Memories of Pompano Park

On Florida’s Turnpike, about a mile or so from Exit 66 and Atlantic Boulevard, there’s a directional sign that, in part, reads, “Isle Casino and Racing.”

That sign has been antiquated for some time as Caesars has taken over the facility and rebranded it as Harrah’s Pompano Beach.

And when you approach the main entrance on “Race Track Road,” there’s a sign welcoming one to “The Pomp,” a name that Gabe Prewitt bestowed on the facility many years prior in the announcer’s booth.

Many a night on many a race, Gabe or I would turn on the “mike” and say, “A field of eight kicks off tonight’s Daily Double and Pick-5 at ‘The Pomp’ and…there they go!”

It’s an honor that the Casi-NO RACING would think highly of it to take it as their own and that stirred a bit of conversation among some of the “old-timers” that frequented the FSBOA sponsored stakes events at Sunshine Meadows Equestrian Village just last November and December.

Wally Hennessey was in action during those races…so was Mickey McNichol…and Jim McDonald…Peter Blood…Tom Merriman, too, who was there for their opening season in 1964 and was the leading trainer…coming up on the 60th anniversary of that track that had its “soft” opening on February 4, 1964.

We had a blast remembering those famous horsemen that competed at “The Winter Capital of Harness Racing.”

The famous like Dancer, Haughton and Sholty and Chappie were there…Loosh, Jack Bailey, Joe Marsh, Jr., too…and the not-so-famous but great horsemen like Hollis Regur, Bobby Saul and Jack Smith, Bill Pocza, Archie Niles, Jr., Tom Wilburn and Warren Cameron, among others.

A lot of folk got hurt when the lights went out shortly after midnight on April 18, 2022.

There were enough tears to water the track…if there had been another race on the card.

Hennessey’s tears alone would’ve taken care of the last eighth mile.

I’m surprised a “flood advisory” was not issued by the weather service after watching the farewell video that was shown minutes after Wally won the last race.

From veterans like Kevin Wallis and Dave Ingraham and Rick Plano to Mike Deters, Jake Huff and John Hallett…with even the older cast of characters like Odell and Louie Rapone mixing it up with some of the younger set committed to carrying the torch like Brax and Joe Chindano,Jr., Pompano Park had and HAS a place in history that cannot be erased.

It’s unbelievable—well, maybe not—that the City of Pompano Beach “big-wigs” didn’t take a stand to preserve such an important historical sight.

It’s unbelievable—well, maybe not—our Commissioner, representing OUR district’s residents, said “the horses have got to go!”

It’s unbelievable—well, maybe not—that the politicians that run this city would let the Van Lennep name, the name that, some 70 years ago, began making Pompano Beach, Florida the great city it is today, to be buried in history.

And, finally, it’s unbelievable—well, maybe not—that our Governor allowed this to happen WITHOUT VOTER APPROVAL, as the voters were the citizens that allowed casinos to be built in Broward County in the first place.

The history of Pompano Park actually began in 1925 with the opening of Hialeah Park on January 25 of that year when Governor John Wellborn Martin decided NOT to take any action against the track on taking (illegal) wagers on horse racing.

In 1926, influenced by Governor Martin’s inaction on the Hialeah situation, a group of investors, headed by financier William Keston, decided to build a track in Pompano—a one mile track with a surrounding area suitable for 1,000 horses with the cost being $1,250,000.

The track opened on Christmas Day but was open a very short time when Governor Martin stepped in and labeled the track “a center for lawbreakers.”

Martin threatened to call in the military to “plow” the track into oblivion and the track was closed.

It took 27 years when an advertising executive, Frederick L. Van Lennep and his wife, Francis Dodge Van Lennep, purchased the property—331 acres—with a “dream” of eventually building a pari-mutuel facility.

A training track was built with a stable area to accommodate horsemen who wanted to train their horses in a warmer climate.

In short order, Pompano Park became one of—if not THE—leading training facility with the top stables making it their winter home.

It took 10 years and mountains of hurdles to overcome, but, finally, a pari-mutuel license was granted and, on June 19, 1963, ground breaking ceremonies were held for Pompano Park Harness Track.

The cost was $5.5 million with the track opening on February 4th in what was described as a “soft” opening on a rainy night.

Over a track labeled “sloppy,” from two inches of rain, Sea Eagle, driven by Ledford “Buck” Waugh, won the opening race in 2:13 2/5 with attendance of 4,011 and handle tallied at $108,154.

