George Teague has been named winner of another prestigious award. Teague has been named Harness Horsemen International (HHI)'s "Dominic Frinzi Person of the Year." In addition to conditioning 1,631 winners of $35-million to date, Teague has been honored for graciously allowing the public to meet and greet his great pacer, 2015 Horse of the Year, Wiggle It Jiggleit, several times during 2016 to help promote harness racing.
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Nominations are now being accepted for the 2016 Caretaker of the Year Award, sponsored by Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park in conjunction with USHWA honoring the sport's unsung heroes, the caretakers. Dover Downs leads in the number of grooms at the track who have won this award in the past. To nominate for this award with a number of benefits, contact USHWA president Tim Bojarski at a159star@gmail.com with a minimum 200 words, stating the special qualities of the caretaker being nominated.
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Thursday racing is now the top pacing day at Dover Downs. The highlight events, the $30,000 Preferred has been won the last two times by Ideal Cowboy while Little Ben recorded his fourth win in his last five winning the $27,500 Delaware Special. During the rest of the racing week, Monday is now a top claiming feature day, on Tuesday the top female pacers meet in the $20,000 Open Mares pace and Wednesday continues as top trot day highlighted by the $20,000 Open Trot.
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With the end of 2016 at hand, First place in Dover Downs leading driver category has become a three-driver battle for top spot. Through November, Vic Kirby led the roster in winning drives. In December, Yannick Gingras had several five win days; Tim Tetrick added a number of four-win cards to also challenge Kirby for the lead, now in a virtual tie. Allan Davis holds on to fourth place while Ross Wolfenden is fifth.
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Jim King remains as leader in trainers statistics in wins and money won by his stable. Josh Green is in second place. Joe Hundertfund and Leigh Raymer are tied for third place with Wayne Givens, fifth.
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Well know Delaware stallion Tune Town who stood at Rhonda Owens-Whitehouse's Safe Haven Farms in Ellendale died recently at age 24, The former USHWA Pacing Horse of the Year and Nova Award winning Older Pacer in 1997sired 120 Delaware-bred foals, Dina's Gamble p,1:50.1 ($521,507) and Fine-Tuner p,1:50.1 and Tuneariffic p,1,50.2 topped the list.
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In 2017, the American Horse Council (AHC) offers three different internships available to both high school and college students. Visit the AHC website for details at info@horsecouncil.org
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Australia has announced it will ban the use of existing whips in training and racing beginning on Sept. 1, 2017. Australia becomes the first country to do so.
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Two Dover Downs regulars who raced at Rosecroft Raceway during the just ended Fall season tied for the 2016 Leading Driver title, Roger Plante Jr. and Russell Foster had 52 wins each.
Marv Bachrad