ACCEPTING ENTRIES. February 13 & 14, ENTER ONLINE NOW for the hottest sale this winter

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1 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, HORSEMAN PUBLISHING CO., LEXINGTON, KY USA FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION CALL (859) Always B Miki Horse Of The Year; Stallion s Book Full And Closed Always B Miki was voted the 2016 Horse of the Year and Pacer of the Year in voting conducted by the U.S. Harness Writers Association. Always B Miki, who last Friday was named the Dan Patch Award winner for best older male pacer, defeated 4-year-old gelding Wiggle It Jiggleit in the voting for Pacer of the Year and Horse of the Year. Wiggle It Jiggleit was the 2015 Horse of the Year. Always B Miki, who became the breed s fastest horse ever in 2016 when he won Horse of the Year Voting at The Red Mile in 1:46, is owned by Bluewood ALWAYS B MIKI 102 Stable, Christina Takter, WIGGLE IT JIGGLEIT 32 and breeder Joe Hurley s Roll The Dice Sta- HANNELORE HANOVER 10 BETTING LINE 4 ble. MARION MARAUDER 4 To me, it was obvious Miki should be Horse of the Year, but Pacer of the Year Voting I m obviously biased, ALWAYS B MIKI 109 said Hurley, an attorney in Wilmington, WIGGLE IT JIGGLEIT 37 BETTING LINE 7 Del., of his horse s latest honor. LADY SHADOW 1 To have two Delaware horses in the running (Hurley s horse and Wiggle It Jiggleit, who is also Delaware-owned) was something else, Hurley noted. I was worried most about Wiggle It Jiggleit, but I guess the trotters should have worried me too. Always B Miki was trained in 2015 and 2016 by Hall of Famer Jimmy Takter. Takter has now trained four Horse of the Year honorees Always B Miki, Moni Maker (1998 and 1999) and Malabar Man (1997). Takter is the fifth trainer to have both a pacer and trotter receive Horse of the Year honors. He joins Stanley Dancer, Blair Burgess, Billy Haughton, and Clint Hodgins in that group. I would have been quite disappointed if he didn t win Horse of the Year, said Takter of Always B Miki. It s tough to get Horse of the Year. There are so many good horses. When asked if Always B Miki will be remembered more for Horse of the Year or becoming the fastest Standardbred ever, Takter offered, I can say that people will remember the 1:46 time and the record, but I think the 1:47 miles, especially at Scioto, were more impressive to me. ACCEPTING ENTRIES for the hottest sale this winter February 13 & 14, 2017 ENTER ONLINE NOW Entries will close around January 13. There s No Substitute for Experience JERRY HAWS P.O. Box 187 Wilmore, Kentucky Phone: (859) Fax: (859) WHAT S INSIDE... Tight contest for Trotter of the Year pg. 2 Thinkin Big at the Big M pg. 4 Macedonio talks USTA presidency bid pg. 4 Stretch Call: Year in Canada review pg. 6 Jimbelina aims to win Niagara final pg. 8 Handicapping the Woodbine Hi-5 pg. 8 Always B Miki posted victories in 1:47 on a five-eighths mile oval on three occasions, an unprecedented feat. Those achievements took place in the elimination and final for the Ben Franklin at Pocono and the Jim Ewart Memorial at Scioto Downs. He also holds the record of 1:47.1 for the fastest mile ever paced in Canada. Always B Miki, driven by David Miller, won 12 of 18 races this year and finished worse than second only once. After winning the TVG Series championship in November, he was Continues on page 2

2 HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 2 of 10 December 23, retired from racing with $2.7 million in career earnings. He will stand at stud at Diamond Creek Farm in Pennsylvania. His book was announced full and closed last week. Diamond Creek said the following notables are booked to the stallion: 2014 Horse of the Year JK She salady; Western Montana (dam of Pure Country); $1.5 million winner See You At Peelers; Loving Caroline (dam of 2015 Three-Year-Old Filly Dan Patch honoree Divine Caroline); Dancewiththebest (dam of Dancin Yankee); Katie Said p,3, 1:49.3f (from the prolific maternal family that includes Kikikatie); stakes winner Gallie Bythe Beach p,3 1:49; Lisjune (dam of I Luv The Nitelife); $1.6 million winner Western Silk; Kutekatie (also from the maternal family of Kikikatie), whose first three foals all sold for $100,000 or more; Trim Hanover, the dam of American Jewel and Luck Be Withyou; the recently retired $3.5 million winner Anndrovette; and Hunger Games, a full sister to Pure Country. By Kathy Parker Marion Marauder