HORSEPLOP.COM
General Category => Harness Racing => Topic started by: Fuguzzi on August 28, 2023, 07:43:24 AM
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On July 4th of this year an underrated, respected, horseman, trainer and driver from my growing up years at Foxboro/Rockingham, won his 2400th race. Admittedly, not an alarming number of wins, by today's standards, but a quality achievement given the era in which he raced. Here's the thing....His name is Bobby Tisbert, it happened at Plainridge in a pari-mutuel race and he is 86 YEARS OLD!! In the picture of him, all alone in the stretch, his face, arms and the way he "sits a bike" looks like a man in his 50s.
Just a little feel good story in a dirty business, courtesy of the historian, Fuguzzi! ;D
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If you didn't know how old you were, how old would you be? (Satchel Paige)
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On July 4th of this year an underrated, respected, horseman, trainer and driver from my growing up years at Foxboro/Rockingham, won his 2400th race. Admittedly, not an alarming number of wins, by today's standards, but a quality achievement given the era in which he raced. Here's the thing....His name is Bobby Tisbert, it happened at Plainridge in a pari-mutuel race and he is 86 YEARS OLD!! In the picture of him, all alone in the stretch, his face, arms and the way he "sits a bike" looks like a man in his 50s.
Just a little feel good story in a dirty business, courtesy of the historian, Fuguzzi! ;D
Wow, A feel good story on the plop... tmbz1
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If you didn't know how old you were, how old would you be? (Satchel Paige)
As old as you feel.
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Wow, A feel good story on the plop... tmbz1
Just hang tight. Someone will come along and throw a shit bomb on it
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Prolly Larry Bird Boy lol
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On July 4th of this year an underrated, respected, horseman, trainer and driver from my growing up years at Foxboro/Rockingham, won his 2400th race. Admittedly, not an alarming number of wins, by today's standards, but a quality achievement given the era in which he raced. Here's the thing....His name is Bobby Tisbert, it happened at Plainridge in a pari-mutuel race and he is 86 YEARS OLD!! In the picture of him, all alone in the stretch, his face, arms and the way he "sits a bike" looks like a man in his 50s.
Just a little feel good story in a dirty business, courtesy of the historian, Fuguzzi! ;D
Sonny and his brother are good people. Terrific horseman. Nice post.
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Sonny and his brother are good people. Terrific horseman. Nice post.
Appreciate the compliment. I must be a little bit slow and it was a verrrry long time ago. I dont get the Sonny and his brother reference as it pertains to Robert Risbert. Was it a nickname? Can you explain? thanks again
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I met Bob and his wife at Tioga a few years ago. Very nice people
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I met Bob and his wife at Tioga a few years ago. Very nice people
i miss those days 79 to 81 Foxboro and Rockingham The driver colony was sooo deep it was insane Billy Parker, Bruce Ranger Leigh Fitch, Ken Heeney, John Marshall, Rheo Filion, Bobby Tisbert Bert Beckwith Jim and John Winters Walter Case John Hogan Steve Otoole Bobby Cross, Jimmy Doherty, Mark Lancaster Richard Kent WEndell Donaway Ernie Houle Garry Kamal Donald Guidette Leo Bauer John Becwith, William Silk, Billy Faucher Billy O'donnell, Ted Wing Can you beleive I still say the greatest driving colony ever pound for pound The guys I listed and some I have forgotten have well over 100,000 combined wins
Saw amazing stretch duels at Foxboro Bruce Ranger just 4 years older than me, but he was my idol
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I met Bob and his wife at Tioga a few years ago. Very nice people
nice to hear that! TY!
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Appreciate the compliment. I must be a little bit slow and it was a verrrry long time ago. I dont get the Sonny and his brother reference as it pertains to Robert Risbert. Was it a nickname? Can you explain? thanks again
We knew him as Sonny back in the 70's it was his nickname. His wife Alice is a good women too.
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Cool TY Yes she is a very sweet lady there is a foxboro remembrance page on Facebook where she is mentioned often
All my time, I never knew him as Sonny interesting ty Do you remember John Hogan's longtime GF and trainer, Diane Hellen?
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Cool TY Yes she is a very sweet lady there is a foxboro remembrance page on Facebook where she is mentioned often
All my time, I never knew him as Sonny interesting ty Do you remember John Hogan's longtime GF and trainer, Diane Hellen?
