The Harness Racing Alumni Show.

On this week's Harness Racing Alumni Show we are joined by our good friend Judy Bokman of the Standardbred Retirement Foundation. Judy discusses with Freddie the SRF's November 7th planned event "Holiday at the Farm" and their online auction. Details of both events can be found on their website, adoptahorse.org. She also talks about horse slaughter, her current needs and biggest concerns. All on this week's broadcast.

On this week's Harness Racing Alumni Show we are joined by standardbred owner and breeder Rick Berks whose horse, Blazin’ Lou just won his division of the Breeders Crown, International owner and breeder Gordon Banks, retired top driver from the legendary Dancer family, Donald Dancer and wagering and post time consultant Michael Antoniades. On this fun and exciting show, the guys along with Freddie discuss a wide range of topics including the Lexington sale, the Breeders Crown, plans on moving the sport forward, drag time between races and much much more. All on this week's broadcast.

International breeder and owner Gordon Banks returns as this week's guest on the Harness Racing Alumni Show. Gordon gives an overview of the recent Lexington Selected Yearling Sale where he and his partner Eric Cherry purchased 3 yearlings. Banks talks about the meetings he had on the development of a strategic plan for the sport of harness racing and a change in direction. Then we discuss the Breeders Crown and his elimination entry Twisted Destiny and talks about his horses racing down under. All on this week's broadcast.

Michelle Crawford of Crawford Farms is this week's guest on the Harness Racing Alumni Show. Michelle talks about the farms consignment of 43 yearlings that will be for sale at the upcoming Lexington Selected Yearling Sale between October 5th through the 8th. The yearlings will be available for viewing starting on Saturday the 3rd in barn number 11. She also said that they will be selling another consignment at the Harrisburg sale in November.   Michelle also talks about her thoroughbreds and predicts a strong Lexington sale going by the results of the recent strong thoroughbred sales. She also states that she is all-in for joining a committee to address the after-racing care of our horses at the upcoming industry meeting. The meeting will be scheduled during the Lexington sale. All on this week's broadcast.    

On this week's Harness Racing Alumni Show, we are joined by Hunterton Farms Steve Stewart, Don Hawk of Hawk Marketing, (who is also a Standardbred breeder and owner) along with international owner and breeder Gordon Banks.
 
Steve talks about the upcoming Lexington Selected Yearling sale that will be held October 5th through the 8th at the Fasig-Tipton Pavilion. Hawk talks of the Meadowlands new one million 3-year-old trot and the idea is of combining the Meadowlands Trot with the Hambletonian and Kentucky Futurity to create the possibility of a Triple Crown Series with a huge bonus for any horse that wins all 3 events. It is also announced that the 2027 Breeders Crown will be held at the Red Mile in 2027. The idea of not having elimination races is also discussed with the pros and cons of the concept.
   
Gordon discusses the up-coming industry wide meetings that are being scheduled. The first one will take place at the Lexington Sale with the likelihood that there will be two meetings…., one on Sunday the 4th and the second on either Monday (the 5th) or Tuesday the (6th).

Banks discusses the setting up of committees to address some of the issues in the sport. One is unifying state racing commissions and the other, addressing aftercare of our race horses along with other issues that need to be discussed.   For more information about the upcoming meetings visit ustrots.com.  

This is a very informative broadcast that anyone associated with harness racing should listen to and comment about.

North America leading trainers, Nancy Takter & Virgil Morgan along with owner breeders Gordon Banks & Rick Berks…., have a candid conversation with Freddie on this week's Harness Racing Alumni Show...
They talk about many of the issues that are facing the sport today and discuss plans to save and promote harness racing moving forward.
The first step is an industry open mike roundtable meeting that is being scheduled to take place between October 5th through the 8th at the upcoming Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.Visit http://www.ustrots.com for more information. The time to take action is now. This is a “MUST LISTEN” to broadcast..

  To comment on this week's show please email [email protected]  

On this week's Harness Racing Alumni Show we are joined by Don Hawk, a standardbred owner, breeder, and the CEO of Hawk Sports Management. In his first interview since being hired by the Hambletonian Society, he is joined by international owner and breeder Gordon Banks. Don shares some of his plans and ideas for promoting the races managed by the Hambletonian Society and shares marketing and sponsorship ideas. We are still in the process of setting up a roundtable meeting at the Little Brown Jug and Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. Don’t miss this must listen to broadcast.

Comments regarding this week's show can be sent to [email protected]   On this week's Harness Racing Alumni Show, our breeder/owner guests, Rick Berks and Gordon Banks discuss the recent Nancy Takter letters that were posted in Harness Racing Update and on Facebook. Rick, Gordon and Freddie discuss plans of repairing issues within our sport and moving forward. They also talk about the draft outline of an industry business plan that was created last year which will be made public shortly. The first step is to start meeting industry participants in person and plans are underway for an open industry meeting to be scheduled at the Lexington Sale. It is now time to take action. This is a very informative broadcast.

On this week's Harness Racing Alumni Show, we are joined by industry leaders Steve Stewart of Hunterton Farms, Gordon Banks, an international breeder and owner, Tommy Luchento, the former president of both the Standardbred Owners Association of New Jersey and the Harness Horsemen International and Donald Dancer, a former leading driver-trainer, who is now a racing official.   The group along with Freddie forms a panel that discusses the recent decision of the Hambletonian Society to move the Hambletonian from the Meadowlands in NJ, to Harrah's Hoosier Park, IN.  The members of the panel offer their personal opinions and discuss other issues currently affecting the harness racing industry. All on this week's broadcast.

Dexter Dunn, Tim Tetrick  & the exciting Hambletonian are the topics on this week's Harness Racing Alumni Show. Hosts Freddie, Trade and Bob discuss the driver’s strategy of the 2026 Hambletonian drivers including the trainer switch of Big Ranger. Then the hosts move to Zeron and Barlett's accident at Yonkers which caused them to miss driving in the Hambletonian along with Endurance breaking a coffin bone in the race. And the possibility of the biggest race in harness racing being moved out of New Jersey. All on this week's broadcast.