Trotter Of The Year In Closest Vote Since 71 Trotter of the Year Voting MARION MARAUDER 73 HANNELORE HANOVER 72 ARIANA G 3 RESOLVE 2 WALNER 2 BAR HOPPING 1 OBRIGADO 1 LADY SHADOW 1 The 3-year-old colt Marion Marauder was named the 2016 Dan Patch Trotter of the Year in the closest vote in the 46- year history of the award. Marion Marauder, who this year became the ninth horse in history to win the trotting Triple Crown, edged 4-year-old mare Hannelore Hanover by a margin in the voting for Trotter of the Year. The previous closest finish for Trotter of the Year was in 1971 when Speedy Crown defeated Fresh Yankee, Marion Marauder, who was named the sport s best 3-yearold male trotter last Thursday, was the first trotting Triple Crown winner since 2006, sweeping the Hambletonian, Yonkers Trot, and Kentucky Futurity. In addition, he won the Goodtimes Stakes and a division of the Stanley Dancer Memorial on his way to $1.48 million in purses. His earnings led all trotters in North America. Marion Marauder won 10 of 15 starts and finished second three times this season for the wife-andhusband training team of Paula Wellwood and Mike Keeling. Marion Marauder is owned by the couple s son, Devin Keeling, and Wellwood s mother, Marion Jean Wellwood. Scott Zeron was the colt s regular driver. A son of stallion Muscle Hill out of the mare Spellbound Hanover, Marion Marauder was bred by William Mulligan. Hannelore Hanover, who was named the sport s best older female trotter, won 17 of 20 races and earned $1.11 million in purses, leading all female trotters in earnings. FREE Program Pages Friday, December 23 THIS WEEKEND S FEATURED RACES All times listed are local. 7:35p M2 Conditioned Pace Trackmaster PPs 11:10p Wdb12 Jackpot Hi-5 Trackmaster PPs Monday, December 26 Click here to download all Friday PPs 2:20p Wdb5 Valedictory 3CP final Trackmaster PPs 3:40p Wdb9 Niagara 3FP final Trackmaster PPs Click here to download all Monday PPs Visit and subscribe to download full cards from your favorite tracks! HarnessRacing Weekend Preview Kathy Parker kparker@harnessracing.com Editor/ General Manager Lynne Myers lmyers@harnessracing.com Advertising Manager Gordon Waterstone gwaterstone@harnessracing.com Associate Editor Suzanne Starbuck sstarbuck@harnessracing.com Production Manager Heather Kemper hkemper@harnessracing.com Editorial Production Vanessa Flannery vflannery@harnessracing.com Accounting & Circulation For mail sent via U.S. Postal Service, either P.O. Box 8480, Lexington, KY 40533, or 1910 Harrodsburg Rd., Suite 200, Lexington, KY (859) Copyright Horseman Publishing Company. A product of Horseman Publishing Company, publishers of the website and The Horseman And Fair World magazine. This newspaper may not be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior written permission. To sign up for the Weekend Preview please visit

3 This Holiday Season The Meadowlands is Grateful for the Generosity of our 2017 Stakes Sponsors GOLD LEVEL SPONSOR Diamond Creek Farms Hanover Shoe Farms Hunterton Farms & Sales Agency Jerry Silva and Group Joie De Vie Farms Magical Acres Marvin Katz Meadowlands Drivers New Jersey Veterinarians Preferred Equine Marketing Purple Haze Stables Red Mile / Tattersalls SBOA of New Jersey Southwind Farm SRF Stables & Tristan Sjoberg White Birch Farm Allerage Farm SILVER LEVEL SPONSOR Ake Svanstedt Stable Andy & Julie Miller Stable Blue Chip Farms Burke Stables Cameo Hills Farm Daniel Baer Erv Miller, Nick Surick and KDM Stables Gaitway Farm International Sound Corporation Jimmy Takter Stable Jules Siegel Kentuckiana Farms Mark Weaver Michael Gulotta - Deo Volente Farm Northwood Bloodstock Tony Alagna Stable United States Trotting Association Vieux Carre Farm

4 HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 4 of 10 December 23, Thinkin Big At The End Of 2016 We may be in the penultimate week of 2016, but for the 2- year-old gelding pacer Thinkin Big, it s just the beginning. A son of Ponder out of the unraced Allamerican Native mare Wimple Hanover, Thinkin Big is set to make his career debut on Friday night at the Meadowlands, starting from post 4 in Race 2, a $10,000 non-winners of two conditioned event. Marcus Miller has been tabbed to drive by trainer (and his father) Erv Hopefully if he responds like he did in the qualifier, he ll have enough go finishing to get there. Erv Miller about Thinkin Big Miller, who recently was sent the horse by Illinois-based owners