Saratoga Harness honors class Of 2024

Saratoga Casino Hotel hosted 14-year-olds on their closing day Sunday (Dec. 15) as part of the annual retirement ceremony with six harness racing veterans making the journey to the winner’s circle for the final time.

Calvin B (Bettors Delight – Croquette Hanover) was the first to embark on the journey down the stretch, joined by owner/trainer Gretchen Athearn and Heidi Rohr Nickerson with her daughter Emery.

The bay gelding was a regular in Plainridge and Maine through his career with starts throughout New York including many at Saratoga. He made 338 starts in his career and posted a record of 61-42-38 with $540,849 banked. He took his mark of 1:49.2 at the age of five at The Meadowlands with his final win clocked in 1:52.4 in August of this year at Plainridge Park.

“He means so much to so many,” Gretchen Athearn said. “He’s always been so special to my sister. I know when she was going through her treatment, he was inspirational to her during it. He got my younger son hitched on the business also.”

Gretchen and Heidi will share in the ownership of Calvin B in his retirement.

“He is going to a camp in the summer and then [will become] Emery’s riding horse after,” Athearn said.

Next to, quite literally, jump into the winner’s circle was Dull Roar, a son of Mach Three – Village Jest owned and trained by Jesse Mcassey.

The gelding raced 365 starts in his career with 49 trips to the winner’s circle along with 47 seconds and 55 thirds. He pocketed $613,378 and took his mark of 1:50.3 at Pocono Downs at the age of eight. His last start came the week prior on Dec. 7.

“He was a monster of a horse on the track, but a big love bug in the barn,” Jesse Mcassey said. “He loves kids and is very gentle.”

Dull Roar will spend his career at a 50-acre farm with riding horses and in the Spring of next year, he will start his next career as a riding horse himself.

I’m Not Vanilla (Chocolatier – Muscle Up), the calmest of the bunch, took his time walking down to the winner’s circle with trainer Jackie Cantine and owner Jeffrey Cantine by his side.

The gelding made his final start in November 2022 and has lived out his retirement to date with the Cantines at their home. He made 290 starts with a tally of 25-33-47 and $234,557 earned. His lifetime mark of 1:56 was taken at the age of six at The Meadowlands.

“Rocky, also known as I’m Not Vanilla, lives with us,” Jackie Cantine said. “We promised him that we’d always be as good to him as he was to us. This year, we even got him his very own pet, Chip AKA Trump De Vie. They absolutely love each other’s company.”

The next two retirees were also both graduates of the Jackie Cantine stable and owned by Jeff Cantine. Both have been retired to the Cooperstown, New York area.

Nomo Doctor O (LCB – Liette The Jet) made his last start in 2014 at the age of four. He had 52 starts and one win, totaling $17,821 in lifetime earnings. He is now owned by Kassandra Claudy.

Secret Ingredient (Angus Hall – Keystone Secret), owned in partnership by Jeff Cantine and Sandra Shein as a racehorse, had a record of 5-19-16 and $141,924 earned in 111 starts. He made his final start in December of 2016 and is now owned by Lisa Lent.

“Secret and Nomo both live in the Cooperstown area and go trail riding and overnight camping trail riding,” Cantine said. “They are well loved by the whole family. Lisa has Secret and Kassandra, her daughter, has Nomo. They got Nomo first, but fell in love with Secret while we were still racing him.”

Finally, Twisted Pretzel (Crazed – Pretzel Hanover) made a grand appearance in the winner’s circle as the final retiree of the day, standing on two legs for his candid moment. He was joined by trainer Scott Mongeon, caretaker George Mason, as well as owners Steven and Laura Stewart.

The gelding earned $448,702 and posted a record of 36-28-39 in 191 starts. He took his mark of 1:55 at the age of seven at Saratoga. He ended his career in July of 2019 and has remained in the care of the Stewarts at their home.

“We told Pretzel we would take care of him the rest of his life and he gave us the chance to continue in the sport,” Laura Stewart said. “Pretzel always gave his all and pushed himself. He will live in our yard and continue to get spoiled.”

by Jessica Hallett, for Saratoga Harness Horseperson’s Association