of relaxed fun . The fact that "speed" on the track was not the most important element is encouraging . To hear that a number of high profile people with names such as "Ackerman" were involved shows a caring attitude . I was also pleased to see that some Canadian based names were part of the day as well . Many years ago matinee races were very popular throughout the land .Pinehurst often held two days of racing and the once familiar names of Earle Avery,Franklin Safford and Chas. Fleming were among the participants . It was an opportunity to give horses (and sometimes people) some informal exposure in an enjoyable atmosphere .