Nearly 60 years of racing at Pompano Park came to a close on Sunday night in in Pompano Beach, Fla. According to Harness Link, a large on-track crowd was on hand to witness to the emotional evening of 16 races, tributes to longtime horsemen and employees, and a near-record handle of $1,430,824, the third-largest in the track's history.
Pompano Park's closure was predicated by the passage of a bill in May of 2021 which decoupled casino gaming and pari-mutuel betting; Pompano owner Caesars Entertainment announced shortly thereafter that 2022 would be the final season of racing at the Florida harness track.
The most emotional victory of the evening saw track record holder Panocchio, now 12 years old, regained his top form of six years' past under the guide of Pompano's all-time leading driver, Wally Hennessey. It was Panocchio's 53rd lifetime win at Pompano Park, and his 77th overall; Hennessey stood in the sulky and cheered as he guided the grizzled veteran into the track's hallowed winner's circle for a final time.
Wally Hennessey brings PANOCCHIO back to the winner circle at @IsleCasinoPP in the 14th.
#harnessracing pic.twitter.com/tDbn5odmFv
— U.S. Trotting Assn. (@USTrotting) April 18, 2022
Hennessey reflected on his years at Pompano during an earlier interview with Harness Link: “I wouldn't call it depression to talk about the ending of racing at Pompano, it's more like a funeral. That's the way I feel. And that you can't control it.
“From 1986 to right now, I've lived my dream. The unfortunate thing is that I am losing my dream. I look from the side of my stable and can see the old grandstand standing there and, in my mind, it is as regal as the day it was built.”
Others honored on closing night included: track founders Fred and Frances Dodge Van Lennep; 60-year employee Charlie Adams; and Tom Merriman and Bill Popfinger, both participants during Pompano's opening season in 1964.
The final farewell to Pompano Park was a video composed by Chris Tully, shown on the infield mega-tron.
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