WASHINGTON, PA, Nov. 7, 2024 — Already harness racing’s all-time “winningest” driver, Dave Palone passed yet another milestone Thursday at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows when he notched career win 21,000. The historic win came with Green Magic (Chapter Seven) in the fifth race.
Although Palone sets a new record with each victory, he indicated milestone wins remain special to him.
“I never had any number etched in stone, but I’m pretty proud of that number,” he said. “It’s nice to reach it. I feel like I maybe haven’t been pushing myself as hard. I’ve had a lot of half days, a lot more golf this year.”
Palone, who got his first win in 1982, has now been among harness racing’s elite drivers for more than three decades. He’s achieved at least 400 wins in each year since 1990 (except for the pandemic season of 2020), and his UDR throughout that lengthy period never was lower than .337. For his career, he’s logged more than 81,000 starts, and he’s earned nearly $162 million in purses. He was inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2010.
GREEN MAGIC REPLAY
Among his career highlights, he won the 2005 Little Brown Jug with Kelly O’Donnell’s P-Forty Seven, and he’s also captured three Breeders Crowns (In Focus, Sweet Lou, Uncle Peter) and a pair of Jugettes (Numeric Hanover, Maudlin Hanover). Yet he says his most memorable win may be his lone victory in the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids at his home track. He took the 1999 edition with Washington VC for trainer Ron Coyne, Jr.
“It was before family and friends, and I’d barely heard of the horse. There weren’t many expectations there.”
These days, at 62, Palone drives mostly locally — and why not? He’s closing in on his 35th consecutive driving title at The Meadows.
“I started off racing in a completely different era,” he said, “but the drivers here today are a great group of guys. I really enjoy the camaraderie.”
Palone said he’ll continue to try to grind out wins as long as the effort remains challenging to him.
“I enjoy trying to figure out a new horse and a new race. I guess when that fire’s gone, it will be time to find something else to do. Whatever that something is, it will be with horses.”
And his advice to young drivers who hope someday to dethrone him?
“Show up for qualifiers,” he said. “Stick around for late races, and make yourself available for them. And when you’re not driving a race, pay attention to it.”
Benjamin Hanover equals own track record in top trot
Benjamin Hanover (Sebastian K S) smoked the mile in 1:51.3, matching his own track record for 4-year-old geldings in Thursday’s $21,200 Open Handicap Trot at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.
Benjamin Hanover was looped from the gate by Call Me Dani and was left outside, but the son of Sebastian K S-By A Neck Hanover was just getting started. He threw down a 27.2 third quarter for Aaron Merriman, opening a daylight lead over Call Me Dani and ultimately swamping her by 7-3/4 lengths. Celebrity Bambino finished third.
BENJAMIN HANOVER REPLAY
Sarah Andrews trains Benjamin Hanover, who triumphed for the fifth time in his last six starts and lifted his lifetime bankroll to $132,590, and owns with Angela Cornell.
Hunter Myers, Dave Palone and Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. each piloted three winners on the 13-race card.
Live racing at The Meadows continues Friday, first post 12:45 PM.
For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.
by Evan Pattak, for the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association