Harness Racing History - September 1-6
September 1, 1976 _ The Meadowlands Racetrack opens in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
September 1, 1994 _ Hoosier Park opens in Anderson, Indiana.
September 1, 1998 _ Dave Palone wins his 6,000th race, driving Oompa's Terminator to victory at The Meadows, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
September 2, 1964 _ Charlotte Sheppard becomes the first woman to breed and own a Hambletonian winner when Ayres, driven by John Simpson Sr., trots to victory at Du Quoin, Illinois.
September 2, 1966 _ Bret Hanover, driven by Frank Ervin, sets the pacing world record of 1:54 at Vernon Downs in New York.
September 2, 1978 _ Speedy Somolli, driven by Howard Beissinger, and Florida Pro, driven by George Sholty, join Nevele Pride (1:54.4, 1969) as the only trotters to equal or better 1:55 for a mile. Speedy Somolli and Florida Pro each trot 1:55 at Du Quoin, Illinois.
September 2, 1989 _ Peace Corps, driven by John Campbell, sets the world record for filly trotters by winning in 1:52.4 at Du Quoin, Illinois. CR Kay Suzie, driven by Rod Allen, equals the record six years to the day later at the same track.
September 3, 1996 _ Catello Manzi wins his 7,000th career race, driving first-time starter Dreamland's Onyva to victory at Freehold Raceway in New Jersey.
September 4, 1899 _ The Empire City Trotting Club (now Yonkers Raceway) opens in New York and draws 12,000 fans.
September 4, 1977 _ Rambling Willie, driven by Robert Farrington, sets the all-age world record for geldings pacing on a five-eighths of a mile track by winning in 1:54.3 at Brandywine Raceway in Wilmington, Delaware.
September 5, 1981 _ Banker Barker, driven by Mike Zeller, sets the world record for three-year-old trotting geldings by winning in 1:56.2 at Du Quoin, Illinois.
September 6, 1890 _ Nelson sets the world record for trotting on a half-mile track by going 2:15¼ in an exhibition at Bangor, Maine.
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