by Bob Heyden

We are now well into the 21st century, so it’s time to single out what the most influential year we’ve had so far. That’s actually an easy one. It was 2007 and here’s why:

1. Somebeachsomewhere weny 6-for-6 and is an easy choice for top freshman pacer of 2007. Though he was born 21 years into the Breeders Crown series (2005), he now stands as the No. 1 pacing stallion in the 40 years of Crown action.

2. Muscle Hill sold for $50,000 and Swan For All for $300,00 at the same Harrisburg sale. Muscle Hill completely dominated both on and off the track and Swan For All, despite just 11 career starts, has become the go-to trotting stallion in Indiana and already has a HOY credit in Hannelore Hanover.

3. Mickey Burke led for the year of 2007 and 2008 before yielding to son Ronnie. Mickey had $9.6 million in 2007 and upped that to $10.6 in 2008.

4. Tim Tetrick burst upon the national scene with 1,188 wins and $18,342,367 in earnings. The wins were a new mark by 112 and the money by $3.3 million. Tetrick won his first two million-dollar drives with Southwind Lynx capturing the Rooney at Yonkers and then the Meadowlands Pace. He handled Pampered Princess in his Hambletonian debut, the first of an all-time record 17 straight Hambletonian final appearances. His Pace win was the first of six victories in the Meadowlands signature race and he also has not missed a Pace final since; 17 straight in both is unprecedented.

5. Diamond Creek was not yet fully functional, but, they dipped in for $300,000 in a Western Ideal yearling filly Rarified Hanover.

6. Snow White set the all-time freshman trotting earnings record of $1,252,646, which lasted until Breeders Crown night this year when T C I edged by.

7. The top seven yearlings of 2007 were all trotters. Well, think about it, the Hambletonian was now $1,500,000 in the third year of an eight-year run as the highest trotting purse ever.

8. Aaron Merriman started to make some noise with the heavy hitters with a 484-win season good for 13th nationally.

9. Yannick Gingras won his first Breeders Crown with a 50-1 shot named Southwind Serena. He currently is the fourth leading money-winning driver of all time.

10. Always A Virgin won 2/3rds of the Triple Crown in 2007 and was the Meadowlands Pace favorite and later sired Always B Miki, the HOY and world record setter.

YESTERDAY… TODAY (RACETRACK EDITION)

Then… Program counters where you could get that night’s, the next night’s and often two nights out.

Now… Program counters in administration with a careful eye so as not to give out too many freebies. Interesting, does a restaurant charge for its menu?

Then… Sires & Dams books coveted.

Now… Sires & Dams books curbside.

Then… Parking lot fees.

Now… Parking lots free.

Then… Attendants pretty much everywhere.

Now… Attendance low.

Then… Cleaning crews roaming around.

Now… Cleaning crews optional (maybe).

Then… Bands at racetracks: Chubby Checker, The Four Tops, and Jay & The Americans. Pat Boone was at Monticello the very night The Meadowlands debuted on 9/1/76.

Now… Taps for Brandywine, Liberty Bell, Maywood Park, Roosevelt, an extensive NJSS program, Garden State Park, etc.

Then… Long sleeve sweatshirt giveaway.

Now… Long sleeve sweatshirt necessary.

Then… Anywhere in the world trip giveaways.

Now… Once in a while a gas card drawing.

Then… Weekly Talk to the Stars program.

Now… Big race nights’ only autographs on occasion.

Then… Multiple food options.

Now… Food optional.

Then… Northern Hemisphere featured with John Campbell, Bill O’Donnell, Jack Moiseyev, Stanley Dancer, Billy Haughton, Brian Sears, Yannick Gingras and Tim Tetrick.

Now… Southern Hemisphere everywhere with Brett Pelling, Chris Ryder, Noel Daley, Nifty Norman, Mark Harder, Andy and Todd McCarthy and Dexter Dunn.

Then… Regular traffic advisories.

Now… Traffic wanted.

Then… Seating charge.

Now… Seats available.

Then… Post time.

Now… Drag time.

Then… Hoof Beats sold on track.

Now… Hoof beats heard only on the track.

Then… Celebrity sightings.

Now… Quasi-celebrity sightings/appearances.

Then… Nightly buzz in the grandstand and apron.

Now… Buzz maybe on seven or eight nights a year.

THE 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF HARNESS RACING IN THE ROSE BOWL PARADE

In 1979 there was a transcontinental, international effort to get harness racing to participate in the Tournament of Roses Parade.

Sponsored by HTA (Harness Tracks of America)

“Then and Now” was a part of the “Wonderful World of Sports” theme.

In 19th Century Garb with high wheeled sulkies and 20th century modern bikes.

The high wheeled bikes and gay nineties suits were donated by the Ontario Jockeys Club authentic collection and reproductions. Wilform Sulky Company in California provided two brand new modified bikes.

Christa Shewbridge, Jamie and Jim Waddell and Kathy Ashford groomed the four standardbreds used in the 5 ½-mile parade. The horses were Andys Bart, Twice Rejected, Edgewood Athlone and Huck Finn.

It was the first time standardbred racing participated.

STAR’S PRIDE AND SWEET LOU, A COMPARISON

One was born in 1947 and the other in 2009.

One trotted and the other paced.

But, with Sweet Lou about to nail down his first HOY credit as a sire, it’s at least worth a look.

Both raced at 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Star’s Pride was 34/80 lifetime and Sweet Lou was 33/74.

All the big races of 2023 went to Sweet Lou’s superstar boys, Confederate, It’s My Show and Cannibal.

All the big races then, as in the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s were defined pretty much as Triple Crown events. Star’s Pride had four straight Triple Crown winners in Ayres, Nevele Pride, Lindy’s Pride and Super Bowl.

Nobody sired more Hambletonian, HOY, Triple Crown winners than did Star’s Pride. Is Sweet Lou just getting started?