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General Category => Harness Racing => Topic started by: Dingus on November 18, 2025, 08:21:24 AM
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On Wednesday, Nov. 19, Wally Hennessey is planning on taking his last trip around the Saratoga half-mile oval.
Is he retiring?
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On Wednesday, Nov. 19, Wally Hennessey is planning on taking his last trip around the Saratoga half-mile oval.
Is he retiring?
Going back to Pompano
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About damn time! Its been time. Lots of bad drives and stiff jobs and also dq's lately. Seems they have been watching him a lot lately at Saratoga. He gets a dq almost every day now lol
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About damn time! Its been time. Lots of bad drives and stiff jobs and also dq's lately. Seems they have been watching him a lot lately at Saratoga. He gets a dq almost every day now lol
How much crack do you smoke in a day? Wally is the best driver at Saratoga hands down! He misses the first two months leaves before December and finishes 2 or 3 in the standings. I'll miss the wally world!
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About damn time! Its been time. Lots of bad drives and stiff jobs and also dq's lately. Seems they have been watching him a lot lately at Saratoga. He gets a dq almost every day now lol
How much crack do you smoke in a day? IDIOT!
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How much crack do you smoke in a day? Wally is the best driver at Saratoga hands down! He misses the first two months leaves before December and finishes 2 or 3 in the standings. I'll miss the wally world!
tmbz1 tmbz1
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he may well be , dont know
however it is a sad/concerning state when a man that age is the best driver at a track
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Very nice guy, great driver who had a great career. Over $83 million made with 35 years straight of over $1 million in earnings. Hope he enjoys his retirement. I'm sure he'll drive a few more, maybe his last in PEI this summer.
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Enjoy your winter vacation Wally see you next spring
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Wally drove Moni Maker a few times, no?
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Wally drove Moni Maker.....just a few times. LOL.
He was her main driver. Before she landed in Takter's barn, Wally was her main driver, and I remember Brian Allen driving her, and maybe David Ingraham. After Takter got her, Wally still drove her, but so did Jimmy and John Campbell.
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Wally drove Moni Maker a few times, no?
Anybody remember who trained Personal Banner, the winner of the Breeders Crown over Moni Maker at Vernon Downs?
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I think it was Bill Gallanger, Pete Wrenn was driving. Personal Banner ended up being the dam of Equinox Bi who made over a million. I could be wrong but I don’t think Personal Banner ever raced again after beating Moni Maker in the BC, while not long after Moni Maker moved to Jimmy T and the rest is history. I think Billy Fahy drove MM a few times early on.
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I think it was Bill Gallanger, Pete Wrenn was driving. Personal Banner ended up being the dam of Equinox Bi who made over a million. I could be wrong but I don’t think Personal Banner ever raced again after beating Moni Maker in the BC, while not long after Moni Maker moved to Jimmy T and the rest is history. I think Billy Fahy drove MM a few times early on.
You remember well. George Steinbrenner had owned Personal Banner and Bill Gallagher trained her with Pete Wrenn in the bike in 1996. A young and gorgeous Ellie Sarama was the host of the show.
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Wally had a great career and should be very proud of his accomplishments but I can name over 50 drivers better than him.
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Saratoga is Wally's personal playground so I can't see him giving up this cash cow.
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Anybody remember who trained Personal Banner, the winner of the Breeders Crown over Moni Maker at Vernon Downs?
Nice filly. A lot of ability. As said, she was originally owned by George Steinbrenner and trained by Bill Gallagher. Bill had come up through the ranks with Team Nordin and went out on his own. Bill bought Personal Banner as a yearling for Steinbrenner and he ended up selling her, practically on the day of the BC, to the Biasuzzi Stable. Also as said, as a broodmare, she was the dam of Equinox Bi, who (years later) also won the BC (Open Trot).
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wally once told me that for him theres no bigger thrill than winning a horse race i dont care if its a 5 claimer or a breeders crown
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He's a tough competitor and when the money's on the line he often elevates his driving and rises to the occassion.
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To use a baseball analogy, Wally dominated triple AAA. He had a few call ups to the majors but never did much. In his first stint at Saratoga in the 1980s, when he competed against Billy Parker, Harold Story, Kim Crawford, and Frank Coppola Jr., he was a middle of the pack driver.
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Wally's career resume includes.....
Countless NYSS, the Battle of Lake Erie, a couple of Gold Cup & Saucer's, a couple of Matron's, two or three Nat Ray's, two KY Futurity's, various grand circuit races, the Hambo Oaks, numerous stakes in Europe, the Elitlopp, and several Breeders Crown's.
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And the Woodrow Wilson.