Richard Reynolds and Jim Reynolds. He came from Jim Reynolds and they trained him but giving him time to mature a little, explained Erv Miller. We just got him three weeks or a month ago. Things were shutting down there (in Illinois) and they wanted to keep going with him, and they sent him out to us. We got two of them from them, and we raced the other one once. He s a Well Said colt they thought was better than this one, but I trained him two or three weeks ago and he acts like he s OK. Thinkin Big debuted in a Nov. 2 qualifier at Hoosier Park, finishing fifth by 11 ¼ lengths in a 1:59.2 mile. After being sent to Miller in New Jersey, Thinkin Big finished third in a Dec. 16 qualifier at the Meadowlands, reducing a 3 3/4- length deficit at the three-quarters to three-quarters of a length at the wire in 1:55.3, last quarter in :28.1 on a 27-degree day with a two-second allowance given by the track judges. Hopefully, if he responds like he did in the qualifier, he ll have enough go finishing to get there, said Miller. Thinkin Big was bred by Jim Reynolds Freedom Hill Farms, which bought Wimple Hanover at the 2009 mixed sale at Harrisburg for $3,500. Wimple Hanover was originally a $13,000 yearling purchase by Quebec-based interests, but was resold the following November. Wimple Hanover s granddam, Windsun Dee, produced $2.7 million winner Four Starzzz Shark. By Gordon Waterstone 30 YO Ryan Macedonio Running For USTA President Post Ryan Macedonio Ryan Macedonio, a 30-year-old former horseman, now works as a graphic artist but also has several side jobs in harness racing media, including serving as a co-host of the podcast TrotCast on the internet, live reporter at Yonkers Raceway, social media for the Hambletonian Society, and webmaster for teamallard.com, the website of trainer Rene Allard. Earlier this month Macedonio, a native and resident of Middletown, N.Y., near Monticello Raceway, sent a letter to the U.S. Trotting Association (USTA) announcing his candidacy for president of the organization. Macedonio hails from a family deeply involved in harness racing, with both sides of his family involved in the sport for at least three generations. He is the son of Carmine and Carol Brewer Macedonio. HarnessRacing Weekend Preview asked Macedonio what he brings to the table as a candidate, especially since he has never before served as a director of the USTA, which is the typical path to becoming president of the organization. I would push for globalization and internet marketing. I can lead these initiatives. Everything else trickles down, said Macedonio of what he considers the keys of how he could lead the USTA. I think we re making baby steps when we should be taking bigger strides. There should be more of a push. The president has to push people. I know it seems idealistic, but to me, there hasn t been a branded identity push in harness racing, he continued. When Roger Goodell took his position with the NFL, he made safety a priority and at first it was fought. But now look at the NFL since he has taken over. Macedonio said he believes that harness racing can create new fans and owners from social media initiatives. We need to get everyone on social media. We need to make things more modern and innovative. And we can follow what others are doing. We don t have to create anything, he said. Macedonio said if he is defeated in the election, he will consider running for a USTA director seat in the future (none is available in his area of New York until 2018) continue his social media work. Regardless of what happens in the election, we all have to work together. I believe I can bring change with the Trot- Cast and the other things I do on social media, he said. By Kathy Parker

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6 HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 6 of 10 December 23, on Aug. 16. Canada s federal leader met with track officials, toured the backstretch, scooped ice cream for customers at the track s ice cream booth, and photo-bombed a winner s circle presentation to Atlantic Sires Stakes winner BJ Savanah. Harness Racing Year in Review - Canada The O Brien Awards finalists have been announced, effectively bringing the 2016 Canadian harness racing season to a close. In a year that saw the youngest driver ever win a Triple Crown race, the final crop of Camluck yearlings sell at auction, and career-ending spider bites, these were some of the biggest