Tracks in Pennsylvania are helping to raise funds for breast cancer awareness during the month of October, with the Meadows recently hosting the Pink Out on October 12, and this weekend, the action shifts to the east.
On Sunday, Harrah’s Philadelphia is proud to spotlight the Leading Ladies of Harness Racing at the track in Chester, as they stir up some dust and rouse up some funds for Breast Cancer Awareness in two races on the card.
“Rob Pennington, our Race Secretary, put it all together,” said Mike Bozich, Harrah’s Philadelphia Track Announcer and Handicapper. “He just does an outstanding job. It’s all over social media, and it’s all for a good cause!”
Fans can expect some competitive racing once the Starting Gate opens, with the top women drivers, like Stacy Chiodo, taking to the track in the races. “Stacy Chiodo has a couple of really good horses in her barn. One horse that she has, Mardi Gras Man, I think I think he’s one of the best three year olds in the county that nobody knows about. His last race, the weather had monsoon-like conditions, and he didn’t care for the wet track that much. She also has a really nice filly, Lucky Lady Hanover, who just won Friday At Harrah’s Philly. And she had Mighty Young Joe, another great horse. She’s definitely a legend.”
In the Pink Out Pace, Rojan’s Way will be driven by another exceptional horsewoman, Julie Miller, and the horse caught Mike’s sharp handicapping eye. “This is a horse that’s coming off a pretty big win, too, last time at the Meadowlands, with Geovany Hernandez in the bike, and his horses have been doing really well, so I think she’s got a pretty live drive here.”
“This series is really catching fire,” Mike added. “We’ve seen Dee Lineweaver of U.S. Trotting Association on social media do interviews as the series has gone on. It’s really getting a lot of interest and I know a lot of people are coming out to the racetrack on Sunday just for this.”
For the Ladies Driving Series, Mike will be ‘kicked out of the Announcer’s Booth’, but he’s just fine with that!
Jessica Paquette, track announcer at Parx Racing, will be stepping in to call the two Ladies Driving Series Races. The renowned announcer, equestrian and marathon runner is thrilled to be a part of this big day at Harrah’s Philly.
“I’m a big fan of Jessica,” Mike said enthusiastically. “She’s really done some nice work at Parx, not only in the booth, but with her interviews, and her social media presence. She’s really done a lot for that product, and she’s really shaping it into kind of who she is, the person, the human being, her love for horses, her love for the equine athlete. And I was so excited when she agreed to do this. Rob asked me to ask her and she got back to me in minutes. She’s just a wonderful ambassador for the sport, horse racing in general and equine athletes in general.”
“It’s so fun!” Jessica said enthusiastically. “It’s so nice to collaborate with another track here in Pennsylvania for such a good cause.”
When it comes to calling pacers and trotters, this is not her first rodeo, but it’s a bit of a challenge. “I’ve called two races at Freehold for their ‘Ladies Day’ a couple of years ago, and it was hard! It’s not the same and it’s definitely not my specialty, but I’m excited to do it!”
“It’s so cool to see so many women coming together for this,” she said. “I saw Stacy Chiodo listed and immediately thought how cool that is, because I think of her as sort of an icon, really.”
“But I think in all of horse racing, even on the days when women aren’t in the forefront of everything, they are behind the scenes, making everything work! For some of these women who are often behind the scenes, getting a chance in the spotlight is very deserved.”
Jessica’s first job was at Rockingham Park, in the early days of their harness racing meets. “One of the things I like about the harness racing community is what a close-knit and supportive group of people it really is. I think this will be a really well-attended event.”
As the event approaches, Jessica plans to do her preparation to call the races similar to what does to get ready at Parx. “This is SO different, and I have to get in my brain that they are NOT running. They are trotting or they are pacing. And I like to color the silks of the jockeys so I will color the silks of the drivers, and use that for identification. Oh, and I’m chronically online, so look for lots of social media!”
Mike took a close look at both races, and shared some handicapping info for the fans. “In race number 8, Grateful Kiss trained by Sal Sciarrino, I’ve been watching this horse a bit. This is his second start off a long layoff, and I really liked the way he raced in what was a tightening effort in one of those Amateur 2 races. Alex Golden is driving this horse, and she’s constantly on social media, promoting her horses that she has, promoting the sport in general, and I think she’s got a live drive here. And poor Nicky Ratledge! She draws the 8 hole both races! But sometimes the 8 is not bad at Harrah’s.”
Post Time Sunday is 12:40pm.