Two nights later, February 6, Pompano Park had a “grand opening” which drew 6,559 producing handle of $188,750.

Besides harness racing, the track hosted Quarter Horse and Appaloosa Racing during the summer months—this from the early 1970’s to 1984 and from 1986 to the early 1990’s.

One of the biggest nights in Pompano Park history took place on December 27, 1980 when the greatest pacer of all time, Niatross, made his farewell appearance with an overflow crowd of at least 18,000 (with many others turned away) winning by 15 lengths in 1:54 3/5.

In 1984, Pompano Park was awarded the Breeders Crown event for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings and Baltic Speed won that richest race in PPk history—$588,000—for Jan Nordin in straight heats…the deciding heat in 1:57.2, a world record for age, sex and gait for a five-eighths mile track. The winner was trained by Soren Nordic who, at age 67, became the oldest trainer to win a Breeders Crown to that point in time.

Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford were huge fans of Pompano Park and competed in a match race with Mantle driving Sea Fella to a 47 length victory in 1985.

In 1986, Pompano Park hosted the Breeders Crown for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings and Mack Lobell won the $496,850 Breeders Crown in a track record and stakes record of 1:59.1 for John Campbell.

On December 13 of 1986, Davidia Hanover won the $100,000 World Cup Invitational Trot, trotting in a world record 2:29 2/5 for 1 1/4 miles, defeating the 1 to 5 tote-board favorite Grades Singing. The time eclipsed the former mark of 2:30. Finnish driver Jormo Contio was the winning driver.

On June 15, 1987, Frederick Van Lennep passed away at the age of 75.

On January 1, 1989, the Hambletonian Society awarded Pompano Park eight Breeders Crown events with three hour television coverage on ESPN.

On October 27, the Breeders Crown events were held in South Florida with purses exceeding $3,000,000—the winners being Town Pro (Doug Brown), Royal Troubadour (Carl Allen), Peace Corps (John Campbell), Esquite Spur ( Dick Stillings), D Delphi’s Lobell (25 to 1, Ron Waples), Til We Meet Again (Mickey Mc Nichol, Cheery Hello (John Campbell) and Goalie Jeff (Mike Lachance).

The next year, 1990, the Hambletonian Society selected Pompano Park as the host of all 12 Breeders Crown events with ESPN television coverage.

On November 2, 1990, Me Maggie, No Sex Please, Peace Corps, Embassy Lobell, Caesar’s Jackpot, Town Pro, Bays Fella (69 to 1) and Beach Towel capture the events for three-year-olds and aged performers.

(Note: Beach Towel’s win in 1:51.2 was a track record while No Sex Please trotted in 1:55 and Peace Corps, returning to the States and track where she “learned her trade,” won in 1:54.2, a world record.

On November 30, the two-year-olds were in Breeders Crown action  with Miss Easy winning the filly pace in 1:54 for John Campbell, Jean Bi scoring in the filly trot in 2:00 3/5 for Jan Nordin, Crysta’s Best a nose winner for Jack Richardson, Jr…

Yes, we left one out…and that would be the memorable mile by Artsplace in the two-year-old pace…1:51.1—:54.4…a world record with John Campbell the sulky.

Purses were over $4.0 million for the historical night.

In 1991, Pompano Park hosted the Breeders Crown events for two-year-olds and three-year-olds—eight in all—with Armbro Keepsake winning the two-year-old filly trot, enabling Campbell to become the first driver in history to go over the $100 million mark in earnings for owners.

Also on Breeders Crown night, Twelve Speed won the three-year-old filly trot at odds of 65 to 1 for Ron Waples and Miss Easy won the three year-old filly pace in a world record time of 1:52 2/5 for J.C., as did Hazelton Kay in the juvenile filly pace.

In 1993, the track hosted event for two-year-olds and three-year-olds with a highlight being the world record by Expressway Hanover of 1:55.4 in the “soph” trot.

In 1994, pro-casino forces began their campaign to have casinos legalized in Broward County and, on November 10 of that year, Casino America announced plans to purchase Pompano Park but, one day later—election day—voters rejected the proposal.

On June 10, 1995, Casino America completed the purchase of the track and, the next year, a giant stride forward occurred when a bill passed allowing poker games at Broward County pari-mutuel facilities with games featuring $10 pot limits beginning January 1, 1997.

