Sunday nights Alan Kirschenbaum Series

Sunday nights Alan Kirschenbaum Series is named for the longtime owner and breeder and past president of the California Harness Horsemens Association, who passed away in 2012.

Kirschenbaum was a major factor in California as an owner, breeder and amateur driver for many years. With his stallions Little Steven and British Sterling standing at Cherry Tree Farm in Wilton, he helped support the industry in California.

In past years, he even waived his stallion fees to help the California horsemen breed their mares to help the horse population survive in the Golden State. He was also a huge supporter of the California Sire Stakes and amateur races.

Cal Expo track announcer and simulcast host Gary Seibel was a longtime friend of Alan Kirschenbaum.

I met Alan in the early '80s at Pompano Park in Florida, when I was the track announcer and publicity director there and Alan was working for trainer George Berkner. He'd come into the publicity office to use one of the desks that had a typewriter to work on his projects, which, at the time, I think included some writing for Mad Magazine.

I liked him from the start. He was a great guy with a great sense of humor, and we had a lot in common, since we were both native New Yorkers who loved harness racing. He was easy to like.

From time to time, when we would get into a long conversation about anything and everything, he would say to me, "this (Hollywood) is my job, harness racing is my passion." That was so evident in what he did in and for the sport, both nationally and, unquestionably, here in California.

His contributions to the sport he loved are with us today in so many different ways. I think of him every night when I open the Cal Expo program because his name appears in the program every racing night, through the horses he has raced, bred and owned in the Golden State.

I remember when we lived in Los Angeles, Alan invited us to a taping of his CBS sitcom, Yes, Dear. My wife and I were sitting in the front row of the audience, and before the taping began, Alan came out and introduced himself to the crowd and told everyone what to expect during the live taping of the show.

When he saw us, he paused, came over to us, and gave us both a big hug and a kiss. It really touched us both. After the taping, he brought us down to the stage, where we met the cast and production crew and got to hang out for a while. He was a great friend and a special person.

Alan Kirschenbaum Series matches sophomore trotters

Trotters are front and center on Sunday evening at Cal Expo, with the opening leg of the Alan Kirschenbaum Series and a conditioned event that brings out the popular veterans Franky Provolone and Franks Best.

There are 12 races on tap Sunday with first post set for 4:55 p.m. The Kirschenbaum is early on the program as the second event, while Franky Provolone and Franks Best will strut their stuff in the 10th race.

The Alan Kirschenbaum Series is designed for 3-year-old trotters who are California Sire Stakes eligible and a field of six will go to the post. Pierre Girard will send out a trio with Delta Breezeflodi, Sixstringsandapick and Lodi Bank Robber representing the shedrow, while Gene Vallandingham has a pair in CW Raisenette and My Little Susie. The Vickie Desomer-trained Kissed The Boys rounds out the cast.

Meanwhile, Franky Provolone will shoot for his third win from his last four trips to the post in the 10th race. A 9-year-old son of Armbro Scribe, he is owned and trained by Robin Clements and will have a new pilot with Tim Clevenger handling the lines.

Franky Provolone has been guided in his last three starts by Luke Plano, who has his own trainee Winsome Kelly in the line-up. In last weeks appearance, Franky Provolone was parked to command past the quarter, took complete control of things from that point and prevailed by a three and a quarter lengths as the 2-1 second choice.

The hard-hitting sidewheeler is closing in on the $200,000 earnings plateau with a 1:55 4/5 standard that was established two years ago. Leaving from an inside slot is certainly going to help the cause.

Franks Best was the 4-5 choice in that affair but was bothered early and lost his chance. He is owned, trained and was bred by Bob Johnson and comes into this assignment with $234,000 in his account and a 1:56 2/5 mark. He started the year with a game win on January 3 with regular pilot Mooney Svendsen in the sulky.

By Mark Ratzky