A charitable cheque presentation and fast miles on the track highlighted the closing night of the 2010-2011 meet under typically sultry South Florida conditions on Saturday evening, July 30 at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park
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The track and casino made a charitable cheque presentation of $2,500 on the closing card to the Children's Foundation For Equine Assisted Therapy (www.childrensfeat.org) based in Boca Raton, Florida.
"This is really appreciated and comes at a great time for our organization to ensure we can continue to help disabled and special needs children and young adults by providing them the chance for unique hands on experiences with horses," said Anke Ebener, the organization's founder and President. "Of course we have long standing close ties with standardbreds and to Pompano Park. This cheque goes 100 per cent towards our expenses such as feeding and housing the horses. The harness horses are the dominant breed that we expose the children to because they are versatile and well behaved. We have a large and enthusiastic delegation here tonight that really enjoy coming to the races and to give thanks to Pompano Park."
Ebener is the wife of well known trotting trainer Rolf Ebener, based at Florida's Sunshine Meadows training centre.
The July 30 card also featured the four pacing finals of the July segment of the Florida Standardbred Breeders And Owners Association (FSBOA) Sunshine State Stakes, all for $10,000 purses.
In the two-year-old colt and gelding pace division, Diamond Cowboy earned a life's mark of 1:54.3 with Wally Hennessey in the bike. Jay Sears trains and co-owns the rookie son of Six Of Diamonds-Money For Muchkin with Penny and Bill Kelley of Fellsmere, Florida. The two-year-old filly pace division was captured by Cracker Coffee in 1:54.3, also with Hennessey in tow. The daughter of Six Of Diamonds-Nasty As Can Be is trained in Florida by Kim Sears for owner Phil Peavyhouse of South Lyon, Michigan.
The three-year-old filly pace division saw Hennessey pick up his third stakes win on the card with the division's standout, Gold Star Glitter, in 1:53.2. The outstanding daughter of Squaws Fella-Squisita is trained and owned by her breeder, Tom Audley, of Bell, Florida. In the three-year-old colt and gelding pace category, Diamond Star was a dominant winner in 1:54.1 with Tom Sells at the reins. Jim McDonald trains the Six Of Diamonds-Roulette gelding for owner Brenda Komers of Aberdeen, North Carolina.
There were also top class events on both gaits on Pompano's closing live card of the meet. A $16,000 purse was offered for the Winners Over Handicap Pace, which was won by Rudy Valentino in 1:52.4. Ray Vizzi piloted the seven-year-old Spy Hard-J Ps Scooter pacer for owner and trainer Mike Perzow of Lake Worth, Florida. In the $14,000 Winners Over Handicap Trot, Good Luck Penny converted a pocket trip into a 1:55.1 score with Robert Williams Jr. in the bike. Jim McDonald trains the five- year-old Dream Vacation-Penelope Yorktowne gelding for his Pacing Pretty Stable of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
The upcoming late summer hiatus will also provide Bruce Ranger more time for his recovery from a severely separated shoulder and a litany of injuries he suffered in a racing accident on April 12. The leading driver in the track's 47-year history did not return to bike duty after the mishap although he did pilot trotter Keystone Thomas from his own barn in a qualifier and warm up horses on race nights in addition to pitching in with the daily morning duties for his stable on the Pompano backstretch.
The new season will begin on September 21, preceded by non-wagering cards in the Florida Standardbreds Breeders And Owners Association (FSBOA) Stakes on September 10 and 17, along with qualifiers as necessary.
(Pompano Park / Photo courtesy: Skip Smith/Lap Time Photo)