stories from north of the border. Classy Lane Fire It was a rough start to a new year when on Jan. 4, fire ripped through Classy Lane training center, killing 43 horses belonging to the stables of Ben Wallace, Roger Mayotte, Chantal Mitchell, Kris Di Cenzo, Dan Lagace and Floyd Amos. The incident sent shockwaves rippling through the local community and harness racing stables and backstretches across Canada and the US. It even grabbed the attention of national mainstream media. The Central Ontario Standardbred Association immediately set up a GoFundMe campaign which raised over $710,000 in donations for the affected trainers and grooms. After an 11-month investigation, the Ontario Fire Marshall s office announced the cause of the fire to be electrical in nature, but the shadow of the tragedy lingered over Canadian harness racing for the whole year. Betting Line The Bettor s Delight Heather s Western son made headlines all year. First he tied the stakes, track and Canadian record of 1:47.4 in the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup giving driver David Miller his first career Cup victory and trainer Casie Coleman s her second NA Cup in six years. Betting Line then followed with wins in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold series, a world record clocking of 1:47.2 in the Battle of the Brandywine, and a world record 1:49 mile in the second heat of the Little Brown Jug. But then on July 23 Betting Line and assistant trainer Mark McKinnon escaped serious injury after being involved in a head-on traffic collision while shipping home from a race at Mohawk. Betting Line wasn t as lucky in October when he tangled with the world s most malicious spider. A subsequent infection from two spider bites forced Coleman to scratch the colt from his remaining 2016 engagements, and on Nov. 14 it was announced that the colt was retired to stud. JT to PEI Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid a visit to Charlottetown Driving Park on Prince Edward Island during a racing card Problems in the East Unfortunately, Trudeau s Old Home Week visit was a brief highlight in a difficult year for Atlantic region horsemen. On May 17, New Brunswick s Fredericton Exhibition locked out horsemen and members of Horse Racing New Brunswick (HRNB) in the middle of the night over a disagreement about property tax payments. After Fredericton Exhibition refused HRNB s lease payment, track management changed the locks, alarm codes and hired a security firm. By October, spokesmen for HRNB announced they had been unable to reach a lease agreement with Fredericton Exhibition leaving the 2017 racing season at Canada s oldest racetrack in doubt. Newfoundland harness racing also suffered a very serious blow when on July 1, Canada Day, the last trainers stabled at St. John s Racing and Entertainment Centre were told they had one month to leave track property. Rumors had indicated the track might receive development funding, but a letter from track management simply urged horsemen to contact local members of parliament and ask the provincial government to aid Newfoundland s struggling harness racing industry. Tracks Keep Racing Two Canadian harness tracks learned they will keep racing beyond the 2016 season. Management at the 140-year-old Dresden Raceway was informed by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation that they can continue hosting live racing for the next five years, while in Alberta, Northlands Park will continue racing through 2017 and into June A new track, Century Mile, is scheduled to open in July Alberta s horsemen also got a boost on March 19 when Alberta s Minister of Finance, Joe Ceci, announced a new 10- year funding for the provincial horse racing industry. The new 10-year agreement will provide support to rural communities and the agriculture sector and replaces a previous provincial funding contract that expiring at the end of March. Gone but Not Forgotten Gordon Earle Gilbertson passed peacefully in Stratford, Ont., on May 9 at the age of 95. Dr. Gilbertson, a veterinarian and veteran horseman, was the creator of the Quick Hitch, or Rondeau Quick-Hitch. Personal Fav For fans of the underdogs and longshots, the best performance of the year happened on Oct. 15 at Alberta s Century Downs Racetrack when the 3-year-old filly pacer Outlawburntpopcorn scored a victory in the $56,000 Alberta Marquis Final. The filly returned a whopping $ on a $2 win ticket.

