He set training records at Monticello Raceway that may never be equaled and on Monday, August 17, the seventh anniversary of his passing, Joe Minieri was remembered with a memorial race named in his honour
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In 2002 Minieri, of Pine Bush, New York, succumbed to complications from a stroke at age 65 but prior to his passing his was en route to his 12th training title.
During his illustrious career Minieri established records that others will be hard pressed to approach. His 1915 career training victories at the Mighty M are the greatest total by any local conditioner in the tracks 51 year history. He set, then broke, the record for most wins by a trainer in a single season five times with his 218 wins during the 1999 campaign the current standard.
His training prowess also earned him national ranking many times with the highest being in 1999 when his 218 victories ranked him fourth in North America.
Known locally as the “King of the Claimers” Minieri specialized in patching-up former class horses and racing them very successfully in claiming events.
On Monday, the fifth race on the card was the “Joe Minieri Memorial Pace”. That race was won by Blue Creek Angie in a time of 1:57:3. Bruce Aldrich, Jr. handled the driving chores for trainer Bob Lounsbury
The six-year-old On The Attack mare scored her eighth victory of the season and fourth in her last six starts for owners Sitting Bull Stable of West Haverstraw, New York.
(Monticello Raceway)