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Abigail Adsit and Tim Benson had a stable of seven horses at the Saratoga Raceway in Barn 21, six standardbred racehorses and one thoroughbred riding horse. Adsit has always worked other jobs in addition to her regular job in the stable with Benson and so, her day-to-day in the barn varied depending on the day […]
Robyn Mangiardi fed her horses every night at the same time with either her or Chris Long returning late every night to check on those horses, fill waters if needed and make sure all the fans were off. Every day, it was the same routine. Morning chores, jogging, training, and racing in the afternoons at […]
A fraction of a second. A fraction of a second can be a defining moment. Winners are determined by a fraction of a second. Records are made in a fraction of a second. Anything can happen in a fraction of a second. The time it takes for the gate to roll from its stationary starting […]
Before she ever stood in the spotlight of the Kentucky Derby, before the roar of 150,000 people and the weight of history settled on her shoulders, Cherie DeVaux was a kid in a harness racing stable run by her parents. And on a day when she became the first woman to train a Derby winner, those late nights […]
Jimble Kimble and driver Leon Bailey were relentless in the Sunday (Oct. 19) afternoon featured Race For The Cure at Saratoga Casino Hotel, winning the pace in a career best time for the five-year-old Huntsville harness racing gelding. Leaving from post one in the claiming pace for $11,500, Bailey positioned Jimble Kimble on the lead […]
On Wednesday (Sept. 24) night, horsemen, friends and family gathered in the Saratoga Casino Hotel grandstand to celebrate Jay Randall, Mark Beckwith, and Cash Me Out as the 2025 inductees into the Saratoga Harness Hall of Fame. Jay Randall is a veteran horseman of Saratoga, winning over 5,100 races and $33.56 in earnings as a […]
With multiple Hall of Fame honors to his name, an illustrious harness racing career, and having recently surpassed $80 million in career earnings, Wally Hennessey’s driving resume is no shortage of spectacular. Just when you thought there was no room left on that resume, Hennessey passed 12,000 career driving wins on Tuesday (July 22) at […]
The value of a horse cannot be measured in starts or stats, in purses or wins, but in the impact they have on a person. For Jim Wilson and his son, Allan, their stable of horses meant the world to them. On Wednesday, Dec. 4, a fire of unknown cause devastated that stable, claiming the […]
Saratoga Casino Hotel hosted 14-year-olds on their closing day Sunday (Dec. 15) as part of the annual retirement ceremony with six harness racing veterans making the journey to the winner’s circle for the final time. Calvin B (Bettors Delight – Croquette Hanover) was the first to embark on the journey down the stretch, joined by […]
Leigh Nichol Raymer will receive the 2024 January Davies Humanitarian Award from the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA). The award was created in 2008 by U.S. Harness Writers Association member Callie Davies-Gooch in memory of her daughter to recognize contributions beyond harness racing, and it is given annually at the Dan Patch Awards Banquet. […]
Wally Hennessey added another line to his harness racing resume on Monday (Oct. 28) afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel after he notched $80 million in career driving earnings. Hennessey only needed $2,990 coming into the Monday matinee card and he quickly collected that sum in the first four races. In the fifth race, an $8,000 […]
They say happy endings only happen in fairy tales, but if anyone has found their Cinderella story, it’s the team behind the 2024 Jugette winner, Soft Shot. Owner Paul O’Neil and harness racing trainer Jessica Roegner met in 2015 when Roegner and her husband, Don Sherman, moved to Saratoga. “We actually bought grain from Paul […]
Kevin McDermott sent three horses to the track on Sunday (Sept. 15) afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel and all three returned as harness racing winners, including Delayed Hanover (Southwind Frank) in the featured $15,000 Open Handicap Trot. Delayed Hanover and Wally Hennessey went to the gate in post eight as the bettors’ choice. Hennessey sent […]
Currently atop the standings in each of their categories, harness racing driver Brett Beckwith and trainer Mark Beckwith shared the spotlight on Saturday (Sept. 14) evening at Saratoga Casino Hotel with four driving wins and three training wins, respectively. The Beckwiths combined to win with Win Lous Or Draw (Sweet Lou) ($2.50) by 3-1/4 lengths […]
The 2024 Charity Match Race Night was a raving success at Saratoga Casino Hotel as the thoroughbred and harness racing worlds were bridged for a night of fun on Saturday, July 27. Hosted by the Saratoga Harness Horseperson’s Association (SHHA), the Charity Match Race Night featured a pair of match races both contested after race […]
Saratoga Casino Hotel is gearing up for the 15th Annual Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace as it goes to the gate in race 10 on Saturday, July 20th. The $250,000 marquee harness racing event of the season drew in a full field of eight pacers. Tyler Buter has his choice from three entries as he is listed […]
Trained by Phil Fluet, the Fluet Stable sent five horses to the harness racing track on Sunday (June 30) at Saratoga, returning with three winners in addition to a second and fourth. Devious Hottie (Devious Man – Whatahottie) was driven to her second straight victory by Fluet, kicking off the hat trick for the stable […]
Heaven On High N (Rock N Roll Heaven) first won the Open Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel in April. Larry Stalbaum trains and drives the New Zealand import and after hitting the board in three straight and four out of his previous five tries in the Open, Heaven On High N wanted the lead on […]
Saratoga Casino Hotel hosted a special Friday (June 7) evening harness racing card due to the historic Belmont Stakes across the street at the flat track and trainer Jaymes Mcassey stole the show with four winners. Mcassey harnessed six entries for the evening card, meeting four in the winner’s circle in addition to a third […]
Trained, owned, and driven by Larry Stalbaum, Big Box Hanover (Uncle Peter – Box Of Dreams) returned to the winner’s circle at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Sunday (June 2) afternoon in the featured $15,000 Winners Over/Open Handicap harness racing trot. Big Box Hanover and Majestic Fire (Billy Dobson) battled for the lead to the opening […]
A pair of New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for three-year-old colts and geldings on Sunday (May 26) afternoon kicked off the 2024 harness racing stakes action at Saratoga Casino Hotel with driver Tyler Buter and trainer Travis Alexander taking both splits. In the first division, a seven-horse field going for $85,500, Buter and Reggie The […]
The Bird Dance N (A Rocknroll Dance – This Bird Has Flown) made every pole a winning one in the harness racing featured $15,000 Winners Over/Open Handicap Pace on Saturday (May 25) evening at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Chris Long sent the Ryan Nelson student to the top from the rail while the rest of the […]
Oak Grove kicks off the week with a 13-dash harness race card on Monday (May 20). The card features two Pick 5 wagers with the first starting in race one and the late wager starting in the sixth. There is also a $1,252.53 Pick 4 carryover starting in the second race. A free program can be found here. A pair of $36,000 Open Paces headline the […]
Rising harness racing star Brett Beckwith has made a statement this year on the track and he continued his success on Sunday (May 19) afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel after he posted five driving wins, including a win in the featured $15,000 Winners Over/Open Handicap Trot with Remember Titans (E L Titan – Oaklea Samantha). […]
