Harness Racing, Impossible Comeback! - Hitchhiker

[amzingjourney]

oh yes...good ole calfix racecourse...the graveyard of suckers and a one way gaurantee to the poorhouse

[amzingjourney]

what's really funny is drivers at this track have been in and out of court for fixing the races....and you idiots still dont learn......STUPID

[amzingjourney]

nice yank job....did u see the leader yank and look back...why is the jock looking back...i hope u guys who think racing is honest learn your lesson....i know u have not one thin dime to show for urself and probably have your electric shut off.....and all because you are a fool who refuses to learn....

[amzingjourney]

shut racing down....corrupt and cruell

[hckyguy17]

@JR08620 The horse is in Michigan with Ronnie Wrenn Jr

[MrItaliano1900]

watch my new video " VARENNE -THE BEST TROTTER EVER"

[ckdabest1]

These are quite terrible racing conditions. I don't see why the racing wasn't canceled, the track does not look safe for the horses nor the jockeys.

[Shazzy172]

That horse is amazing! I hope that horse gets good care for all it's hard work but knowing racing he/she will probably end up at the slaughter house :(

[hckyguy17]

@Shazzy172 The horse is still alive and was racing over the summer at Hazel Park. Not sure what the owner plans on doing but slaughter house is definitely not an option.

[amzingjourney]

@hckyguy17 Hazel Park....that's because they fix the races their too...one big happy family.....Say goodbye to horseracing

[hckyguy17]

@amzingjourney you're just on here to stir the pot, eh? get a life buddy. fixing races in michigan is old news. those guys are out of the business.

[autolitano69]

Scott is a friend of mine and he is a great guy.I put him second behind the great Joe Alto who called the races many years at Cal Expo.Robin Burns is also awesome.

[Twilk88]

Hey, negative posters: stop bringing up side issues-this comeback by Hitchiker was a incredible event...

[karloomick]

hahaha @ mr italliano everyone knows that yes the yanks have quick horses over a mile but for toughness and durability the kiwi and aussie horses will eat your horses alive. pmsl at ribot we have maidens here in australia that would make him look like a cart horse.

By the way why do american callers suck

[cannes1943]

@karloomick oh yes mister we really worry about comments from a guy who admit that is favorites videos are

biggest zit

ghetto a-- santa

my crazy dog

ect..

grow up...fool

[keno8spot]

i go to cal expo quite a bit only harness racing west of chicago

i go back to the days of western harness racing at hollywood park when big stakes races brought out the likes of stanley dancer the houghtons and the master joe obrien

now they race for 1700 purses and yes there have been some questionable races the son of one of the leading drivers went to prison for fixing a trifecta his brother won the race

[ANDEEDEE1]

whoever thought of betting on 2000 claimers

[nickbeigler]

Thats Cal Fixpo for ya.. The Plano boys have no shame, tracks a joke everyone knows it

[BugsWisely]

That was the most bone headed dildo drive i have ever witnessed. I agree Plano who the hell is supporting you?

[SCfancritic]

the video is entertaining, not exactly sure why the horse slowed down in the first place

the comments are some of the worst ive ever seen. a completely sad flailing of epeen over absolutely nothing.  calm down, find a hobby you can speak about without insulting other people. please

[MrItaliano1900]

The Americans are convinced when a horse has won the United States is the best horse in history. This is really ridiculous! In the real world everyone knows that the best horses ever are italian . Varenne trotting, galloping Ribot. To be the best, you have to travel the world and win big races, beating the strongest horses in the world. Seabiscuit, Man o 'War and other donkeys Americans have never seen Europe. The movies are nice, but it is just fantasy. Watch my video of Varenne.

[funshipM174]

@MrItaliano1900 Ever hear of Mack lobell? He won the Elitloppet two years in a row, I'm sure you heard of that race. Do some research regarding your thorughbreds. Ribot raced everywhere but the U.S.A., where the best Dirt horses are in the world are. Native Dancer, Tom Fool, Gallant Man, all second level rate horses next to the likes of secretariat and Man O war would have beaten Ribot. Problem is Ribot never stepped on U.S. soil knowing better.

[metalmusiqcrzy]

@JR08620 well the quaters are ok but 1300 a race at cal x is sad as a mf.especially the PLANO BOYS ARE GREAT GOOD DRIVER AND TRAINERS HELL LOU PENS IS KILLING AT THE BIG M

[STU676]

Ehrlich is a horror

[sarahjanerawr]

i know nothing about trot racing, but there's a horse up my yard who's got scars all over his side from where he was whipped during training, i don't know if that's common practice in trot racing but i thought that was really mean. just saying :\

[BigMasterWolf]

It's discusting to see how you fuckers in north america beat your horses at the finish...

