Previous Article A two-time Breeders Crown champ,Always B Mikiis the only horse in history with four 1:47 or faster victories. His offspring include such ICF champions as Mini Me (1:49), Incredible Tillie (1:49.2) and Fox Valley Memory (1:51.1). Each Ashley and Trysta love the horses and take an amazing curiosity in what I do to make a dwelling. Living people are nominated for the Hall of Fame annually by the United States Harness Writers Association, based upon their "ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contribution to harness racing." I once booked off of Royalty For Life and he went on to win the Hambletonian for Brian Sears and his trainer George Ducharme. I obtained fortunate and did pretty properly. 15 Spinning Wheel Road Hinsdale, IL 60521 Phone: 630-323-0808 Fax: 630-323-0761 I began driving at the Illinois fair tracks as soon as I was old enough to be allowed to compete there. The home bred was simply too good for other state-bred trotters and no race showed it more than on Super Night 2000 with regular driver Tim Curran in the Su Mac Lad 3-year-old stake as Plesac drew off by19 and one-half lengths, one of his 11 victories that year for owners Wendy and Richard Balog of St. Charles, Illinois.. Sired by Armbro Charger, Plesac was out of the Balogs broodmare Astute Yankee and named after their good friend Dan Plesac, the now MLB Network sports analyst who appeared in over 1,0000 games as a relief pitcher on the major leagues. Both those guys were not only exceptional drivers, but they are also great horsemen. He broke Albatross` record (with heats of 1:54 4/5 and 1:54 3/5 in 1976). Illinois Daily Press - Illinois Local News, Politics, Sports & Business. The Hall of Fame is contained within the museum. He was also inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame in that same year. Then he just kept getting better and better. Sportsmans Park, the racetrack that introduced Super Night to Illinois harness racing fans in 1987, had an unexpected run of only nine racing seasons with its highly successful pageant of ICF stakes with over $1 million in purse money on the line. His Cardinal win at Balmoral in May was followed by a second place finish in the Connors at Hazel Park, a Classic conquest at Woodbine, an unsuccessful trip to the Meadowlands before at sweep at Springfield and a fourth place finish in the $550,000 World Trotting Derby at Du Quoin. The two-year-old colt Who'zzz This Sky is being prepared for the upcoming . Read more here. Festivities begin with an open bar from 6-7 p.m., followed by dinner and awards. In the year 2000 a robust $527,225 in money won was added Big Toms purse earnings. In simple terms, he is the greatest all time driver the sport has ever known our GOAT. He began by paying his dues at county fairs and smaller tracks in the 1950s and early 60s. The races he hung up this previous 12 months had been unbelievable. Becker plans to continue his NASCAR radio broadcasts for the Motor Racing Network. At eight, Well To Du Guru chalked up nine more victories, three in Balmoral Park Invites and the other six in ICF stake races that incorporated another sweep of the Maywood Park Pacing Series. As an aged horse Taurus Bomber owned victories over such elite Chicago-circuit pacers as Smashing Don, Goose Filter, Pacing Boy, Pretty Direct, Thorpe Messenger, Title Holder, Jim King and Robbie Dancer. As a 4-year-old, Bee A Magicians biggest win came in the Breeders Crown Open Mare Trot. He also spent more than five years as the editor of Canadian Thoroughbred magazine. Whether or not justified or not, there are plenty of breeders, particularly those who breed for the market who simply arent going to ship a worthwhile mare with a younger foal at foot to New York and again in a truck. Phone: 630-323-0808 I wouldnt necessarily say patterned after, but I would say that the two drivers I initially learned the most from were Tony Morgan and Dave Magee. He was soon promoted to racing secretary, but in 1982 left to serve as director of racing in Macau, a trotting club in China. Popfinger won the 1978 Little Brown Jug with Happy Escort in a three-horse race-off. And, as equine competitors go, Willis considers Iggy Magoo, the trotter he developed into the Illinois Harness Horse of the Year in 1982, in a class by himself. After serving in the Army Air Corps in England during World War II, Larry got a job working in a parking lot across from Maywood. No matter which one is best, the one you`ll be watching is your son. There was a time that I would have thought it unlikely that Id ever win even a thousand races. The one-time Valparaiso resident also was a part-time harness trainer in Illinois. Although you might be solely 40, it appears as you probably have been across the trade without end. . Horsemen In Need November 3, 2022/ Kenny Chupp's grandson was seriously hurt recently in an accident. Check Me out was going to win the Oaks as well, but she out trotted herself and made a break on the last turn.. For 3-year-olds Id must go together with Somebeachsomewhere. Gural also owns Allerage Farms, with locations in Stanfordville, NY and Sayre, PA. This is one of my favorite places to come to, said Gural, who turns 79 on July 6. Well To