Charlie May and Don Tiger ready for Ewart
The homebred 7-year-old pacer takes on the sport’s best Saturday night.
by Jay Wolf
Owner Don Tiger has been on a whirlwind ride since his homebred pacer, Charlie May, first stepped foot on a track. Seven years and some 102 career starts later; Tiger continues to enjoy the ride.
Charlie May returns to Eldorado Scioto Downs Saturday night (Sept. 6) to take on a deep field of older pacers in the $250,000 Jim Ewart Memorial (Grade 2).
Charlie May and driver Brett Miller drew post position 6 in the event that features Captain Albano (Todd McCarthy), Bythemissal (Chris Page), Abuckabett Hanover (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) and Little Rocket Man (Jeremy Smith).
“It is a tremendous field, maybe the best field of the year,” Tiger said. “The post position Gods were finally kind to us. We drew inside most of the big hitters.”
The field of 10 has combined lifetime earnings of $14.7 million and an average lifetime mark of 1:47.3.
“I am sure we will be 20-1 or something like that,” Tiger said. “‘Charlie’ may have lost a step, but he will be there at the end.”
The McArdle gelding comes into the Ewart off a 9¼ length romp in the $12,000 Canfield Pacing Derby at the Mahoning County Fair on Labor Day.
It is safe to say that the Canfield to Ewart path is never taken, but Tiger had to improvise.
“My mom told me a long time ago that you have to make lemonade out of lemons,” Tiger said. “We originally entered the Ohio Sires Stakes Veterans Pace [at Scioto Downs on Aug. 30], but didn’t get in due to Ohio earnings.
“Earlier this year, [Canfield speed superintendent) Woody [Woolman] saw me at Carrolton and said, ‘Why don’t you race in the Canfield Pacing Derby? It would mean a lot to everyone up here.’”
Charlie equaled the Canfield track record with his 1:53.3 score. He also picked up a $6,000 check.
“It wasn’t about the purse,” Tiger said. “It was about the betterment of the sport. The fans were truly excited to have Charlie there. We had tons of folks stop by his stall to see him.
“It was a fun afternoon.
“The impressive thing about Charlie is that he has been good at every age. Few horses can say that.”
One thing that has changed with Charlie May this season is a new trainer, Terry Di Cicco.
“Terry came up under Herve Filion,” Tiger said. “He is a New York guy. A couple of years ago, I was looking for a full-time caretaker for my two horses. The older horses get, the more care they need, so I contacted Terry and asked him if he wanted to be the trainer.”
Di Cicco moved to Ohio from Kentucky and trains out of the Winner’s Circle Training Center, just south of Eldorado Scioto Downs.
“He has a small stable and he takes care of every one of them,” Tiger said. “He stays there all day. He spends more time with the four horses than if he had 20 horses.”
Tiger is also getting more “air time” this season through his work with the Ohio Harness Horseman’s Association (OHHA) coverage of county fair racing. He serves as an analyst, mostly on the eastern end of the state.
“During the pandemic, I met Frank [Fraas],” Tiger said. “We exchanged phone numbers and he called me and asked if I would be interested in helping the OHHA out. I selected a couple of fairs near the Ohio border. I love it, it’s a lot of fun.
“The best part of it is the camaraderie – talking to the fans, working with the OHHA team, things like that. It’s cool that we bring these races to people’s phones and living rooms. I am just glad to do it.”
Has Tiger contemplated his eventual life without Charlie May?
“My regular life will be easy,” he said. “I have a son [Julian] and I love him dearly. My life is complete because of him.
“As far as racing is concerned, it’s going to be a sad day. I’ve said it a hundred times, this horse has brought people together. I have met some great people as a result of Charlie May.
“I do know this; I will still be involved as long as people will still have me.”
The Jim Ewart Memorial honors the long-time Eldorado Scioto Downs racing secretary that passed away in 2012.
Saturday evening’s 16-race card also features the $250,000 Charlie Hill Memorial (Grade 2) for older trotters as well as the final leg of the Ohio Sire Stakes for 2-year-old colt and filly pacers and the 3-year-old colt and filly trotters.
RACE 12 — ELDORADO SCIOTO DOWNS
$250,000 Jim Ewart Memorial (Grade 2)
PP — Horse — Driver — Trainer — ML Odds
1. Women Layer — Dexter Dunn — Virgil Morgan, Jr. — 6-1
2. Huntinthelastdolar — Andrew McCarthy — Per Engblom — 8-1
3. Buzzsaw Russ — Mike Wilder — Melissa Essig — 10-1
4. Ervin Hanover — Louis-Philippe Roy — David Menary — 7-2
5. Little Rocket Man — Jeremy Smith — Ken Rucker — 7-1
6. Charlie May — Brett Miller — Terry Di Cicco — 12-1
7. Captain Luke — Dan Noble — Andrew Harris — 8-1
8. Abuckabett Hanover — Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. — Andrew Harris — 12-1
9. Bythemissal — Chris Page — Ron Burke — 6-1
10. Captain Albano — Todd McCarthy — Noel Daley — 3-1