On December 27, 1999, Parson’s Den paced the first sub-1:50 mile at the track—1:49.4—for Joe Anderson in the inaugural Isle of Capri Pace.

On New Year’s Eve in 1999, Pompano Midnight Mile ushered in the new millennium with the off time being 11:59 p.m…………………….and…………………. with the finish being at 12:01 on January 1, 2000—-the first (and last) time that any harness race will encompass such an event.

May 20, 2001 saw a historical event at the track…but not involving horses. The start of the eighth race was delayed when an alligator decided to cross the track. (Rumors that he completed the task in 1:59 2/5 have never been confirmed!)

In 2003, a bill was introduced in Florida’s legislature that would allow all 27 pari-mutuel facilities in the State have VLT’s (Video Lottery Terminals) at their sites to provide parity with Indian gaming operations and cruise ships to “nowhere” but the bill is shot down by a six to three vote by the House Gaming Committee.

In 2004, voters in the State were allowed to have their say as to whether slot machines should be allowed in Dade and Broward Counties.

On March 8, 2005, voters approved the referendum allowing “Las Vegas” slots at pari-mutuel facilities in Broward County—protecting pari-mutuel racing—and, on January 4, 2006, the new statute became effective.

February 11, 2006, He Wants It All, driven by Dave Magee, equalled Parson’s Den track record of 1:49.4.

April 14, 2007 was a historic day in Pompano Park’s history as the Isle Casino opened to huge crowds with four restaurants and a simulcasting venue, in addition to the ongoing poker tables.

Between 2006 and 2009, the frequency of the sub-1:50 mile became evident as Load The Dice, Mr. Feelgood and the mare, Esmeralda Semalu, all pierced the 1:50 time.

On September 9, 2009, Bruce Ranger set a world record driving 13 winners on a 20 race program.

(It also may be a record for one announcer calling 20 races on a single racing program).

In February, 2011, two track records occurred within a four day period as Delivered From Zin set a new track standard for pacers with a 1:48 4/5 mile for George Napolitano, Jr. on February 19 and Southwind Vavoom toured the PPk oval on February 23 in 1:52 4/5 to create a new standard for trotters with Simon Allard in the bike.

In recent years leading up to the track’s demise on April 17 (actually April 18), 2022, many new track records were achieved with the grand pacer Pinocchio ultimately the final track record holder for pacers with a 1:48 3/5 performance on November 8, 2015 for Dan Clements.

The track record for trotters was garnered by Wind of the North on March 28, 2016 at 1:52 2/5, with Wally Hennessey handling the lines, equalled by Toys For You, driven by Rick Plano, on November 30, 2021.

Over the years, Pompano Park was host and became a favorite of many notable celebrities including Frank Sinatra, Walter Matthau, Lyle Waggoner, George Steinbrenner, Joe Garagiola, Barbara McNair, Jackie Gleason, Lorne Greene, Ed Sullivan, Sammy Davis, Jr., Rodney Dangerfield, Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle, Lee Elder and Arnold Palmer, to name a handful or two or three.

In its latter years, the track’s popularity became stronger than ever as the 2020-2021 meeting had record breaking pari-mutuel handle with 20 programs recording $1,000,000 plus handles.

Prior to that meet, the track had only six million dollar handle nights during their history dating back to 1964.

Of course, Pompano Park was graced with some of the greatest horseWOMEN, as well, with “Queen Bea,” Kelly Case, Debbie Evilsizor, Diane Hellen, Diane Long (world record for her in the mid-’80’s) and the many “Sweetheart” events held on Valentine’s Day…

And let’s not forget some of the gals that dotted our leader’s board in recent years…Melissa Beckwith, Melanie Wrenn, Cassandra Uppal, Jamie Macomber, Brandy Wine, Jen Sansone, Kim Sears, Maggie Audley, Miriam Toland, Stacey McLenaghan, Donna Riedel and Marie Dupont quickly come to mind.

Our Florida Amateur Driving Club played a huge role in keeping harness racing in a positive light by benefitting a wide-ranging array of worthy charitable causes with over $300,000 in donations since their inception…made possible by the generosity of every member of the Club donating their earnings driving in their races to the cause.

Dein Spriggs led that charge…and, even with the closing of Pompano Park, have found a re-incarnated way to continue putting harness racing in a positive light.

So, on February 4, 2024, our beloved Pompano Park would have been celebrating its 60th anniversary.

Too bad that all we have left are 60 years of………

MEMORIES…

by John Berry, for Harnesslink