T-shirts & Raffles Available at Midwest Horse Fair (12-April)

The Midwest Horse Fair (at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison) is just a few days away and for those attending, we have an opportunity for you - an exclusive t-shirt presale! We just received the new WHHA "Harness the Stars Tour" t-shirts in and man do they look sharp. For those interstred, please let Gabe know which color/size you want and they can be delivered to the MHF. They will not be available again until the first race meet on June 18. Don't get shut out! Cost $10.00 per shirt. Royal blue, red, lime green and pink: sizes small-2xlarge; daisy yellow & sapphire blue: sizes small-xlarge.

There are also white USTA County Fair harness racing t-shirts available for $5.00 in youth medium-large and adult small-xlarge.

If you haven't purchased your 2011 Calendar Raffle tickets, they will also be available at the MHF. Cost for those is $20.00 with chances to win part of $2,000 in prize money throughout the summer.

WHHA will also be raffling off the final pedal horse at the MHF. Tickets are $2.00 or 3 for $5.00. Winner must arrange pick-up.

HHYF Scholarships Due April 30 (9-April)

Westfield , IN- Applications for several Harness Horse Youth Foundation scholarships must be postmarked by April 30, 2011 . The scholarships, for students who are at least high school seniors, are awarded based on GPA, financial need, completeness of application and quality of essay (where applicable). For compete application forms and more information on these awards, log on to www.hhyf.org/scholarships.asp.

The scholarships, with any additional qualifications listed, are The Gallo Blue Chip Scholarship, sponsored by Martin Scharf, for children of licensed trainer or caretakers in Pennsylvania, New York or New Jersey; The Curt Greene Memorial Scholarship for students who have demonstrated a passion for harness racing and have financial need; The Charles Bradley Memorial Scholarship for children or relatives of racing officials who were members of the North American Judges and Stewards Association or who licensed USTA presiding judges, associate judges, paddock judges or starters; and the The MHS Scholarship, sponsored by Joe Putnam and Trent Stohler, for full-time students. Applicant, his/her parent, grandparent or legal guardian must be licensed by the Indiana Horse Racing Commission.

The Harness Horse Youth Foundation is a charitable 501(c)3 organization dedicated to providing young people and their families educational experiences and opportunities with harness horses, in order to foster the next generation of participants and fans. The Foundation was established in 1976 and its programs include interactive learning experiences with these versatile animals, scholarship programs and educational materials. For more information on opportunities through HHYF and its mission, go to www.hhyf.org (HHYF)

Tattlers Jet Wins #100 (20-March

Veteran pacer Tattlers Jet celebrated a special milestone on Saturday night at Northville Downs as he scored his 100th career win in a $4,000 conditioned assignment.

With Ronnie Wrenn Jr. in the bike for trainer Gene Miller, the 13-year-old gelded son of Tattlers Torpedo-Jodhpurs got away sixth from Post 7 in the 10th race. Tattlers Jet followed cover while Anvil Raider N (Eric Carlson) carved out fractions of :27.1, :56.4 and 1:26.3, but then angled out three-deep around the final turn and kicked home in :29.4 to prevail by one length in 1:57.1. Favourite Butn Your Shirt Ed (Jason Merriman) and Ive Got The Key (Peter Otten) finished second and third over Anvil Raider N.

Tattlers Jet paid $35 for the 16-1 upset. The victory was his first of the season in 10 starts.

There are a lot of rags to riches stories throughout harness racing, and this one ranks right up there as one of the best.

Tattlers Jet, owned by David Carter of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, was just a two-year-old when he began his racing career in Cannon Falls, Minnesota. Although he finished last, Carter knew the colt had potential so after the educational race, he brought him back as a three-year-old. Competing mostly in Wisconsin at the fairs, Tattlers Jet hit the board only two out of 20 starts. Most of us would have thrown in the towel by the end of the season, but not Dave Carter.

Over the next couple of seasons, Carter continued to race Tattlers Jet in the Midwest, each year gaining more experience and bankrolling a little more cash. It wasn’t until 2007 when Tattlers Jet showed the world what he was made of. Racing at Colonial Downs, Tattlers Jet took a mark of 1:50.2 - a feat very uncommon for a horse with deep Wisconsin roots. Perhaps even more amazing was the following year he took a winning mark of 1:51.3 and 1:50.3 the year after that.

This isn’t uncommon to Dave Carter, but all of Wisconsin was shocked when 12-year-old Tattlers Jet stopped the timer in 1:49.2 in 2010 to become the fastest horse bred and raced in Wisconsin. With earnings of more than $274,000, Tattlers Jet has shown all of Wisconsin what a bright future a small town Wisconsin horse has in his aging years.

Tattlers Jet and owner Dave Carter were honoured at the Wisconsin Harness Horse Association’s annual banquet earlier this year on Saturday, January 22, with the James Laird Memorial Award For Excellence.

Raffle Calendar (10-March)

The WHHA Board of Directors is launching a huge fundraiser - a calendar raffle with $2,000 in prize money!

For just $20, you have 20 chances to win $50; 6 chances to win $100 and 2 chances to win $200! Each winner's name will be deposited back in for all subsequent drawings.

We are only selling 250 total tickets...so buy early - don't get shut out!

For tickets, send $20 to:
Becky Swinehart
224 Lukas Lane
Milton, WI 53563

Becky will confirm your purchase and get you your proof of purchase.

In-Training Reports Due (20-Feb)

It's that time of year again! The WHHA is compiling the annual in training reports to be published in both the Wisconsin Harness News and the Mid-America Standardbred. It will help race secretaries write classes at their prospective fairs. If you would like your stable included, please send the trainer's name and location, horse's name, age, sire, dam, owner. All information must be submitted to gabewand@yahoo.com by March 1st to be included!

Equine Podiatry Clinic (20-Feb)

The Morrie Waud Equine Clinic in Delavan, Wisc. will be hosting an equine podiatry clinic on March 12, 2011 from 10:00am to 4:30pm. Join farrier Dean Johanningmeier and Dr Jacob Goodin as they show how corrective shoeing techniques can help improve your horse's performance. There are only 50 tickets available, so make your reservations early - call (608) 265-5206. For more information, visit www.vetmed.wisc.edu/ce or click here for a PDF flyer.

Wisconsin Harness Horse Association