Farewell to Pompano video debuts Sunday

Pompano Beach, FL, April 10, 2022 – The long-anticipated video “Farewell to Pompano” debuts on Sunday night, April 10, at the famed South Florida harness racing oval and will be shown between races prior to the Pick-4 sixth race.

The 15-minute farewell, produced by “ShadesonRacing,” features interviews by many of the greatest horsemen to grace the track in its 58-year history, including Hall of Famers Wally Hennessey and Bill Popfinger. Fred Grant, Mickey McNichol, Jim McDonald, Joe Pavia, Jr., Kevin Wallis and Dein Spriggs are also featured with Gabe Prewitt and John Berry adding their personal and historic memories, as well.

Pompano Park opened February 4, 1964, and was considered the “Winter Capital of Harness Racing” during its long and storied history.

The track hosted many of the sport’s greatest horses and events featuring a “who’s who” of great horsemen and women like Stanley Dancer, George Sholty, Frank Ervin, Curly Smart, Joe O’Brien, Delvin Miller, Howard Beissinger, Bruce Nickells, Glen Garnsey, Lew Williams and Bea Farber during the track’s infancy.

Pompano Park also attracted stars in film, television and sport, including Jackie Gleason, Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Gleason, Walter Matthau, Ed Sullivan, Hugh Downs, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, George Steinbrenner and Joe Garagiola, to name a few.

The track also played a big part in charitable donations over the years as The Florida Amateur Driving Club donated over $240,000 to worthy charitable organizations because of the generosity of their members donating all driving fees earned to their grand causes.

Sadly, that all comes to an end on Easter Sunday.

The video was produced by Shades Demsky, who completed a “remarkable feat in capturing the incredible history of our great racetrack,” said Gabe Prewitt.

The farewell tribute will be able to be seen on the track’s live feed beginning Sunday night by “googling” “Pompano Park Live Racing” and following the prompts.

by John Berry, for Pompano Park