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Pompano Park Goes Out With A Bang; Near-Record Handle On Final Night At ‘Winter Capital Of Harness Racing’

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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Whip Rules: Monmouth Asks New Jersey Commission To Consider Changes Ahead Of HISA Implementation

Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., is currently scheduled to open on May 7 with the strictest whip rules in the country: jockeys will only be allowed to use the whip for safety reasons. However, whip rules under the new federal Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, scheduled to go into effect on July 1, will allow jockeys to use the whip six times during a single race, but not more than twice in succession.

According to the Asbury Park Press, Monmouth officials have asked the New Jersey Racing Commission to implement HISA's version of the whip rules for the entirety of the 2022 race meet.

“I think we have a very good chance of getting this done,” Dennis Drazin, chairman and CEO of Darby Development, which operates Monmouth Park, told APP. “It doesn't make sense to have different rules to start the meet and switch midstream.”

Unfortunately, the commission may not be able to adopt the new rule in time for the start of Monmouth's meet. Instead, Monmouth may be allowed to institute a “house rule” that matches that of the new HISA regulation.

The only downside is that the stewards, employed by the commission, would not be able to enforce the whip rule. Instead, that task would fall to the placing judges and racing secretary John Heims.

Work On Pimlico Main Track Delayed; Now Set To Begin April 25

Due to a forecast for rain early next week, work on the Pimlico Race Course dirt surface has been rescheduled for Monday, April 25, through Wednesday, April 27.

The work, which entails an examination of previous work done on the base of the Baltimore, Md., racetrack in advance of the spring meet, was scheduled for Easter Sunday, April 17, through Tuesday, April 19. Pimlico and Laurel already were scheduled to close for training on Easter.

The Maryland Jockey Club also said that because of the forecast for rain, entries will not be taken for grass races that were scheduled for Thursday, April 21, and Friday, April 22.

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Kentucky House Passes Resolution Requiring The Jockey Club To Testify Annually About Fees, Rule Changes

During the final day of the legislative session on Thursday, April 14, the Kentucky State House of Representatives passed a concurrent resolution to require The Jockey Club to testify annually about fees and rule changes that might affect Thoroughbred racing or breeding in the Commonwealth.

In February, a bill was introduced by Speaker of Kentucky's House of Representatives, David Osborne – along with co-sponsor Representative Matthew Koch – to prevent any “registrar of Thoroughbreds” from implementing a cap. The bill had strong support, and caused TJC to rescind its attempt to cap the total number of mares bred per stallion.

In addition, TJC increased its registration fees for 2022, announced in December of 2021.

The new resolution requires TJC to testify before either the Interim Joint Committee on Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations; or the House Standing Committee on Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations and the Senate Standing Committee on Licensing and Occupations.

Testimony is expected to include information about “a potential rule change or fee that has the potential to materially affect Thoroughbred breeding or racing in the Commonwealth such that the committee process for notice and comment on the proposed rule change or fee may proceed.”

In addition, “the committee or committees may request nonproprietary, nonprivileged information or data that is relevant to the proposed rule change or fee, which does not require the Jockey Club to breach a preexisting contractual obligation of confidentiality.”

A concurrent resolution does not require the signature of the chief executive, and does not have the force of law behind it.

Not passed during Kentucky's legislative session was a bill to legalize sports betting; according to the Lexington Herald-Leader, House Bill 606 was never heard on the Senate floor.

“Everywhere I go people stop me and ask 'why can't we pass sports betting,'” Senate Floor Leader Damon Thayer (R) told the Herald-Leader. “I can't make (lawmakers vote) for it if they don't want to be for it.”

Read more at the Lexington Herald-Leader (behind paywall).

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