Hogan drove for me a few times. I thought he was kind of a cocky. No I didn’t know his girlfriend.
Was stabled at Rockingham for a while that was some crew!
Sonny had a brother in the game for a while back in the 70s, then he disappeared. I can’t remember his first name.
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Hogan drove for me a few times. I thought he was kind of a cocky. No I didn’t know his girlfriend.
Was stabled at Rockingham for a while that was some crew!
Sonny had a brother in the game for a while back in the 70s, then he disappeared. I can’t remember his first name.
Here's one more excellent horseman and driver from a bygone era who mentored many of those guys - Marcel Robillard
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interesting take on Hogan's personality - I found him rather stiff and aloof - kinda like Ron Pierce
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Here's one more excellent horseman and driver from a bygone era who mentored many of those guys - Marcel Robillard
I didn’t know Marcel.
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interesting take on Hogan's personality - I found him rather stiff and aloof - kinda like Ron Pierce
He was more like an arrogant prick. Just my opinion.
Ron what is a nice guy but he wasn’t dealing with a full deck. Hell of a talent though.
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He was more like an arrogant prick. Just my opinion.
Ron what is a nice guy but he wasn’t dealing with a full deck. Hell of a talent though.
Pierce one of the great $$$ drivers ever. Do you know what he is doing now? It's weird
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i miss those days 79 to 81 Foxboro and Rockingham The driver colony was sooo deep it was insane Billy Parker, Bruce Ranger Leigh Fitch, Ken Heeney, John Marshall, Rheo Filion, Bobby Tisbert Bert Beckwith Jim and John Winters Walter Case John Hogan Steve Otoole Bobby Cross, Jimmy Doherty, Mark Lancaster Richard Kent WEndell Donaway Ernie Houle Garry Kamal Donald Guidette Leo Bauer John Becwith, William Silk, Billy Faucher Billy O'donnell, Ted Wing Can you beleive I still say the greatest driving colony ever pound for pound The guys I listed and some I have forgotten have well over 100,000 combined wins
Saw amazing stretch duels at Foxboro Bruce Ranger just 4 years older than me, but he was my idol
When my horses were either starting out, coming back from an injury or not good enough to race at the NY area tracks (RR, YR, ML) they would usually wind up either with Fay Webster (Ben's father, who had a farm and great training setup in Hilton, NY), Anthony Abbatiello's farm (loved to see him both at his farm and at the American Hotel in Freehold which had the best Mac & Cheese I have ever eaten) OR with Billy Silk. Bill was a really good "horse whisperer" and stepped up a few of my "lost causes".. and then asked me to bring one of his horses down to race at RR and YR on a lease arrangement. The horse he had me take down for him was "Silky Sullivan" reincarnate. Herve would drive him for us and the horse might be 15-20 lengths out of it at the 3/4, but somehow, on occasion, found the finish line in front. Unfortunately he ultimately broke down, but then Lou Miller (and JoAnn) helped him recover and become one of the "teaching" horses at RR for them. I was an owner, but Lou and Joann worked with me (starting out mucking stalls) till I was capable of grooming my horses and jogging them. I have a ton of respect for drivers, as I know I was scared shixless holding on to the reins behind a 1,000 pound animal and watching the ground pass under my body in the sulky!!
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Awesome story. love these kinds of tales and you are a great poster. Wonder how many times you and I have been within ten feet of each other in real life. I'll bet many. Growing up around Foxboro, Rockingham and Hinsdale for that brief Summer meet, I used to hang a bit with Billy Silk's son, Dave. He used to wear this satin blue nylon jacket that said "smooth as Silk" on the back. Kid thought he was hot shit! Great memories!
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Pierce one of the great $$$ drivers ever. Do you know what he is doing now? It's weird
The last I heard he was out west panning for gold not kidding.
I remember him telling me after the Medowlands closed one year he went out to Montana on a horse and got lost in the woods for a month didn’t wanna see anybody did some camping.
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The last I heard he was out west panning for gold not kidding.
I remember him telling me after the Medowlands closed one year he went out to Montana on a horse and got lost in the woods for a month didn’t wanna see anybody did some camping.
You got. Actually saw video of him and his dog. Nice camper. Not married anymore. Went out West to be with his Mom. Then she passed and he became a prospector. Seems happy and healthy after he had all those back surgeries. Weird guy, but awesome driver and hey, whatever makes you happy RIGHT??
