Loving The Roan Shark

Published: May 8, 2009 01:13 pm EDT

During the 2007 campaign at Monticello Raceway, tennis pro and avid harness horse owner Woody Hoblizell of Destin, Florida was named Owner of the Year at Monticello Raceway by the Monticello-Goshen Chapter of USHWA.

Hoblizell is a gentleman that lives and breaths harness racing that is always watching his many horses competing at Monticello Raceway, either via the internet or on some racing channel.

“I never miss a race when my stock is in to go, but the most thrilling thing for me to have one of my horses win when I am actually at the track (Monticello) so I can get in the picture,” Hoblitzell related. “Unfortunately being so far away I get to Monticello only five or six times a year.”

He is a sportsman that invested plenty of money to have one of his horses operated on a few years ago. Through the grace of a higher being, the trotter made it back to the races after losing a good portion of his intestines.

Entrusting his stock to veteran trainer Bruce Aldrich, Sr., Hoblitzell is always on the lookout to purchase a horse of his liking.

Akldrich’s wife, Maureen -- who is highly involved in the day-today operation of their stable -- told Hoblizell that her and her husband needed another grey horse. As she put it: “I love grey horses."

So what does Hoblitzell do? He and Bruce, Sr. search the many race programs and find a grey-coloured pacer named Roan Shark, which had been racing at Chester Downs. The duo made a deal to purchase the four-year-old Admirals Galley gelding.

After claiming ownership, Roan Shark was off to the Mighty M to the Bruce Aldrich, Sr. barn. And it appears Hoblitzell made a pretty good purchase.

In Roan Shark’s first Monticello Raceway start on May 7, the pacer scored an easy seven-length triumph in a time of 1:58:3 for driver Mike Merton. And, as usual, Hoblitzell was on the other end of a video transmission.

Though he couldn’t be reached for a comment, Maureen Aldrich said, “Woody was beaming and really proud of his new horse."

Aldrich concluded by saying, “I told him now we have to get a chestnut horse… they’re so beautiful, too.”

(With files form Monticello)

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