HORSEPLOP.COM
General Category => Harness Racing => Topic started by: Lockedin With Pace on October 22, 2025, 05:54:51 AM
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RIP, Preston Burris Jr who passed away on October 13th at the age of 93 after a long illness. He was trainer of the great mare Silk Stockings.
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I thought it was Paul watoeize no clue how to spell it
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Silk Stockings was incredible.
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I thought it was Paul watoeize no clue how to spell it
What and who is this guy.......everybo dy knows PRESTON BURRIS trained SILK STOCKINGS and several other great horses for THE MAZIKS
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She faced and beat males all the time in spite of Burris not being a very good driver.
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I was at the "Mighty M" that day with my future wife watching Silk Stocking win the first Monticello-OTB Classic with Preston Burris in the bike in 157.3. The place was packed as she beat the males. A great day!
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This was the 50 th anniversary of her victory in the Montivello otb classic, which was the richest race in harness racing history.
With my noodgering and the cooperation of Harness Racing Museum, there was a very nice exhibit honoring Silky and Preston Burris. I wish I knew how to post pics on here
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thats back when harness racing was thriving.
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She was a great horse. I remember she had a 12 race winning streak. I think she raced in almost every track in the northeast. In the OTB Classic, she put that field away opening up in the lane. Before that race, I had never heard of Preston Burris, Jr. Everyone knew his name after that race.
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about 45 years ago--he trained and drove Nickawampus Leroy here in The Delaware Valley
just an open/winners over type horse--but Burris's style was coming from far far back
an exciting horse to watch when he won--often at a big price
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I was at the "Mighty M" that day with my future wife watching Silk Stocking win the first Monticello-OTB Classic with Preston Burris in the bike in 157.3. The place was packed as she beat the males. A great day!
Dougie, I remember if you came in the rear grandstand entrance of Monticello as soon as you came through the door on the left wall was a trophy case with the trophy for the OTB Classic Monticello race. I remember it had plaques on the front naming each winner of the race over the years. I remember Tijuana Taxi was on there.
When they did the casino renovation that trophy disappeared. One time I asked somebody about it and they told me John Manzi probably knows where it is.
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about 45 years ago--he trained and drove Nickawampus Leroy here in The Delaware Valley
just an open/winners over type horse--but Burris's style was coming from far far back
an exciting horse to watch when he won--often at a big price
What memories the name Nickawampus Leroy brings back.
I remember the late great race caller Jack E Lee calling at RR, here comes Nickawampus Leroy on the far inside.
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Dougie, I remember if you came in the rear grandstand entrance of Monticello as soon as you came through the door on the left wall was a trophy case with the trophy for the OTB Classic Monticello race. I remember it had plaques on the front naming each winner of the race over the years. I remember Tijuana Taxi was on there.
When they did the casino renovation that trophy disappeared. One time I asked somebody about it and they told me John Manzi probably knows where it is.
I do remember that trophy case too! Some great memories of the "Mighty M"! I get back a few times a year, because I have family in Kiamesha Lake, Monticello, and Harris. John Manzi moved from Mongaup Valley, and is living in St. Petersburg, Florida. A great guy!
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about 45 years ago--he trained and drove Nickawampus Leroy here in The Delaware Valley
just an open/winners over type horse--but Burris's style was coming from far far back
an exciting horse to watch when he won--often at a big price
George Phalen trained and drove Leroy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydAgH5TXg5Q
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Crummy video quality but here is the race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSbGtq4nWQI
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I was at the "Mighty M" that day with my future wife watching Silk Stocking win the first Monticello-OTB Classic with Preston Burris in the bike in 157.3. The place was packed as she beat the males. A great day!
I was there and OTB gave out GOLD program sheets as it was the Race For The Gold!
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I do remember that trophy case too! Some great memories of the "Mighty M"! I get back a few times a year, because I have family in Kiamesha Lake, Monticello, and Harris. John Manzi moved from Mongaup Valley, and is living in St. Petersburg, Florida. A great guy!
It was a really nice track back then. It even had a cafeteria, putt putt golf, Pinball machine area.
The glass wall paddock was pretty neat. They had that 1950's Zenith black and white TV for the changes.
I spent many enjoyable Sunday matinee cards there back in the day. And the 4th of July was always a treat, a doubleheader of racing, day and night cards sometimes 13 or 14 races each followed by that big fireworks display on the front lawn.
RIP Mr Burris.
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It was a really nice track back then. It even had a cafeteria, putt putt golf, Pinball machine area.
The glass wall paddock was pretty neat. They had that 1950's Zenith black and white TV for the changes.
I spent many enjoyable Sunday matinee cards there back in the day. And the 4th of July was always a treat, a doubleheader of racing, day and night cards sometimes 13 or 14 races each followed by that big fireworks display on the front lawn.
RIP Mr Burris.
Sadly, Monticello is a shell of what it was. Grandstand closed. No food except a vending machine and a lady selling hot dogs off a cart. One teller inside the "simulcast room" selling programs and taking bets. But on a sunny day, the mountains still hold their incredible beauty. I love seeing my family there. They still love the Catskills.
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Before simulcasting started going to the racetrack was fun, there were thousands of people there, the food was good and the prices reasonable and the racing product was good. There was nothing better than going to Brandywine Raceway on a warm summer night, the racing was very good, the driving colony included some Hall of Famers. The best thing was living only a mile away so if I couldn't get a ride, I could walk there in 10 minutes.
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I was at the meadowlands the time Silk Stockings lost.
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Gordon Lewis the owners brother trained him,Russel Rash and George Phalen drove him. I call Bullshit on Preston Burris ever having anything to do with Leroy.
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Gordon Lewis the owners brother trained him,Russel Rash and George Phalen drove him. I call Bullshit on Preston Burris ever having anything to do with Leroy.
Yes I was mistaken for another Burris horse who was a deep closer at Brandywine in the late 70s--the name of that horse was Leroy Nickawampus-not Nickawampus Leroy ----two different horses
Wizardofoz corrected me
thanks
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I do remember that trophy case too! Some great memories of the "Mighty M"! I get back a few times a year, because I have family in Kiamesha Lake, Monticello, and Harris. John Manzi moved from Mongaup Valley, and is living in St. Petersburg, Florida. A great guy!
Dougie, if you remember the trophy then you must remember the souvenir stand directly across from the trophy and between the ladies and mens room.
Did you ever go up to the second floor to the top of the stretch lounge? A dark tiny bar.
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Gordon Lewis the owners brother trained him,Russel Rash and George Phalen drove him. I call Bullshit on Preston Burris ever having anything to do with Leroy.
I agree.
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Pres was a good guy and always fun to talk to. He knew a lot about the game! tmbz1