7 HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 7 of 10 December 23, What to Watch in 2017 After conducting many months of public consultations, the government of Ontario has tabled a proposal for the longterm $1.6 billion funding of the Ontario horse racing industry. However, provincial officials have indicated the industry must demonstrate a collective willingness to course correct their business and operational models before the plan can be implemented. In particular, the government wants Ontario s Standardbred horsemen s groups and racetracks to submit formal racetrack business plans, and race dates and purse level alignment across the province for a coordinated and collab- Team Teague, a group of horsepeople based in Harrington, Del., who have been masterful in both their care and campaigning of the charismatic $3.9 million-winning pacer Wiggle It Jiggleit over the last two years, has won the top honor that the U. S. Harness Writers Association (USHWA) solely votes on the Stan Bergstein Proximity Award, presented annually to those who have made outstanding contributions to harness racing. The team captain is of course owner-trainer George Teague Jr., last year s Owner of the Year, through whom the major decisions are made, but Teague would be the first to credit the many, many others who have been integral parts of the success of Wiggle It Jiggleit, the 2015 Horse of the Year and second in this year s voting, and indeed all the way back to 2004 Horse of the Year Rainbow Blue and beyond. These folks would include Teague s sister Brenda, his right-hand man for many years and an outstanding horsewoman in her own right; his stable s owners, many of them from his home base of Delaware; and Jim Bernstein, a former horseman turned successful businessman. There is Teague s son Montrell, last year s Rising Star Award winner, who has shown both ability and calmness in the sulky well beyond his 25 years, and who in his intelligence, horsemanship, and enthusiasm has become as public a standard bearer of Team Teague as anybody. There is the veteran Clyde Francis, who oversees the dayto-day care of Wiggle, and Big Mike Taylor, honored as 2015 s Caretaker of the Year, who has developed a rapport with his charge while also keeping his respect many a chaotic winner s circle, definitely not Wiggle s favorite place to go, has been avoided by Mike s patient yet firm handling of the horse just after the races. Add in other stable employees and front office workers, and you have a group of individuals who have all had a part in the success of a horse who has commanded a major portion of the harness spotorative approach to distributing live racing. Officials are also calling for the establishment of a new racetrack alliance of all Ontario tracks that will be administered and overseen by Woodbine Entertainment Group. Talks and planning sessions between WEG and the province s smaller tracks are expected to start in early Andrea Pietrzak was on the staff of the Canadian Sportsman magazine for 10 years until leaving to complete her education. She currently lives in London, Ont. Her column appears in HarnessRacing Weekend Preview in part through the advertising support of Woodbine Entertainment Group. Any opinions expressed in this column are her own and not necessarily those of the Horseman Publishing Company and its publications or its advertisers. Team Teague Wins Proximity Achievement Award light for two full seasons now Team Teague has indeed made an outstanding contribution to the sulky sport. Teague was also selected by USHWA for individual recognition as the organization s Good Guy Award winner, for outstanding cooperation with the media and in helping to showcase the sport. Teague and the rest of Team Teague will be honored at the Night Of Champions, the Dan Patch Awards Banquet Presented by Hoosier Park, which will take place on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017 at the Planet Hollywood hotel/casino in Las Vegas. (USHWA)