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You got. Actually saw video of him and his dog. Nice camper. Not married anymore. Went out West to be with his Mom. Then she passed and he became a prospector. Seems happy and healthy after he had all those back surgeries. Weird guy, but awesome driver and hey, whatever makes you happy RIGHT??
Exactly whatever makes you happy.
He owned a few horses with Walter Gower RIP.
Ron was a character I remember talking to him, and every time a good looking woman walked by he would totally ignore you and stare at the woman lol.
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lolol
I remember Walter Gower. I had a groom that used to work for him and when they'd meet up in the paddock he'd ask Walter how he was and Walter would say, "Tired and sour, Walter Gower"
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lolol
I remember Walter Gower. I had a groom that used to work for him and when they'd meet up in the paddock he'd ask Walter how he was and Walter would say, "Tired and sour, Walter Gower"
HA! That was him!!
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Faye Webster would send them to Kenny Ball to qualify and get a couple of starts, then get sent to Benny. Kenny was Edon Harner's 2nd trainer before going on his own, stayed in WNY. Years ago Faye had a huge horse trailer he hauled with an El Camino, it sagged a bit. Mary Shallenberg started in the business rubbin for Faye.
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Faye Webster would send them to Kenny Ball to qualify and get a couple of starts, then get sent to Benny. Kenny was Edon Harner's 2nd trainer before going on his own, stayed in WNY. Years ago Faye had a huge horse trailer he hauled with an El Camino, it sagged a bit. Mary Shallenberg started in the business rubbin for Faye.
Awseome stuff Love hearing personal human interest stories and trivia. Marb Shallenberg. Hmm rings a bell Cant quite place her. ty for the anecdotes
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He was more like an arrogant prick. Just my opinion.
Ron what is a nice guy but he wasn’t dealing with a full deck. Hell of a talent though.
Pierce is the stupidest fucking guy in the history of racing. I felt like I needed to tell him how many times to go around the track.
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Pierce is the stupidest fucking guy in the history of racing. I felt like I needed to tell him how many times to go around the track.
Post again when YOU earn $200 million driving horses and win dozens of the top races in the sport. Or when you earn $200 million doing anything.
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I knew Marcel great guy.
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I’ll never forget the bear grease incident at Monticello! Somebody told Ron that horses were deathly afraid of bears so he smears the back of his colors with bear grease and went out and cut the mile. He won the race and he swore it was because of the bear grease.
Somebody ratted him out so the judges told him no more bear grease!
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I knew Marcel great guy.
tmbz1 tmbz1 tmbz1
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I’ll never forget the bear grease incident at Monticello! Somebody told Ron that horses were deathly afraid of bears so he smears the back of his colors with bear grease and went out and cut the mile. He won the race and he swore it was because of the bear grease.
Somebody ratted him out so the judges told him no more bear grease!
Never heard this one, but its a hoot!
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Pierce is the stupidest fucking guy in the history of racing. I felt like I needed to tell him how many times to go around the track.
How many times to go around the track? You’re talking about a driver that won major races!
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Thats what I said to that goof earlier. All time great driver. like he needs that dummy's assistance. ngc3 ngc3 ngc3 ngc3 ngc3 ngc3
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Mary lived with Chucky Cable, worked for years for Ray Schnitiker. Tougher than nails.
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Mary lived with Chucky Cable, worked for years for Ray Schnitiker. Tougher than nails.
Cable the blacksmith? He was a good guy. I think he passed away last year.
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tmbz1
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Faye Webster would send them to Kenny Ball to qualify and get a couple of starts, then get sent to Benny. Kenny was Edon Harner's 2nd trainer before going on his own, stayed in WNY. Years ago Faye had a huge horse trailer he hauled with an El Camino, it sagged a bit. Mary Shallenberg started in the business rubbin for Faye.
YES, Kenny drove for me at least 40 or 50 times in the 1970's. Benny and I owned a broodmare together, whom he had raced, and we made the terribly costly mistake of breeding her. When I was upstate Fay insisted I stay at their place; his wife's name was Ellie (if I recall correctly) and she was Ben's stepmother, I think. Kenny was a tiny, Del Insko-sized, driver and had pretty good hands and was especially patient and good with trotters.
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You are totally correct, super nice people, great place. Kenny good hands, patient with young horses. Fays Favorite, great stories. The Tentmaker.