CHERRY TREE NICOLE HAS WINNING HABIT
Thursday, May 16th, 2013 - Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness

With her 11 trips to the charmed enclosure from 18 starts this season, Cherry Tree Nicole is tied as the winningest trotter in the nation going into this week’s action with only one performer of either gait sporting more victories.

The long-fused mare will attempt to add to her total when she suits up in Saturday night’s fourth race, where she will meet a familiar rival in Dreaming Of Amy. These two have been trading blows much of the season, with the latter snapping Cherry Tree Nicole’s three-race winning streak in last week’s clash.
 
A 7-year-old daughter of British Sterling out of the Cumin mare Yankee Reflection, Cherry Tree Nicole races for Tim and Denise Maier and has banked over $120,000 with a 1:57 4/5 standard while reporting to the wire first in 50 of her 153 lifetime outings.  More ---

HI FIDELITY SETS SIGHTS ON HAT TRICK
Wednesday, May 15th, 2013 - Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness

Hi Fidelity, who has posed back-to-back impressive victories, gets the top billing in Friday night’s $3,400 pacing feature at Cal Expo, which is designed for fillies and mares under starter allowance conditions. First post is 7:10 p.m.

A 5-year-old daughter of Hi Ho Silverheel’s from the No Nukes mare Sharps N Flats, Hi Fidelity is owned and trained by Rick Cisco and will do her work from the cozy rail slot. She established her 1:54 career standard winning earlier in the year and is back on the beam this spring.

The bay miss was 5-1 when she sat a perfect tracking trip with Scott Cisco on May 4 and then flew by the leader at the head of the stretch en route to a four and half-length romp. She made every pole a winning one with Bruce Clarke at the helm last weekend and was a comfortable length and three-quarters victress while returning $15 to her backers.   More ---

Ackerman Sr. inducted,  Franky Provolone CHHA horse of the year
Monday, April 8th, 2013 - Robin Clements for the CHHA

It was a day of celebration and of tears as the California Harness Horseman’s association held it’s annual CHHA meeting on Sunday April 7th. Celebration for the people and horses inducted into the hall of fame and for accomplishments in the sires stakes program and tears remembering friends and horses we lost in the past year.

Doug Ackerman Sr. was inducted into the hall of fame along with the California bred Robitaille. Gary Buxton accepted the award for Doug telling stories of long ago and some from the present of his long time friend. Doug Ackerman Sr. well respected by horsemen across the country has earned over $10 million as a driver/trainer while campaigning such horses as Chocolatier, Noble, Hustle, Peter Lobell and Crowning Point. Doug was very influential in helping the California breeding program with such stallions as Leading Edge, Denali, Peter Lobell and Ever So Rich.  More ---

BOARD DISMISSING CASES RELATED TO FEED CONTAMINATION

The California Horse Racing Board has determined that 48 positive tests for zilpaterol have resulted from feed contamination, as described in a CHRB advisory dated March 22. The positives involve horses at all California racetracks. The contamination of the feed appears to have occurred in mid-February and the first positive was detected from a race run March 1.

After reviewing the situation, the executive director with the concurrence of the equine medical director, as required by law, has recommended to the Board that the current cases related to the contaminated feed be dismissed. The Board has agreed and the cases from March 1 to this date have or will be dismissed.
 
The contaminated feed has been identified, as described in the March 22 advisory, and horsemen are or should be aware of the contaminated feed, so the problem should pass quickly. If trainers have removed the feed, residues of zilpaterol in horses should be eliminated by week’s end.