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37-year-old Southfield, Michigan native, Jason Merriman began driving harness racing horses in 2003, when he was just 17 years old. Coming from a long line of accomplished horsemen, Jason won his first pari-mutuel race at Pompano Park on December 20, 2003, behind trotter I C U Talkin, a Michigan bred by Keystone Nordic out of the Prise Speed mare Looks of Quality, for trainer Gordon Norris, who is his grandfather and a Michigan Harness Horseman’s Hall of Famer.
In race one Saturday night, Jason got behind his 25,675th horse named Noha (I Scoot Hanover – Feared Raider) a 13-year-old pacing gelding for owner/trainer Michael Haley and the team of Merriman and Noha made every call a winning one, putting up fractions of 27.3, 57.3, 1:27.3, and a final time of 1:57.1 winning by a length and three-quarters over Sir Globalop Z Tam (Lindsay Moen) who was second and Real Thunder (Charles Taylor) in third. The victory marked Jason’s 3,000th career driving win and the 18th career win for Noha.
Jason commented in a prior interview for Midwest Harness Report, “I have been fortunate to be able to do what I love to do and make a living at it.” But as he adds this in modest fashion, he boasts career purse earnings in excess of $16.9 million and only drives mainly on the weekends at Northville Downs.
In the Saturday night featured race, the $9,500 Open Pace (named for Francis B and Geraldine M Crowley Family Racetrack Legacy), Coalfordbythesea (Downbytheseaside – Stormy Novel) and driver Justin Irvine, took a pocket ride and turned it into a winning one defeating runner-up Lying In Cash in the stretch in a time of 1:54.0, which was a new lifetime mark for Coalfordbythesea and also his 10th career victory. Finishing third was Youmakemyheartsing (Kody Massey). Coalfordbythesea is owned and trained by Gerald Malady.
In addition, drivers/trainers Greg Bateson and Kody Massey both doubled on the Saturday night card.
Racing at The Ville resumes Friday (Sept 22) at 7 p.m. Friday is dollar night featuring $1 live programs, $1 pop, $1 popcorn, $2 hot dogs and beer and hamburger and cheeseburger specials. Northville Downs races every Friday and Saturday night until November 25 with a 7 p.m. post time. For live racing dining reservations, be sure to call Northville Downs in advance at 248.924.2073.
by Ken Terpenning, for Northville Downs
