We just went out to present the trophy for the “Hoof Beats Pace,” race 3 at The Red Mile, won by Big Bad Bosley and George Brennan. We were joined walking across the track to the winner’s circle by trackman Dan Coons, who goes out to look at hoof prints in the dirt to see how horse are getting over the track.
“Look for the nails,” he said. “The hoof prints look good if you can see the nails.”
We saw plenty of nails in the cascade of prints along the fiery red dirt, and Dan said the track was in great shape.
“With weather like this,” he said, “any track can be in great shape.”
Harness Horse Youth Foundation is being saluted today and drivers are giving a percentage of their earnings to the HHYF. One of the best elements of that feature is that HHYF ponies lead the post parade, with Chris Ryder and a young member of the Harness Racing Youth League. So far we have seen the next generation of Kimelmans (Blue Chip Farms), Svensson (blacksmith Conny) and Antonacci (the legendary Lindy Farms family). The future looks good!
Anyone seeking to join the driver and support the HHYF efforts can visit www.hhyf.org.
Nicole
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