Jimmy Takter, three-time Trainer of the Year, will join the field for the $10,000 Mr. and Mrs. Elbridge Gerry Memorial Trot for Hall of Fame members at Goshen Historic Track on July 7. Takter replaces Ron Pierce, who is unable to compete in the race.
Takter has 704 wins as driver, but is best known as a trainer, with more than $70 million in earnings and more than 1,200 victories for his stable. Last year Takter set career training highs with $9.1 million and 128 wins. He has won the Hambletonian twice, with Muscle Massive and Malabar Man, and trained back-to-back Horse of the Year Moni Maker, who earned her honors in 1998 and 1999.
Post time for the races at Historic Track www.goshenhistorictrack.com, located at 44 Park Place in Goshen, is 1 p.m. After the race, drivers will meet fans and sign photos at the south end of the grandstand.
The newcomer to this year’s race is trainer/driver Dick Stillings, who will be inducted to the Harness Racing Hall of Fame on the evening of July 7 at the Harness Racing Museum. Stillings is best known for his success in training and driving horses from the Roy Davis stable with the “Spur” surname. He sent out back-to-back Little Brown Jug winners, Barberry Spur in 1986 and Jaguar Spur in 1987.
John Campbell, the sport’s all-time money-winner with $282 million, will also drive in the race along with Dave Palone, who is the leading race winning driver in the sport with 15,837 victories. Also in the field are Mike Lachance, with $187 million in career purses, and Herve Filion, whose race-winning record was broken by Palone last summer.
Jim Doherty, driver and trainer of $3 million winner Fools Goal, will compete as will Wally Hennessey, best known for driving Moni Maker.
This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.