Wolfenden and Tetrick missing in action

DOVER, Del.—- Two popular area harness racing favorites, drivers Ross Wolfenden and Tim Tetrick, will be missing from action in U.S. racing starting next week. Wolfenden is taking a month off to visit his family in New Zealand. Tetrick, also is off Down Under, preparing for the World Driver Championship in Australia starting Feb. 22, where he represents the U.S. against the best in Europe and Australasia in week long competition.

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Eric Ell lifted his outstanding UTRS “batting average” to around .450 this meet, buoyed by with third training wins Wednesday (2/10); by Razor Ramone, Enrico AS and Go Go Red Marty. Owners Bill Dittmar and Steve Iaquinta own all three, with Ken Wood, a partner, on two.

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Congratulations are in order for track race-caller Jack Gallagher. Thursday (2/11) was his birthday. Gallagher has been calling races for 37 years. The last 31 seasons at Delaware tracks. Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway. Gallagher began his racing career announcing the one-time New Jersey Summer stakes at various farms throughout the Garden State. He later worked at Brandywine Raceway and at Garden State Park when it was rebuilt in the mid-1980s before arriving in Delaware ever since. Only Roger Huston at the Meadows has been behind the microphone longer than Gallagher.

On trot day, Wednesday (2/10), well named, Tough Mac won his fifth feature trot of the meet. On the same card, two other trotters Razor Ramone and Joyeux Dream, won for the fifth consecutive time and JS McFlash, won his third in succession. Among pacers, Velocity Sonja and Odds On Alpha have won three straight.

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Several win streaks came to an end during the week, headed by the meet’s longest, seven straight, by claiming pacer Jingle Bell Rocker. Hey Pancho, who had won four-in-a-row, plus, Captain Fairfax, and Ringside Muscle, saw win two-win streaks end.

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Coming up shortly will be the annual U.S.Harness Writers Association’s (USHWA) Dan Patch Awards-Dinner, Sunday, Feb. 22 in Orlando, Fla. All the top horses and individuals who led season’s honors in 2014 will be saluted. JR She’salady won the writers balloting for “Horse of the Year,” the first two-year-old in years to win the coveted title.

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Among the local persons to honored at the USHWA Night of Champions is Heather Vitale, a double 2014-season winner in the broadcasting category. Ms. Vitale won for her TV feature on Canada’s top trainer Casey Coleman on CBS Sports Network. The second award is for a feature on harness racing in Ireland shown on her Post Time show on Delmarva station WBOC-TV.  Tickets for the USHWA gala are still available. Contact Judy Davis-Wilson by phone 302-359-3630 or e-mail: zoe8874@aol.com.

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The festive O’Brien Awards, a black tie awards-dinner showcasing the best in Canada racing, was held Saturday (Feb. 7). Canada’s top horses and horsepersons were honored; several of whom also will receive similar honors at next week’s USHWA Night of Champions-Dan Patch awards in Florida on Feb. 22.

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Corey Callahan and Aaron Merriman continue to battle for leading drivers during 2015 in North America with Merriman holding the lead. Ron Pierce is presently fourth in winning drives. Ron Burke, is again, the leading trainer, in wins and money won. Wayne Givens and Dylan Davis, have moved up to the top 5 trainers in North America. 

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At Dover Downs, this meet, Corey Callahan has driven winners of 180 races. Allan Davis is second with 100 wins. Ross Wolfenden, third, with 93 wins. Vic Kirby is fourth with 85. Tony Morgan, 68, completes the top five. 

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There is now a three-way tie for first-place among trainers. Dylan Davis is on a tear building up his win total. The defending champion has tied Wayne Givens and Doug Lewis with 39 wins apiece. Jim King is fourth with 34 winners. Nick Surick is in fifth- place with 32 winners.

Marv Bachrad