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Kimberly Rinker

USA

Sangria Summer sets track record as Hope Hill cruises

By Kimberly Rinker ·

Hope Hill jogged to victory in the first of two $25,000 Breeders Crown eliminations for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday (Oct. 17) at Eldorado Scioto Downs. The daughter of Papi Rob Hanover was guided by Dexter Dunn for trainer Petter Engblom to her eighth triumph of the season and her third straight victory, stopping the […]

USA

Emoticon Legacy cruises to Breeders Crown elimination victory

By Kimberly Rinker ·

Emoticon Legacy and harness racing driver Bob McClure prevailed as expected in the Breeders Crown Open Trot elimination.  The son of Walner, out of the Kadabra mare Emoticon Hanover, was the 1-9 favorite and did not disappoint his backers with another stellar performance, stopping the timer easily in 1:51.4. Owned by Determination of Montreal, QC, […]

New Zealand

Ben Hope talks Oamaru

By Kimberly Rinker ·

Woodend Beach trainers Greg and Ben Hope bring a team of five south to Oamaru tomorrow. Here is what Ben has to say about each of their runners. Race Two: Farrah (Carlton) – driver Ben Hope – FR4 Race Three: Hana (Always B Miki) – driver Ben Hope – FR8 Race Four: Queensland Spirit (Majestic […]

USA

Starstruck Dreamer and Blazin Lou book Breeders Crown berths

By Kimberly Rinker ·

Blazin Lou made it look easy as he captured the first of two $25,000 Breeders Crown eliminations for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers (race 5) at Scioto Downs. The son of top pacing sire Sweet Lou endured a first over trip in easy fashion to prevail in 1:50.4.  Dexter Dunn drove the youngster, giving him […]

USA

Ohio looks to make its mark in Hambletonian

By Kimberly Rinker ·

Big Ranger, a son of In Range-Big Blue Bird, won his $100,175 Hambletonian elimination this past weekend easily in rein to Tim Tetrick, stopping the timer in a career-best 1:50, with a :26.3 final brush. Anette Lorentzon trains the bay colt, who was bred by Utica, Ohio’s Spring Haven Farm, and owned by Madison Global […]

Canada

French Wine uncorks a record 1:50.1 in $822,000 final

By Kimberly Rinker ·

MILTON, October 25, 2025— French Wine (Bar Hopping) took the $822,000 (CAD) ($600,000USD) Breeders Crown Open Trot in a new stakes record of 1:50.1 with Jason Bartlett at the lines, who notched his second Crown harness racing victory of the weekend on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Trained by Nancy Takter for owners Daniel […]

Canada

Always B Naughty rockets to Breeders Crown victory

By Kimberly Rinker ·

MILTON, October 25, 2025— Always B Naughty (Always B Miki) rocketed to harness racing victory in the $548,000 (CAD) ($400,000) Breeders Crown Open Mare Pace, stopping the timer in a new stakes record of 1:48.1 for driver Austin Hanners. Trained by Todd Luther for owners Greg Luther Racing of Blacklick, Ohio, the 5-year-old daughter by […]

Canada

New track, stakes, and Canadian record in Breeders Crown

By Kimberly Rinker ·

MILTON, October 24, 2025— Loua Dipa captured the $959,000 (CAD) ($700,000 USD) Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Pace Final in a new track, stakes, and Canadian record of 1:49.1 for driver Ronnie Wrenn, Jr., who never pulled the ear plugs on the 1-9 freshman daughter by Sweet Lou. “She’s really special,” said Wrenn, Jr., in the […]

New Zealand

Orange wins Cup for ‘Scrapper’ Riddell

By Kimberly Rinker ·

Blair Orange raised his whip after the Mark Jones trained Tokyo Rose (Captaintreacherous) won today’s Placemakers Oamaru Cup. He was acknowledging jockey and his good friend Jonathan ‘Scrapper’ Riddell’s 1000th win at the Waverly gallops today. “A big shout out to Scrapper. Well done mate and I’ m pleased you got there and didn’t retire. […]

Canada

Lexus Kody and Miki And Minnie impress in BC Eliminations

By Kimberly Rinker ·

MILTON, October 18, 2025— Lexus Kody easily won his $34,250 (CAD) Breeders Crown Open Trot elimination for harness racing driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Ron Burke, staving off a late charge from French Wine, and stopping the timer in 1:49.4 as the 6-5 choice on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The Ontario-bred brown son […]

Canada

Brandon Blvd sets Canadian record in Breeders Crown elimination

By Kimberly Rinker ·

MILTON, October 17, 2025— Brandon Blvd made it look easy as he captured the first of two $34,250 Breeders Crown harness racing eliminations for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers (race 7). The son of Downbytheseaside paced to a 1:48.4 new track and Canadian record, besting Sweet Lou’s record set in 2011. Sent off as the […]

Australia

Lazarus 2YO in sub 1:50?

