The Clegg's

[JT]

I know this has been discussed on here before but this week at the jug is the first time this year that I've really been able to sit down and study a program because of what's going on with my Dad. In one race yesterday they had a 3 year old filly, with 38 starts this year. It raced at 2 different fairs the same day and routinely on back to back days. She also had a couple 2 year olds making their 22nd and 25th as well. I'm all for trying to make money as an owner or trainer but that seems a little much.

[gh2009]

Back in the 60's there was racetrack in the southern part of Delaware named Georgetown Raceway. They ran during the winter months on a Friday/Saturday/ Sunday schedule. The purses were all $500 regardless of the class and most horses ran twice a week even on consecutive days. A long time ago Roger Hammer had a nice trotter called In Control. One time he ran in a stake race in the afternoon at Freehold and raced in another stake the same night at Yonkers.

[JT]

Back in the 60's there was racetrack in the southern part of Delaware named Georgetown Raceway. They ran during the winter months on a Friday/Saturday/ Sunday schedule. The purses were all $500 regardless of the class and most horses ran twice a week even on consecutive days. A long time ago Roger Hammer had a nice trotter called In Control. One time he ran in a stake race in the afternoon at Freehold and raced in another stake the same night at Yonkers.

Yeah I grew up in a time where two heats were run in one day all the time... but they are bred differently now.. more about pure speed..not as durable. The two year olds with that many starts which will easily get above 30 is crazy to me. I hadn't heard Roger Hammer's name brought up in a long time. I would always throw money on him when he came to Ohio.

[Open bridle]

Just my opinion, but I have always thought money takes priority over the welfare of his horses.

[gh2009]

Alot of those horses also ran on the fair circuit and routinely had well over 50 starts but were lucky to win$10,000 in a year. Hammer's trotter may have been In Command, not In Control, but they were both very good. Today's top horses are almost treated like thoroughbreds where the top horses run 6 to 8 times a year.  The top FFA horses used to run for $25,000 and ran 20 to 25 times a year. The big purses weren't around in the old days, so you ran more often.

[JT]

Yeah for top 3 year olds the maximum number of starts is around 15 to 17. I think Nijinsky and Legendary have 10 so far this year. When I was a kid my grandparents had a great horse and he won 13 out of 15 as a 2 year old and he didn't come back as good at 3. But the way I learned was to try and keep a 2 year old to have no more than 10 starts.

[Brown jug]

not condoning the over racing of 2 year olds , would never do it to a good one
however most of the cleggs horses are cheap ones so not much expected other than to race and get the odd overachiever
also some of those fair miles are similar to training miles based on the times

[bumby]

Added to this is the fact that he is extremely heavy handed with the whip.  He drives today so pay attention to that too.

[titans1127]

I'm surprised that Ohio allows horses to race at different tracks on the same day.  In New York, it's specified that entering into multiple fairs on the same day will cause the horse to be scratched and the trainer fined.

[JL52]

Back in the 60's there was racetrack in the southern part of Delaware named Georgetown Raceway. They ran during the winter months on a Friday/Saturday/ Sunday schedule. The purses were all $500 regardless of the class and most horses ran twice a week even on consecutive days. A long time ago Roger Hammer had a nice trotter called In Control. One time he ran in a stake race in the afternoon at Freehold and raced in another stake the same night at Yonkers.

Hey GH, thanks for bringing back a memory. Georgetown raced in the Summer as well. Get this- living 11 miles from Yonkers, my father and I twice in 69 or 70, made a 400 mile round trip to Georgetown to see those $500 purses. At the time, part of a circuit with Wheeling Downs. And yup, all purses were $500, even for the “ Eastern Shore Invitational”! Still have those programs, in mint condition. And I recall, to attract some South Jersey fans, there was a bus that would meet the Jersey to Delaware ferry, to take folks to the track.

[MOHAWK FREAK]

  Bruce Pacitti raced a 2 year old in the open at Maywood. Ran that poor horse to the ground. What a shame.  When I see things like this I wonder why???

[gh2009]

Hey JL52

I lived in Wilmington Delaware at the time and there used to be a bus from Clemente's Bus Terminal in New Castle to Georgetown Raceway. I remember one Saturday it was snowing but tracks never cancelled then, and they held up post time for the 1st race because our bus was running late.

[JL52]

I remember Clemente’s. And I seem to recall the grandstand seats were those garden type chairs with webbing on the seat and back. Was at Dover Downs inaugural meet, and for many years since, but not since they added the casino. And that was a 365 mile round trip, more when they detoured us a few times in Delaware over some obscure bridge.
Even saw the tbreds at Dover, including the most obvious fixed race I have ever seen. Ah, memories.

[SwankToliverA]

Just my opinion, but I have always thought money takes priority over the welfare of his horses.

My opinion as well.

[gh2009]

I was at Dover Downs on opening night for their harness meet back in 1969. The parking lot hadn't been paved yet and our car got stuck in the mud and we had to stay in a motel overnight until we got a tow truck the next morning. The thoroughbreds ran for very cheap purses. We went there several times on Sundays and there were at least 20 busloads of people from out of town because it was the only game in town. Just goes to show that some people will bet on anything.