Scary Harry, who has posted four straight impressive victories at Cal Expo's current meet, looks to keep the momentum going as he leads the cast for Saturday night’s featured $20,000 Alan Horowitz Memorial Pace.
A 12-race card will be presented by Watch and Wager LLC with things getting underway at 6:10. The card also features a $7,000 Open Pace and a $7,000 Filly and Mare Open Pace.
A six-year-old son of Sportswriter, Scary Harry is owned by Kenneth Seastrom and Chip Lackey doing the driving and training. The bay performer was winless in 27 starts on the year when he arrived here in November, but has been on a tear ever since and has not come to closing in his four trips to the post.
Despite having the demanding No. 9 slot in a division of last week’s Horowitz Eliminations, Scary Harry was sent off the 3-5 choice and made it look like a gift. Parked to the lead at the half, he took complete control from that point and waltzed home with six and three-quarter lengths to spare in a 1:54.4 mile.
Brighten Your Life captured the other elimination heat last weekend at 6-1 for owner/trainer/driver Nathan Sobey. This Shark Gesture mare was a game first-over winner and is eyeing her third straight trip to the winner’s circle.
Completing the field are Mighty Fine Hi Ho, Magnifique, Art Genta, Cowboys Dirtyboots, Mint To Cruise, Smilys Amira, Fly Away and Smoke Rings.
There will be no live racing here next week, with the trotters and pacers returning to action on Friday, December 28. There will be mandatory payoffs on all wagers Saturday night.
Race honours memory of Alan Horowitz
Saturday night's Alan Horowitz Memorial is named for a major force in California harness racing over the last several decades and a member of the California Harness Horsemen's Association (CHHA) Hall of Fame who passed away last year at age 72.
Mr. Horowitz, who wore many hats in the business, started out as a partner with longtime friends Donald and Barbara Arnstine and Steve Desomer with a $25,000 claimer named Quaker Byrd. Quaker Byrd won his first race for the partners and Alan was hooked. Moving on, Alan would eventually become a board member and president of CHHA.
In 1994, Mr. Horowitz was instrumental in bringing harness racing back to Cal Expo in the form of Capitol Racing and was also its successful general manager. He was serving as the Executive Secretary of the CHHA at the time of his retirement in 2013 and continued to stay in touch with the sport that he loved so much.
"It is impossible to overstate Alan's importance to the harness racing industry in California," said David Neumeister. "Simply put, if it were not for Alan, the sport would no longer exist in this state.
"Between his time as executive director of Western Standardbred Association (now CHHA) and owner/ manager of our only yearling sale company when racing was flourishing in California, and his decision to retire from CHHA a few years ago, against all odds and some very powerful adversaries.
"Alan almost single-handedly took us from the brink of extinction in the mid-90s and formed and led Capitol Racing in Sacramento to several very successful years of harness racing in that city.
"Were it not for his quiet determination and tactical brilliance, we would not be racing here today."
(Cal Expo)