By Kimberly Rinker ·

“If he were a tap dancer, he’d be Fred Astaire.”  That’s how owner Ron Mersky describes his sensational 2-year-old gelding Prince Willie, a son of Lazarus p, Q1:48.3 ($4,125,988) out of the Sportswriter harness racing mare Princess Lala p, 2, 1:55s ($14,729).  “He’s an average sized horse, but what he is, is incredible athletic,” Mersky […]

USA

Listen & Learn equals success for Glispie

By Kimberly Rinker ·

Dean Glispie has a methodical and common sense approach to training harness racing horses—not unlike the system he used during his 16 years as a high school basketball coach. “I relate a lot of what I do with the horses to those high school basketball players,” the 63-year-old Washington Court House, Ohio naïve stated. “Ultimately, […]

Australia

NR system under scrutiny in HRNSW consultations

By Kimberly Rinker ·

Harness Racing New South Wales (HRNSW) has announced another Statewide consultation process with its industry stakeholders beginning next month. The sessions will put the microscope on issues including the National Rating (NR) system/matrix, raceday programming and handicapping. HRNSW Chief Executive Officer, Peter Buckman, said the initiative is in line with the organisation’s Strategic Plan. “Race […]

USA

Beach Glass’s first foals appearing this Spring 

By Kimberly Rinker ·

When Beach Glass p, 3, 1:47.2 ($1,112,544) retired at the end of 2023, he did so as one of the last sons of top pacer Somebeachsomewhere heading to the harness racing breeding shed.   The Meadowlands Pace winner—among just one of his many spectacular triumphs—is now having his first foals arriving in pastures throughout North American […]

USA

Menorcan native celebrates new beginnings at Winbak

By Kimberly Rinker ·

Gemma Alcaraz has reinvented herself.  The 43-year-old Menorcan native, who now lives and works in Maryland, has made the shift from Spanish island sport horse rider to Winbak Farm’s vet assistance.  Born and raised on Menorca—which means “smaller island” in Latin—Gemma grew up on a  Mediterranean isle, one of the four Balearic Islands in the […]

USA

Former Illinoisan now well-settled in the Buckeye State

By Kimberly Rinker ·

Although Pat Melloy had his best year ever in 2023—as both a trainer and a driver—the 57-year-old Onley, IL native isn’t resting on his laurels. Like many folks in harness racing, he started out racing at the fairs before graduating to the pari-mutuel ovals, and for the past three decades has carved out a niche […]

USA

Update: Twin foals ready to celebrate 1st birthday

By Kimberly Rinker ·

Jurassic Venus and Jurassic Serena, the pair of Long Tom twins, who were foaled on January 30 of this year, will soon be celebrating their birthdays, and harness racing breeder Jerry Welch of Waterford, Ohio, reports that both are maturing and doing well. “The twins are doing great,” Jerry stressed. “They are now halter broke […]

Australia

Captain Shuffles has the last laugh

By Kimberly Rinker ·

A patient drive by Nathan Dawson was the main factor in Captain Shuffles (Captaintreacherous) outsprinting his harness racing rivals in the Divided Open Pace at Albion Park last night. In an intriguing betting race, punters opted for Always Smokin ahead of Captain Shuffles on the strength of his torrid run in last week’s Christmas Cup […]

USA

Christmas came early for Steve Searle

By Kimberly Rinker ·

For harness racing trainer Steve Searle Christmas came early this year.  His 2-year-old trotting filly, Lou’s My Number (Lou’s Legacy), captured the $144,000 Fox Valley Flan Stake on Hawthorne’s Night of Champions, shattering the track record for her age and gait. On that chilly Nov. 9th evening, Lou’s My Number became the fastest 2-year-old diagonally […]

USA

Cam McCown zeroing in on 1,000th career victory

By Kimberly Rinker ·

Cameron McCown is only 24 harness racing driving victories shy of the 1,000 win plateau.  The 36-year-old Columbus, Ohio native says he was surprised when he learned he was close to that accomplishment.  “I was definitely surprised when I saw I was getting so close,” Cam offered. “One thousand wins would be a huge accomplishment. […]

USA

Attitude is everything for Logan Rowe

By Kimberly Rinker ·

Logan Rowe has been involved with horses for as long as he can remember.  The 28-year-old Urbana, Ohio native grew up in a harness racing family, but oddly enough, his first paying gig saw him working at a non-racehorse horse farm.  “I was in high school when I started working for nearby riding horse farm,” […]

USA

The horses come first for Luther

By Kimberly Rinker ·

Greg Luther is one of those rare individuals who, despite being a self-made millionaire, still likes to get his hands dirty. In the barn, that is. Despite numerous successes—both in the harness racing and real estate industries—it becomes clear talking with Greg that being in the barn and working with horses is where he’d rather […]

USA

18-year-old making a splash in the big pond

By Kimberly Rinker ·

Harness racing driver Jesse Barnard is making a splash in the big pond of western Pennsylvania harness racing. The lanky 18-year-old, who calls Canonsburg, PA home, began his driving career in 2024, amassing a respectable $49,685 in 85 starts, garnering 10 wins, 13 seconds, and 10 thirds, for a UDRS of .242. Jesse grew up […]

Kimberly Rinker | Harnesslink