Sam Beegle “went home” to record his 1,000th career driving victory during Tuesday afternoon’s card at the Bedford (PA) Fairgrounds.
The President of the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association and the Chairman of District 7 (Pennsylvania) of the U. S. Trotting Association, the 73-year-old native of Bedford is still a full-time hands-on horseman, as he proved at the two-day Fair Sire Stakes meet at Bedford on Tuesday. Never one to make a fuss or drag things out, Beegle went out and won the very first race of the session with the Papi Rob Hanover-Latte Lady two-year-old pacing filly Ginger Tree Millie in 2:00.1, only three-fifths off the divisional track record at Bedford.
The talented baby cut all the pace, set fractions of :30.2, 1:00.2 and 1:30.4, opened 10 lengths at the stretch call and won by 7-1/2 lengths to break her maiden and earn Beegle his milestone win. Beegle is the trainer of the filly and he co-owns her with Ginger Tree Ventures LLC, Knollview Stable and Robert Reber Jr.
A state finalist as a high school wrestler, Beegle still shows the energy and drive of a teenager while keeping a schedule that might be daunting (even cut in half) to a younger person.
(Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association, Pennsylvania Fair Harness Horsemen’s Association and Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)