Published: June 24, 2009 11:56 pm         

On his 79th birthday, Buddy Simpson drives off with a win at Martsinville harness racing

Martinsville, Ill. — Buddy Simpson celebrated his 79th birthday by driving one of the winners in Illinois harness racing Wednesday at the Martinsville Agricultural Fair.

The veteran horseman drove 3-year-old pacer Battleshoe Mac to victory in the second of eight races. He also trains and owns the gelding which has won twice this year.

Powerful Speed won the final race of the afternoon card to hike its record to 3-0 for the season. Buzz Graham was in the bike as Powerful Speed got around Brenttalkliketonto in the final quarter to win.

Brenttalkliketonto was seeking its third win in four starts.

Rintintin, a 2-year-old pacer driven by Terry Skinner, also won for the third time, making its fifth start.

What A Kisser, a 2-year-old filly trotter driven by Jerry Mims, won for the second time in three starts.

Four horses won for the first time.

One was 3-year-old Indiana-owned CN Loufly Loretta, winning for the first time in 15 starts, five this season.

The pacer was driven by Cassidy Melloy who won an Indiana State Fair Series race the previous day.

David Avenatti of Chrisman, Ill., drove Fox Valley Sienna to its first win in three starts. He trains and owns the 2-year-old trotter.

Gary Hafner of Iowa was in the bike for 2-year-old trotter PC Star, winning in its third start. Hafner trains and owns the trotter and one of his other horses was second in its third start.

Merry High, 2-year-old trotter driven by Merle Finn, won in its second start.

Harness racing concludes today with the Great Midwest Trot and Great Midwest Pace on the six-race card. Post time is 1 p.m. CDT.



2-3-year-old pace, $1,500 purse

First division — CN Loufly Loretta (Cassidy Melloy), Spurofamoment, Apache Hotty, Onlykindnessmatrs, Annie Lou Who, 2:07.0

Second division — Battleshoe Mac (Buddy Simpson), Palmer Punkin, Lucky B Skipalong, The Witness, Quaker Ridge, 2:06.4

2-year-old trot, $3,000

First division — Fox Valley Sienna (David Avenatti), High Watch, Degeneration X, Riley Lynn , Frontier Ballerino, 2:08.4

Second division — PC Star (Gary Hafner), Demure, Loie’s Express, Mystical Gossip, Hyster Labrook, 2:12.3

2-year-old filly trot, $5,769

First division — What A Kisser (Jerry Mims), Babysister Addison, St. Louis Holiday, Creditcardaccount, Battleshoe Callie, Powerful Jug, 2:12

Second division — Merry High (Merle Finn), Miss Brody, Happy Gram, Dreaming Of Amy, Aunt Velma, 2:09.1

2-year-old pace, $2,500

Results — Rintintin (Terry Skinner), Proud Warrior, Alibeebest, Pop Goes The Luck, Playgirl Interlude, 2:07.0

2-year-old colt trot, $5,090

Results — Powerful Speed (Buzz Graham), Brenttalkliketonto, Gumcorner Road, Citizens Arrest, Power Gram, 2:10.0