UPDATE:  The Tribune-Review ran a story on Saturday, March 1.  CLICK HERE to read.

On Friday night, February 28, the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association hosted a special event to benefit the Washington Area Humane Society.  The last time the groups worked together, it was the beginning of a journey that has taken a horse and a young girl to places no one could have imagined.

The MSOA and The Meadows Racing each donated its commission, doubling the benefit for the WAHS.  Combined with private donations, more than $2,500 was raised.

Racing fans were encouraged to join in by not only wagering on the race, but also by bringing an item from the WAHS “Wish List”, which includes dry cat food, clay cat litter, Purina One dry and canned dog food, dog treats and more.   Fans donating an item from the “Wish List” received a $2 betting voucher, courtesy of the MSOA and The Meadows.

Donations are always accepted.  For the full “Wish List,” CLICK HERE.

The MSOA and Meadows horsemen are quite familiar with the work of the Washington Area Humane Society.  Five years ago, the groups got together when nearly two dozen horses were found in extremely poor health on a nearby farm.

Several local trainers stepped up and worked together with the Meadows race office and the WAHS to donate whatever items they could.  Leslie Zendt, a trainer/driver, was one of several that took the extra step to help.

“Word got around the backstretch at The Meadows, and so I got in touch with the Humane Society,” said Zendt.  “The horses were having trouble getting to fresh water, so the first thing I did was buy some water troughs.  The next day, more people got involved and a bunch of us went over to see firsthand.  In my lifetime I never thought I would see anything like that.”

What Zendt saw were more than 20 horses, mostly Quarterhorses, all emaciated and very ill.

Zendt stepped up and began the process immediately to adopt a young horse that she thought was a gelding, but turned out to simply be an underdeveloped two-year-old colt.  “We loaded him up and brought him back to my farm,” says Zendt. “

After consulting with veterinarians Barry Betts and Larry Smith, Zendt started, giving the horse, which she discovered was a registered Quarterhorse, small amounts of feed and brushing him, trying to get him comfortable.

He eventually began to gain strength, but remained small in stature due to his early malnutrition.  After Dr. Betts gelded the colt free of charge, Zendt began looking for a home for the horse, now named “Junior.”

“I’m busy enough with my racehorses, and didn’t have use for another riding horse.  Dave Palone and I threw the saddle on him one day and started breaking him.  I talked to (husband) Bill’s son Brian.  He and his wife Dawn were looking for a riding horse that could eventually be used for their daughter, Lexi.

Dawn Zendt then picks up the story.  “The horse was so young.  We kept trying to work with him, but he was just so immature.  Physically and mentally it took him a while to catch up.

Dawn rode the horse during the summer of 2012, when Junior was five years old, but he just wasn’t aggressive enough for barrel racing at her level.  “He was just so laid back, and I realized he would be a great horse for our daughter, Lexi.”

Lexi Zendt, at age 10 last summer, was coming back to barrel racing after an incident with her pony left her with a broken arm the previous year.  “She needed to get her confidence back,” said Dawn.  “We started her with Junior this past September, and she quickly realized that the horse will take care of her.  He has helped her to gain so much confidence.  He is just so trustworthy and eager to please.  He will only go as fast as Lexi wants him to go.”

Together, Lexi Zendt and Junior are learning together, and succeeding.  “They are already top-five in the youth class in the West Virginia region of the International Barrel Racing Association,” said Dawn.  “Lexi is in love with him.”

The entire Zendt family has had a hand in bringing Junior from a very difficult beginning to where he is today.  Their story shows how horsemen at The Meadows have made a difference while working with the Washington Area Humane Society, and they are happy to see that the partnership will continue with this Friday’s event.  “I think that a lot of people are quick to think that horses like that are too much trouble,” said Dawn Zendt.  “But that’s not the case.  They can turn out to be the most caring, forgiving animals.  I was happy that The Meadows’ horsemen stepped up last time.  None of the horses were Standardbreds, yet our community did what we could to help.  Lexi’s story is just one of many from what took place five years ago.  We’re happy to see the two groups work together again.”

The MSOA and Meadows Racing honored Meadows President of Racing Mike Jeannot on Friday, February 7th in the Winners Circle.  Jeannot passed away on January 31.

For video of the tribute, CLICK HERE.

The Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission, in consultation with Dr. Mary Robinson, University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School of Medicine, New Bolton Center, has announced that effective March 1 the pre-race medication Amicar will no longer be permitted to be used in conjunction with Furosemide.

The commission has made this determination after reviewing the scientific data and information regarding the efficacy of Amicar as a pre-race medication.

Accordingly, any findings of Amicar after March 1 from samples collected during routine testing will result in a positive test which may result in a fine and/or suspension and loss of any earned purse.

Due to recent poor weather and cancelations of both qualifiers and regular race cards, The Meadows race office has announced that the 45-day rule has been extended to February 28, 2014.

Also, effective February 4 and continuing until further notice, qualifying standards for a fast track will be 2:02 for Pacers and 2:04 for Trotters.  Normal allowances will apply.

The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association reminds its members that it is time to renew your membership for 2014.

Please choose the appropriate membership application form below:

2014 Owner Application

2014 Trainer/Driver Application

2014 Associate Membership Application

(from the US Trotting Association)

The United States Harness Writers Association today released the majority of their 2013 human award winners for excellence in the Standardbred industry.

The Norman Woolworth Owner of the Year award goes to the team of Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi. Burke Racing Stable (trainer Ron Burke and his mom Sylvia) and Mark Weaver and Michael Bruscemi (Weaver Bruscemi LLC) have been racing partners for years. Together, the partnership raced more than 220 horses over the course of a year and according to the U.S. Trotting Association, they have together owned nearly 1,000 horses.

The stable reads like a “Who’s Who” of harness racing with stars such as Foiled Again ($1.4 million earned this season), Quillen Memorial champion Clear Vision ($596,103), multiple-stakes-winner Charisma Hanover ($555,729), Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion Southwind Silence ($375,581), American-National winner Southwind Spirit ($370,295), Monument Circle winner Dedi’s Dragon ($368,342), Meadowlands Maturity champ Sweet Lou ($330,138) and Garnsey Memorial division winner Carols Desire ($260,099).

In 2013, Foiled Again became the richest Standardbred in North American history (with more than $6 million in lifetime earnings) and the oldest to win a Breeders Crown.

This group is dedicated to the sport and is invested in it for the long run. Burke, Weaver and Bruscemi — along with their many other ownership partners — have been an asset to the sport by keeping their stars at the tracks where fans are able to see, enjoy and connect with them. Burke and Weaver Bruscemi have been the leading owners in terms of both races and money won every year this decade, racing mostly overnight stock.

Earlier in the week, Burke won his second consecutive Trainer of the Year award from the organization.  It was the second time in three years that he has earned the title.

The Lew Barasch Breakthrough Award goes to a “non-racing” individual who has excelled beyond the scope of their job profile during the year. This year’s winner is Heather Wilder, who is the Director of Public Relations and Marketing for the Meadows Standardbred Owners Assocation at the Meadows Racetrack in Washington, PA.

Heather had background doing publicity and racing support work in the Columbus area (Scioto, Delaware) while still in her teens. After staying home with two children in her twenties, Wilder decided to pursue training horses. It was because of this unique marriage of talents that she was thought to be an ideal person by the board of the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association to fill their newly-created role of Director of Public Relations and Marketing.

With her extensive backstretch knowledge, Heather has been the liaison to introducing countless area fans, both individuals and groups, to the “hands-on” side of racing, through backstretch tours, time in the jog cart and the starting gate, and even reaching out to the local business community through the area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism.

A big night of racing always finds the MSOA and Wilder with several outreach programs for fans and casino patrons. Wilder also promotes The Meadows and MSOA through social media efforts which help extend their reach.

While wearing her ‘Bet help’ button and walking the grandstand assisting patrons with any questions about making wagers on the races, Wilder is dynamic and approachable. Always willing to support harness racing and USHWA, she is slated to be one of the emcees for the national awards dinner in 2014.

Effective January 1,  2014 the policy requiring non-lasix ship-in horses to be on the grounds early will change.

The ship-in, non-lasix horse will be required to be on the grounds at the designated time required for reporting to the paddock.

All policies for ship-in horses on Lasix will remain the same.

The Meadows Race Office has updated the track’s Horse Approval Guidelines, effective October 29.

CLICK HERE for the latest update.