Lucien Fontaine Thanks USHWA Chapters and Congratulates Jimmy Takter   

July 26, 2011, Pompano Beach, FL—Retired harness driver Lucien Fontaine wishes to thank the New York, Monticello/Goshen, Florida, and the Mid- Atlantic Chapters of the United States Harness Writers Association and their members for putting his name forward to the Hall of Fame selection committee so they could consider placing his name on the ballot for nomination to the Hall of Fame. 

He also wishes to personally thank the chapter presidents Debbie Little, Ted Black, Chris Tully, and Fred Segal and all of the Hall of Fame drivers that endorsed him and recommended that he be nominated to the Hall of Fame. He sends a special thank you to his good friend John Manzi for all of his work and efforts. Lucien also wishes to tell Gail Cunard and her staff and volunteers that they did an outstanding job with the Hall of Fame races and dinner. 

One of harness racing’s all-time greats, Lucien sends his congratulations to Jimmy Takter for his nomination to the Harness Racing Living Hall of Fame. He also wishes to congratulate Moira Fanning and Jean Emerson for their nomination to the Harness Racing Communicators Hall of Fame. This summer all three will go before the voters, members of USHWA and members of the Living Hall of Fame with the hope of receiving 75% of the yes or no votes that person will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. 

Lucien apologizes for the lateness of this press release! He has just returned home from his vacation which included his visit to Goshen on Hall of Fame day, a visit to Long Island for the birthday party of his close friend and former New York Ranger great Rod Gilbert and a visit with Forrest Bartlett at his home in North Carolina. Lucien’s biography can be viewed at www.rrtrotting.com/lucien_fontaine 

Impressive First Start For Two Year Old
June 6, 2011 By Fred Hudson  

Mohegan Sun Pocono—Pa: Steelhead Hanover by Bettor’s Delight and out of Special Beauty won with an impressive mile of 1:57.1 for trainer driver Joe Pavia, who pulled him going to the three quarters and went to the top and never looked back. He won by 4 lengths with a last half in 57 with a last quarter in 27.3.

Roosevelt Raceway Opening Night September 2, 1940 September 1, 2010 by Fred Hudson

Seventy years ago on September 2, 1940 Roosevelt Raceway opened its gates for its first racing meet over the than newly built half-mile oval track! First night attendance was 5,000 spectators who bet $40,742. on the 8 race card! The tracks percentage that night was 10% or $4,074.20; and the State received 5% or $2,037.10 with the breakage being divided equally among the track and the State each receiving $344.75.

Of the 5,000 spectators most of them came from near-by towns of Long Island with less than 300 of them using the special trains from New York and Brooklyn that were provided for them! Night time racing and having pari-mutual wagering on harness racing at Roosevelt Raceway was the brain child of the founder George Morton Levy!

At that time the paddock was at the end of the first turn and it was open to the fans! Spectators were aloud to enter the paddock and be among the horses that were there! Other innovations included 102 pari-mutual windows, the McNamara starting gate, the finish camera, and a program that provided past performances! The track also provided shadow rolls for horses that might shy away from shadows!

The first race was a mile trot with a purse of $250. that was won by Martha Lee driven by John (Red) Hanafin paying $4.40 to win the time of the mile was 2:19! Of the 8 races contested that night one was at a distance of a mile, three were at a distance of three-quarters-of- a-mile, two were at the distance of a-mile-and-a-sixteenth, and the featured race was staged in two heats!

Forty-eight years later or twenty-two years ago on the night of June 15^th 1988 Roosevelt Raceway staged it’s last race!

We as horsemen must unite and save The Meadowlands!

Where harness racing goes from here in the face of the New Jersey disaster is uncertain, but one thing is clear: The sport needs a charismatic national leader who can generate instant widespread response to a threat like the possible closure of the Meadowlands. Read More