Here’s the rewritten version of the content in my own words:
Keeping the Pace: A Great Day in the Race
Over the past few years, I have often expressed frustration and negativity about the standardbred racing industry. However, today, I want to offer nothing but praise. Every year, athletes gather from Manhattan to Meadowlands in New Jersey for their most important races. The harness racing community hopes for good weather, safe tracks, exciting crowds, and memorable races. Most years, fans and insiders enjoy themselves thoroughly, but this year went above and beyond. The race was thrilling, the venue was full, and the atmosphere on track was electric. One longtime pace enthusiast even called it the best race day they had seen in years.
It was a spectacular day, fitting for the 100th anniversary edition of harness racing’s premier event. On the undercard, some favorites triumphed while others did not. The Hambletonian filly race, known as the Oaks of Hambletonia, was claimed by Conbano, driven by a Canadian catch driver who only found out he’d be racing last week. The main event, the 100th Hambletonian with a $1 million purse, was won by Nordic Catcher S, a lightning-fast colt with a prestigious lineage. The horse shattered the stake’s record and outpaced several strong contenders, earning a prize larger than usual. Nordic Catcher S is owned by trainer Ake Svandstedt and Jeff Gural, the track owner.
The success of the day wasn’t due to any major overhaul by Meadowlands’ Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemore and his team—rather, it was the result of many small details coming together perfectly. Yes, minor hiccups occurred, as they always do, but the weather was ideal, the stands were packed, and the excitement was palpable. At one point, a driver even tossed a T-shirt into the crowd—a moment that would have been unthinkable years ago. While the horses are undoubtedly the stars, top drivers play a crucial role in promoting the sport to younger generations, often more so than trainers.
The positive energy was palpable when fans saw Boffo during an honor lap, a former Hambletonian champion. Though the harness racing industry has struggled in recent decades, there is newfound optimism, especially with a state referendum potentially bringing casinos to the virtual gateway of New York City. Such developments could inject hundreds of millions in gaming revenue into New Jersey and usher in a new era for harness racing, with more funding for bigger stakes races, marketing, and promotion—especially sorely needed in the Northeast. I have supported a full casino at Meadowlands for over 15 years and it’s surprising lawmakers haven’t navigated around the Atlantic City lobby to make it happen yet.
But that’s a discussion for another time. What truly matters now is recognizing how well the industry performed on that spectacular Saturday. Even the pre-race promotional video was outstanding. The real question now is how to maintain this energy and momentum, especially as the season’s major stakes races move to other states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. More importantly, will the many people who turned out for this memorable day remember the excitement when it’s time to vote on the crucial gaming initiative coming soon?
Call and Response
After publishing a “Keeping Pace” column about a recent hidden ownership controversy in harness racing, I received feedback—some from a well-known standardbred figure who felt I was too harsh on the USTA (United States Trotting Association) and its investigative arm, the Standardbred Racing Investigatory Fund (SRIF). Over the years, I’ve pushed for greater race integrity, but some felt I was too quick to criticize the USTA and SRIF’s flawed investigation work. Others were even more critical of Eric Cherry, a prominent owner and breeder caught up in the mess, dismissing his defense as weak.
I want to clarify that I did not defend Cherry or minimize the issues around registration and hidden ownership. Cherry had close ties with Nick Slick, whose operation was implicated in performance-enhancing drug scandals. He should have known about these issues by early 2020. While I’ve allowed Cherry to share his perspective on platforms like the Harness Racing Alumni Association, it’s telling that the USTA responded to his criticisms by publishing an investigative report on his case—one that exposes embarrassing details for both Cherry and the USTA.
Through SRIF, the USTA is expanding its enforcement, attempting to clean up the sport as state racing commissions increase their efforts. While this is necessary and a strong signal that the sport must play by the rules, my concern lies in how the investigations have been conducted. USTA President Russell Williams owns Hanover Shoe Farms, the sport’s largest breeding operation, while SRIF is targeting some of Hanover’s competitors such as Diamond Creek and Eric Cherry. This conflict of interest cannot be ignored.
Moreover, SRIF and the USTA lack transparency in their enforcement. Some who did business with Slick seemed to escape punishment without clear explanations, while others like Cherry faced penalties. Questions also remain about what exactly the USTA and SRIF focus on—is it hidden ownership itself or hidden ownership by unapproved individuals? For example, why was Slick’s USTA membership allowed to expire almost 18 months after the federal indictment? How did the USTA prove Cherry and others knew Slick was unapproved? These parts of the story remain unclear.
More concerning than Cherry’s case are broader issues such as trainers using “beard” operations—fronts for unapproved owners—particularly in Pennsylvania and New York. These matters speak directly to racing integrity and are far more troubling than naming owners of inactive breeders. If SRIF wants to build credibility quickly, it should tackle these larger systemic problems.
Cherry recently wrote that after threatening to sell hundreds of horses in protest against his punishment, the USTA decided to withdraw his fine. Regardless, one of Cherry’s lasting influences on the sport might be increased awareness about broodmare registration.
Note
Now for a challenging part: Everett Dobson, the new president of the Jockey Club, made an encouraging debut speech recognizing many of racing’s key issues and differentiating himself from past leadership. “The Jockey Club will continue to provide strong support,” he said. The challenge for Dobson is to turn his vision into reality while uniting the industry’s competitive factions. He faces existential problems like the decline in breeding numbers and more immediate concerns such as securing racing’s future in California and other vulnerable regions. His business and professional sports background should aid in promoting the sport amid today’s changing social and betting landscapes.
Disclosure: Meadowlands Racetrack and Gural are sponsors of this column, and I own a few horses with them. The Jockey Club also sponsors the Keeping Pace column.
This story first appeared on August 4, 2025, in the Paulick Report.
Fan Take:
This promising day at Meadowlands serves as a powerful reminder of harness racing’s potential to captivate and grow its fanbase with the right mix of tradition, excitement, and progress. The pending casino referendum and efforts to tighten race integrity could usher in a new era of prosperity and trust, crucial for the sport’s survival and growth in today’s competitive entertainment landscape.