Do Guru blossomed as a 4-year-old with Casey Leonard at his lines, lowering his mark to 1:51.1 and making over $76,000. Springfield, IL 62794-9281. ''When I think of Taurus Bomber, I think of him like one of my kids. Here I was surrounded by friends, family and my peers on the racetrack. The Hall of Fame inducts nominees under several categories, divided between those for horses and those for humans, including drivers, owners, and trainers. Goshen, NY On Sunday night (July 4), in front of an overflow crowd of more than 275, 11 individuals and eight equines were inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in ceremonies held under the tent on the lawn of the Harness Racing Museum. If you have a halfway decent filly and want to race her, you have to do it against colts and geldings. Well To Do Guru: Second Decade of the 2000s, Well To Do Guru (Casey Leonard) just got better and better as he got older. In fact in a three year period (2000 through 2002) he made over $2.2 million. Reach him by email at:[email protected]. In your evolution had been there any drivers that you simply patterned your self after? There have been others in fact. Cisna, 57, began his harness career as a driver, then became one of the state's leading standardbred owners and breeders. He was 84. His success has been so great that I believe those same breeders might be now willing to take that chance. Hostetler, 44, began his driving career on the Chicago circuit in 1974 when he appeared in 18 races and won two. He and his wife Margo were married since 1960 and have three children and four grandchildren. Incredible Finale earned another $170,386 at the age of four when he took his lifetime mark of 1:53.2 at Sportsmans and went 6-for 25 in his final year of racing in 1988. He taught me how to conduct myself with trainers and owners. including inductions into the Illinois Senior Hall of Fame, take place throughout the day. The Joe Anderson Stables star filly Ohyouprettything) rewarded her connections in lucrative fashion on Super Night 1997. After a 2-year-old season in which she was the leading money-winning freshman trotter, Bee A Magician went undefeated in 17 starts as a 3-year-old as she easily won 2013 Horse of the Year honors in both the United States and Canada. January 6, 2023 /. Winners receive a plaque in the Hall of Fame, and a replica is presented to the current owner of each horse. ''There never was a horse that loved to win races like Iggy Magoo,'', insists Willis. Im certain there are others that Ive left off. The half-timber building that houses the museum was built as a stable in 1913. Biography: Guy "Sonny" Antonacci, raised in Lindenhurst, New York, cited nearby Roosevelt Raceway, former capital of the harness racing world, as. 2023 ICF LC & CV Schedule, 2023 NOC Conditions and Schedule. Illinois Department of Agriculture. Langley was inducted into the Illinois Harness Horsemen's Hall of Fame in 1994 and was elected to the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2006. Privacy Policy If and when it comes, I will probably be most grateful for the alternatives given to me on the highway to getting there. There isnt a day that goes by when I am not appreciative of the many people, who have been instrumental in helping me get where I am today. Big Tom won 19 of his 23 starts and was disqualified from two other first place finishes at Maywood Park. During his career, Mr. Wing won many races and as such, many driving titles. I just about broke down. He had the will to win, and he`d figure out a way. In 2014, a 5-year-oldSweet Lounotched a 10-race win streak that included six consecutive sub-1:48 miles, including a world-record-equaling 1:47f win in the Ben Franklin. Ive by no means been a lot of a whip man and neither was Dave. Plesacs $2,501,759 lifetime earnings remain a record for an ICF harness horse. I nonetheless drive at Dover Downs a couple of occasions per week and can go to The Meadowlands if referred to as upon. Also being honored with special recognition are: The IHHA looks forward to validating these successes on Oct. 13, at the annual Hall of Fame dinner at the Doubletree Hotel, 5000 W. 127th (Cicero & 294), Alsip, Ill. (708.371.7300). Read more. His dad Tom, an old-fashioned horseman from the times when trainers drove their very own horses, was against his sons need. Contact Us I started driving on the Illinois truthful tracks as quickly as I used to be sufficiently old to be allowed to compete there. One other one which I believe I would like to say was Southwind Tempo. Danae and Precious Beauty are broodmare inductees. It was too much to comprehend. Without the many trainers and owners who have placed their confidence in me, there would be no way I would have reached the status that I now enjoy.. 2022 Harnesslink | All Rights Reserved | NV. I dont consider he actually wanted them particularly not at 3 and 4. As a freshman Big Tom won 11 of 15 starts with Little Joe at his lines and at one time rattled off seven wins in a row and ended his first season with, $372,427 in purse earnings. [2], Museum members in good standing nominate people and horses who are deceased more than 3 years. stable. 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