8 HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 8 of 10 December 23, Filion Looks To Take Niagara With Jimbelina Woodbine Racetrack s Boxing Day matinee card on Monday, Dec. 26, gets underway at 1 p.m., with a pair of series finals for 3-year-old pacers the featured events. The $35,400(C) Valedictory final for colts is slated as race 5, while the $33,400(C) Niagara final for fillies is programmed as Race 9. After cruising to a pair of victories in the opening two legs of the Niagara Series, Jimbelina easily stamped herself the one to beat in Monday s final. However, the post gods threw a bit of a wrench into things when the daughter of Big Jim drew the outside post 10, which has won at a rate of just 4.1 I don t have much choice but to go forward. I can t really take back with her. Sylvain Filion percent this year at Woodbine. For paces, the results are even worse, with only seven of 191 starters landing in the winner s circle an average of 3.7 percent. Despite the outside post, driver Sylvain Filion who was recently named an O Brien Award finalist for Canada s 2016 Driver of the Year is optimistic about his chances. He said there is no secret to his strategy as Jimbelina is a consistent leaver. Overall, the filly has nine wins, six seconds and one third in 18 starts this year, with earnings of $53,880(C) for Quebec-based owner Roland Trudel. I don t have much choice but to go forward, said Filion, who is already a three-time O Brien Award winner in 2012, 13 and 15. I can t really take back with her. She has tons of gate speed and has been really good her last two starts. I will try and put her into a position to win. Jimbelina competed for much of the year at Hippodrome 3R in Quebec, but owner Trudel sent her to trainer Rene Bourassa to race in Ontario in September. Jimbelina was sent off the betting favorite in the $38,600(C) Autumn Series final on Nov. 18 at Woodbine but after leading to the threequarters, she faded in the stretch and finished sixth. She has a little bit of an issue with tying up, explained Filion. But I think her trainer, Rene Bourassa, has that figured out now. She has been much better ever since. Filion also directed Hot Spot Hanover to a third and second in the Niagara preliminaries, and he said to not underestimate the Mike Bishop-trained filly. Hot Spot Hanover will be driven by James MacDonald from post 4. I think she is a better filly than that; she s the one to beat, Filion said about Hot Spot Hanover. I raced her on the front end and I don t think she likes that too much. I think she is way better off cover. Despite post 10 s paltry percentage at Woodbine, Filion believes starting from the outside at that seven-eighths mile track is better than the one-mile oval at the Meadowlands, where post 10 has won at a rate of nine percent during the current fall meet. You have more time to get in position at Woodbine; at the Meadowlands you hit the turn way sooner, noted Filion. Obviously, post 10 is not an advantage, but at Woodbine it s not as tough as the Meadowlands. I think it will all depend on the trip; whoever gets the best trip will win. I can race on the front or race her in a hole, I just hope I don t have to rough her up too much. As for the Valedictory final, second-round winners Lyons Sands and Awesomeness will bookend the field as they respectively drew posts 1 and 10. Dreamfair Mesa and Dragon Strikes, who sprung upsets in the first round, will respectively start from posts 6 and 8. By Gordon Waterstone Eye On Woodbine Horseplayers have a chance to give themselves and likely plenty of family and friends a nice holiday gift if they take a shot at Friday night s Jackpot Hi-5 at Woodbine Racetrack, which has a mandatory payout. With a carryover pool of $548,396, the total pool could exceed $1.5 million, based on prior payouts. The Jackpot Hi-5 requires bettors to select the top-five finishers in exact order. Weekend Preview s Gordon Waterstone handicapped the Jackpot Hi-5 race, which is scheduled