[SilverShoeStudios]

that is CRAZY! omg I have a standardbred and he use to race but thats just crazy!

[109367]

Wow, that was a good comeback! I don't see many trotters anymore, mostly pacers.

[jonathancolantuoni]

poop one on net for mom 1 and 2???????????

[lakings13]

pretty amazing!

[charliesechos]

Scott Erlich has Officially made youtube---My hero---what's up bud? John Free---How's Northbrook Greyhound---big change huh...Always happy for you and glad you made it---maybe the haters don't and I wish that things were cool with you and pete G...He's a good guy...but that aside, happy for you.

[pazeocolon]

Check Trigal - Clasico Seleccion de Potrillos 1990

Great comeback!!

[Maishley]

They aren't automatically disqualified if they break strike?

[BettorOffSingle]

This was nothing. Cheap horses can run a LOT faster than they usually do, and this proves it. The most amazing comeback of this type was NO NUKES in the Meadowlands Pace, who broke at the start, spotted the field 25 lengths, and finished third or fourth, just missing, against world-class rivals.

[karloomick]

pathetic call america has the worse callers and rules compared to australia

[karloomick]

i reckon ayleens prince was the run of the race

[animelover462]

There were a lot of breaks in the gait, the most I've seen in a race.

[Horseloverkooder]

lol haha one of the horses was cantering

[zidownage]

How did this guy get the job as a race caller? That was one of the worst race calls i've ever heard. The horse in front gallops and the caller didn't pick it up until half a lap later.

[biunyia]

10 ta 1 your an aussie.. ditto mate ..this bloke could not call his own phone number

[funshipM174]

I'll agree...again. No excuses at all. If that same call was made at the BIG M, or Yonkers or Woodbine, he would have been fired that night.

[mrsunshineshines]

Really bad drivers out there. Announcer is the old Chicago guy. A real yahoo if you know what I mean. Guess he suits the terrible racing. And yes, he's clueless...

[freddyblu22]

For Meadowlands harness racing thoughts and insights, hometrackadvantage com

[judyleeverro1]

i miss this...my dad was a champion driver and trainer in michigan. every time he raced i used to run down to get my picture taken inthe winner circle!

[sallyfoxworthy714us]

I think I would have scratched in those conditions. That nice of horse deserves a good track.

[tubjiji]

clueless track announcer

[funshipM174]

Hitchhiker was about 10 lengths back in third when they hit the 3/4 pole in 1:33.4. The final time was 2:07 flat.The last quarter was in 33.1 secongs, with Hitchikers last quarter (based on 10 lengths back) was run in 31.4 seconds. Actually pretty good considering the ground he made up to get in that position on a sloppy track.

[jakeydale]

I come from a generaton of harness racers and this was a complicated race all the drivers did a nice job.

[allstarjeff1]

I'm not trying to stir the pot here...But Scott did a crummy job on this race.But omg what a great performance from Hitchhiker.

[saveus228]

he saw the winner when he was still more than 10 back, how is that crummy?

[bigdikk1]

DO NOT criticize Scott Ehrlich! He is a great race caller! Just look at the conditions..Also, could you do it?

[RavenRuled]

Breaks are bad but I have seen three good ones. One was a standstill break at woodbine where the guy came back to win and another at Dover but the best had to be Vysoke Tatre in a stake where he was making winning move on far turn and then broke back to last and then rerally to win at the big M. Race went in 1:50 I think. That was truly amazing.

[abn151a]

And Bill thinks harness racing is BS. Goes to show he doesn't have any respect for the hard working people in harness racing. If you think this race was called bad you should visit the junk of a box they have Scott in. I was up in it on a clear night and I couldn't do it. By the way on this night the rain was blowing right in his face and on the binoculars. I don't think those things have wiper blades on them. Keep up the great racing at Cal Expo. The track is always faaaaaaast

[funshipM174]

. I'm also sure that race didn't represent his normal race callings or he would not have a job.I grew up watching races from the N.Y. circuit with the "Bullet" Bob Meyer and grew up at the BIG M with Dave Johnson and Tom Durkin making the calls in the 1980s.Now is Ken Warkenton, who just may be better than both of them.

In all fairness, if there are any other videos posted of his race calling, I would like to see them.

[funshipM174]

Lordpye, I don't mean to join in the bashing, be cause I have before, but in terms of the call of this particular race, it was horrible.I'll take your word for it that conditions were very bad and the visibility may have been impeded by the rain, but no where was the horse 20 lengths back.Bottomline is that the man is paid to keep track of horses,especially at 2/5 or 1/9 as was the case in this race if I am correct

[saveus228]

very easy to tell, just pause and use the top screen and put two fingers on the horse in front and then see how many lengths of the buggy it is back to Hitchiker. Each buggy length is one and a half horse lengths. He is about 18 lengths behind at one point in the race.

