Warm-season annuals or summer annual grasses such as sorghum, sudangrass and sorghum-sudangrass hybrids grow best in Nebraska when soil temperatures are about 60°F (usually in late May to early June).
A foggy winter morning made it impossible for fans and racing officials to see the backstretch; however, that didn’t slow down amateur reinsman Hunter Lofthus from getting his first pari-mutuel victory aboard Martaritaondarocks on Sunday, Dec. 10 at First Tracks Cumberland.
The unusually warm weather on Saturday (Dec. 9) at Freehold Raceway wasn’t the only thing heating up. Driver Jack Pelling was on fire as he visited the winner’s circle four times on the eleven-race card, including a win in the $12,000 Preferred Handicap Pace, which was also known as the Toys for Tots Pace.
Trainer Ron Patoine’s Broadway Giant added another victory to his ever-growing win column on Sunday, Nov. 12 at Cumberland, scoring for the second time in as many weeks.
Over the years, there have always been some negative rumblings whenever an “amateur” event is part of a “pari-mutuel” harness racing program. Some punters can be heard mumbling, “I’m passing this race…you know…amateurs.” Let’s clarify something about the amateur drivers right this very moment… The reason they are merely “amateurs,” as some of you mutter,