as Race 12 on Friday night. His selections can be found below. The last mandatory payout on a Standardbred Jackpot Hi- 5 in Ontario came on North America Cup night on June 18, when more than $1.2 million in new money was wagered into the pool, bringing the total pool to $1,694,983. The 20- cent minimum ticket payout was $1, On a couple of occasions, the mandatory payout on the Jackpot Hi-5 has topped $2 million. The first occurred at Woodbine on May 17, 2014, when the pool reached $2 million. At Mohawk on Aug. 30, 2014, the total pool surpassed $2.5 million. At Woodbine on Oct. 24, 2015, more than $1.6 million was wagered, bringing the total pool to more than $2.2 million. That night, the 20-cent payout was $12, The Jackpot Hi-5 has a 20-cent minimum ticket and a takeout race of 15 percent. Friday s mandatory race also has 12 scheduled starters, which complicates handicapping slightly. Here are Waterstone s selections: My strategy is to focus on only a couple of horses to win the race, and then key a horse to play underneath in the money. While I could only find two horses that I believe could have a longshot chance to finish in the top five (the 1 and 9), going down to five places you have to hit the all button to be safe. Handicapping the race, it looks to me like the front-end speed should come from Electric Western (4) and Paparazzi Hanover (8). Those are the two horses I will play at the top of the ticket. Shadow Margeaux (5) is also a threat as he shows strong late kick, so that s my key horse underneath. PLAY: 4,8/4,8/5/All/All ($28.80); 4,8/4,8/All/5/All ($28.80); 4,8/4,8/All/All/5 ($28.80); and 4,8/5/4,8/All/All ($28.80) TOTAL COST: $115.20

9 HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 9 of 10 December 23, Svanstedt drops Resolve appeal According to the New Jersey Racing Commission, trainer Ake Svanstedt has withdrawn his appeal of the penalties imposed as a result of positive tests on two of his horses in early August at the Meadowlands, including $273,600 John Cashman Jr. Memorial Trot winner Resolve. more Takter, Miller repeat as Trainer, Driver of Year David Miller and Jimmy Takter were the Driver and Trainer of the Year in 2015, respectively, their outstanding seasons cemented by quantity six Breeders Crown wins for Takter, with Miller gaining five Crown sulky triumphs, including two for Takter. And in 2016, Takter and Miller are repeat winners in their respective categories as voted by the U.S. Harness Writers Association. more Wellwood/Keeling voted Owners of the Year Marion Jean Wellwood and her grandson, Devin Keeling, who owned Triple Crown champion trotter Marion Marauder, have been voted the 2016 Owners of the Year by the U.S. Harness Writers Association. more Canada s O Brien Award finalists announced On Tuesday, Standardbred Canada announced the finalists for the 2016 O Brien Awards, which honor Canada s best in harness racing over the past season. The winners will be announced at the annual O Brien Awards Black Tie Gala on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017 at the Hilton Mississauga/Meadowvale Hotel in Mississauga, Ont. more USTA to host owner s school at Sunshine Meadows The U.S. Trotting Association will be hosting a free Standardbred Owner s School at Sunshine Meadows Equestrian Village in Delray Beach, Fla., on Jan , more The Meadowlands races into 2017 As the calendar turns to 2017 at the Meadowlands, the reasons are many to be optimistic about the future of harness racing s flagship racetrack. A total of 91 live Standardbred racing dates have been granted for the new calendar year, a slight increase over more Top Swedish mare D One for sale The trotting mare D One, a winner of the Breeders Crown Mare Trot, is for sale. The daughter of world champions Donato Hanover-Giant Diablo is owned by 60 shareholders in a limited partnership managed by Kenny Thörnblom. more Classy Lane fire determined electrical According to the local Office of the Fire Marshall, the cause of the barn fire