While there has been no betting at Goshen Historic Track for decades, Royal Bachelor, racing from post seven in the $15,000 Excelsior Trot for three-year-olds on Saturday (July 2), might otherwise be the “Bet of the Day.”
The gelded son of RC Royalty and the mare Becca J has won three of his last four starts, one of them a career-best 1:55.2 in an overnight event at Vernon Downs on June 18. A trip to Buffalo Raceway on June 26 for a New York Sire Stake race put an end to the winning streak, but trainer Dan Daley believes the fourth-place finish was a matter of footwear.
“He wears flip flops [shoes] up front and he really didn’t get a hold of [the track] real good,” said Daley. “He was just kind of flat. But he’s an alright horse, he got hurt this winter [suspensory ligament in his right hind] and came back a little late, but he’s holding up and he seems to be showing up, so I think he’ll be alright.”
Daley is not concerned about the outside post for the horse co-owned by his wife Ann-Mari with Michael White and James Crawford IV.
“He’s pretty quick off the switch if I decide to send him out of there,” Daley said. “But he’s nice and ratable, too; you can haul him back and go whenever you want to go.”
While Royal Bachelor had no wins last season as a two-year-old, he did win $36,864 in eight starts on his $16,000 purchase price as a yearling at the Morrisville Sale with help from some impressive second-place finishes.
“He came around the end of last year [with second-place finishes in a New York Sire Stakes consolation and also in the Simpson Stakes],” said Daley. “We spent the winter sounding him up and now we baby him. He never gets heavy work, but he’s not the kind of horse that needs it anyway, so that’s OK. Knock on wood, it’s holding. He’s very manageable, as much as he’s quick out of the gate, he’s not stupid about it. He’s good to drive, sits in a hole perfect, does anything you ask him to do.”
Hall of Fame drivers will also compete on Sunday (July 3) in the annual tribute race to the late Mr. and Mrs. Elbridge Gerry, whose leadership and dedication to both Historic Track and the adjacent Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame have helped those venues endure and thrive. The race is sponsored by their sons, Elbridge and Peter.
This year, the race takes a twist as amateur driver Hannah Miller will be living the dream when she lines up to compete against the likes of John Campbell, Bill O’Donnell and David Miller this weekend. It’s not the Hambletonian or Little Brown Jug -- yet -- but the driving talent is world class.
The race features all Hall of Fame drivers, with Hannah Miller subbing for Dave Palone, who had to scratch because of travel limitations from the Cleveland Trotting Classic at Northfield Park on Saturday (July 2) night. Miller will be honoured Sunday (July 3) night as the Harness Racing Museum’s and Hall of Fame‘s top amateur driver by virtue of being the top contributor to the Museum, waiving her driving fees to maintain her amateur status.
“It’s an honour just to be asked. It was absolutely not expected and it’s a great feeling,” said the 24-year-old graduate of the University of Central Florida. “I’ve driven in some qualifiers and some regular races, but nothing like this. It is a great feeling to be out there with these types of drivers. I’ve driven mostly in amateur races, but with this race, you know you’re safe, they are complete professionals.”
The daughter of former Trainer of the Year Erv Miller and sister of top driver Marcus Miller, Hannah has been watching the drivers she’ll be competing against for a very long time and also hopes to meet some horse crazy girls who may have visions of driving racehorses.
“I’ve been watching them all compete since I was born and now to be able to go out there is just an honor," she said. "Definitely, I hope I can inspire some girls out there, wouldn’t that be great?”
The race will go off at about 2:45 p.m. as race seven. Drivers will greet fans and sign photos behind the grandstand after the race. Post time for the race card is 1 p.m.
Racing concludes on Monday (July 4) with New York County fair races. There will be special gift card drawings for neighbours within walking distance of Historic Track who received entry cards delivered to their homes on a door tag with the help of a U.S. Trotting Association Fair Marketing grant. Post time is 1 p.m.
The Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame, adjacent to Historic Track at 240 Main Street in Goshen, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. all weekend; admission is always free. Induction ceremonies for the Hall of Fame will take place Sunday (July 3) evening. Limited tickets are still available, please call (845) 294-6330 before noon on Saturday (July 2) to make arrangements.
This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.