Charlene Sharpe is doing what she loves to do
The full time reporter who works for the Dispatch newspaper of Berlin, Maryland is moonlighting, by showing and racing horses and is having a great time along with being successful.
The hardworking journalist also has written articles for HoofBeats and the USTA.
Charlene acquired "Don't Fool Me Now" an 11 year old by Camotion out of Philly Fantasy a Abercrombie mare last year when the owners gave up on her and turned her over to Charlene.
She rested the horse for a year converting the 11 year old gelding over to being a pleasure horse.
Along the way she found out that the gelding loves watermelon.
It is her secret weapon.
"Don't Fool Me Now's" attitude and disposition changed so much that Charlene decided to drop him in the entry box for a race at the Pocomoke Fair, Pocomoke City, Md.
On August 1st the 11 year old gelding won his race at the Pocomoke Fair.
The following week she entered him in four events at the National Standardbred Show scheduled for August 9th in New Jersey and he would ribbon in all four events.
The next night (August 10th) he was off to the races at Ocean Downs where he won his race wire to wire in 1:57.3 with the veteran Frank Milby at the reins.
Her other horse "Wynnfield Flash" that she also owns and trains won his race at Ocean Downs on August 7th also with Milby in the bike.
Both horses are in to go for Monday night August 17th at Ocean Downs.
"Don't Fool Me Now" is scheduled to compete in the Clarissa Coughlin organized Maryland National Standardbred Horse Show at the Timonium State Fair on Monday August 31st.
I also hear that her mother Pam Polk who at one time worked at Roosevelt Raceway for Frank Popfinger and is currently a USTA tattoo technician will also be completing along Charlene's good friend Cate Carrick Nellans.
A big thank you to Charlene, Clarissa, Pam and Cate for promoting harness racing and the versatile Standardbred.
Fred Hudson