at Classy Lane Training Center in Ontario last January that killed 43 horses was determined as electrical. more New rules for Michigan Colt Stakes For nearly 25 years, the Michigan stakes program has been restricted to Michigan-sired horses only. An amendment to the State of Michigan s Horse Racing Law of 1995 Act 279 now allows Michigan bred along with Michigan sired to be raced in the Michigan Early Closing Colt Stakes. more Meadows website offers handicapping tips The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association reminds all horseplayers that handicapping help is available on the group s website, more Updated News Round-The-Clock harnessracing.com

10 HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 10 of 10 December 23, Final Standardbred Poll Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown Poll compiled by Harness Racing Communications for the week of November 22, 2016 AGS St Earnings Pts Pvs 1. Always B Miki (27) 5ph $1,487, Wiggle It Jiggleit (8) 4pg ,719, Hannelore Hanover 4tm ,119, Betting Line 3pc ,467, Marion Marauder 3tc ,484, Lady Shadow 5pm , Ariana G 2tf , Walner 2tc , Racing Hill 3pc ,594, Resolve 5th ,341, Others receiving votes: Pure Country 40, Huntsville 35, Broadway Donna 34, Bar Hopping 17, Obrigado 16, Manhattan Beach, Southwind Frank 7, Downbytheseaside 6, Snowstorm Hanover 5, Krispy Apple 4, That s The Ticket 3, Magic Presto 2, Bee A Magician, Someomensomewhere, The Real One 1. Harness Racing Leaders Compiled by the USTA through December 20, 2016 (week difference Dec ). Leading North American-Based Money-Winning Horses Sts. W P S Earnings Wiggle It Jiggleit (4pg) $1,719,062 Racing Hill (3pc) ,594,366 Always B Miki (5ph) ,487,292 Marion Marauder (3tc) ,484,532 Betting Line (3pc) ,467,386 Bar Hopping (3tc) ,191,195 Resolve (5th) ,184,780 Southwind Frank (3tc) ,164,468 Hannelore Hanover (4tm) ,119,111 Pure Country (3pf) ,082,430 Leading Money-Winning Drivers Sts. W-P-S UDR Earnings (wk. diff) Yannick Gingras 2, $13,178,306 ($25,678) David Miller 2, ,643,792 (0) Tim Tetrick 3, ,302,433 (82,287) Jason Bartlett 2, ,170,490 (146,070) Scott Zeron 2, ,917,445 (19,480) Matt Kakaley 2, ,907,078 (100,744) Brett Miller 2, ,695,099 (63,941) Brian Sears 1, ,486,183 (0) Aaron Merriman 4, ,433,172 (151,420) Corey Callahan 3, ,337,858 (68,245) Leading Money-Winning Trainers Sts. W-P-S UTR Earnings (wk. diff) Ron Burke 4, $21,247,717 ($100,243) Jimmy Takter ,275,494 (24,000) Rene Allard 2, ,551,744 (95,868) Tony Alagna ,870,843 (2,974) Ake Svanstedt ,554,519 (0) Erv Miller ,946,781 (0) Linda Toscano ,553,962 (15,735) Chris Oakes ,484,304 (0) Julie Miller ,325,217 (0) Jeff Bamond Jr ,166,070 (82,750) Leading Breeders Breeder Starters Winners Wins Earnings Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. 1, ,359 $27,034,517 Winbak Farm ,188 20,232,735 Brittany Farms ,718,946 White Birch Farm ,069,635 Perretti Farms ,983,979 Diamond Creek Farm LLC ,436,886 Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc ,909,288 Fair Winds Farm Inc ,464,986 Kentuckiana Farms Gen Par ,248,261 Seelster Farms Inc ,175,883 Leaders Of The Week Ranked by wins for Dec from results at major North American pari-mutuel tracks. Drivers Starts W-P-S Aaron Merriman Ronnie Wrenn Jr Bob McClure Alfred Carroll Bruce Aldrich Jr Brett Miller Jason Bartlett Simon Allard Tim Tetrick Trainers Wins Ron Burke...11 Rene Allard...9 Richard Moreau...7 James Lackey...5 Dale Gilmour...4 Dylan Davis...4 Gary Messenger...4 Jeff Bamond Jr...4 Richard Johnson...4 Robert Fellows...4 Tyler George...4 Amber Buter...3 Andy Rickert...3 Anthony MacDonald...3 Charles Stewart...3 Dave Spagnola...3 Dean Nixon...3 Dolores Basilone...3 Doug Hinklin...3 Douglas Lewis...3 George Reider...3 J.D. Perrin...3 Jose Godinez...3 Joseph Cirasuola...3 Kathleen Plested...3 Keith Kash Jr...3 Kim Sloan...3 Luke Plano...3 Mike Watson...3 Paul Holzman...3 Per Henriksen...3 Richard Banca...3 Scott Di Domenico...3 Sebastian Giroux...3 Steven Kiblin...3 Thomas Milici...3