[lordpye]

You guys need to chill a minute on the bashing of announcer Scott Ehrlich. He is probably the most knowledgeable and accessible announcer in Harness Racing. I have personally talked horses with him all the time. The rain that night was AWFUL, I can almost guarantee he had a pretty obscured view of the race because of the reflection from the heavy rain.

[gobluebell]

@lordpye i miss scott calling races at balmoral park. it was sad to see him go to cal-expo. i ve been to cal expo twice. nice track

[BattlingNewt]

Amazing comeback especially in harness racing.

Horses were breaking stride because of the sloppy track conditions. Check out Alydar comeback in the Champagne stakes & Silky Sullivan unbelieveable 41 length comeback.

[beadisunited]

im not discounting the fact that this horse made a great recover. This was an amazing horse racing against a bunch of shit. sure he woulda won by twenty lengths had he not broke. just saying that it happens. I just find that horses that overcome brutal trips against equal or slightly lesser than equal horses are much more exiting. ie life sign in little brown jug final

[beadisunited]

happened tonight at northville downs peter wrenn drove a 1/5 shot who broke spotted twenty and won easily

[lordpye]

I saw the race in question tonight as well.

1. He spotted 15L or so def not 20.

2. He did this at the beginning of the race as opposed to the half.

3. He didn't come to a complete stop before starting back up again.

[ANDEEDEE1]

@beadisunited thats pete wrenn for ya

[beadisunited]

jfowl your a moron. He doesnt have to announce the whole field. do yourself a favor and watch some races before you open your pie hole. Any horse who breaks at 2/5 definately requires special attention from the announcer. as for this comeback, it wasnt all that great considering they were at the 3/4 pole in 1:33 tnd finished in 2:07. the lead horse was walking home in 34 seconds. i could of prob passed him. Hitchiker woulda prob ran a 2:02 or something like that. listen to frank salive

[lordpye]

Maybe you should watch some races yourself. Clearly you didn't do your own "research" regarding the race. Of course the field was terrible, but HH comes to a STOP on the backstretch before starting again and wins anyway...how many times have you seen that before? Also, the track was an absolute deluge...barely anything could break 2:00 on that night...even the top pacers. And lastly, NOT A SINGLE OTHER WINNER ON THE CARD made up more than 3 lengths TOTAL on the leader to win. HH made up 20+.

[jfowl810]

well 1st of all you are ALL EFFING MORONS. He has to announce the entire field on his run through and doesnt get to the breaker cuz that is HIS JOB to do that, not just call 1 horse over and over and over. IDIOTS.

and then it was state-bred sire-stakes and CA breds were not up to any decent level at the time and everyone else broke expect for the 2nd horse and he was only there cuz he stayed on stride but he was DONE at the 1/2. Do yourself a favor if you dont know what you are talking

[STU676]

what a horrible race call...awful freakin job

[jwcomposer]

What's not to like about the call, Stu? Scott was clear, concise, and correct. He gave me all the information I needed, and when Hitchhiker broke stride up the backstretch, he was farther back in the field, and Scott's binoculars have about a seven length range of view. I don't call every breaker as soon as they jump off. Everything in its proper context. Again, Scott is clear, concise, and correct--and this call was no exception.

[baddog7676]

WOW!

[KEYSTONE2COVEC]

Aussie harness racing is the best in the world...you american pacers go hard out from the start...which is just ridiculous...By the way Chris Barsby is No match for Craig Rail....Jim Jacques is the next best followed closely by The awesome Dan Mielecki....Aussie racing Rules....BE GOOD JOHNNY TO MAKE IT 3 MIRACLE MILES IN 2008..GO JOHNNY GO

[7855waldo]

Great job by the announcer, who realized that HH broke about fifteen minutes after it happened. Dolt.

[legendofthewest]

1- remember that this horse is actually PACING-bred, even more remarkable

2- one of the worst calls ever... the horse had broke and was 20 lengths out of it before the announcer even noticed :(

[PlaYah1979]

lol american racing is bad....you must not know anything... walter case jr is the best half mile track ever in history...no1 can beat this man on a small track...as for race callers...we have some great ones also...ken werkington..john bothe..roger huston..and i forgot the guys name from freehold but he is very good also

[akarpowicz]

IMPRESSIVE!!! Thanks for posting!

[CowPoop49]

No offense but american racing is bad. Canada has all the best harness racing. In Northlands Park we have the greatest announcer of all Sugar Doyle he makes the racing interesting. And that was a trotting Race. They are not NEARLY as good as pacing races. But still good comeback.

[boccirock]

yeah what you don't see is the past performance lines on this horse along with all the other horses. He was only 10 seconds faster then them all on paper.

[all4pharlap]

in america they seem to lose strite easlier

[125sloth]

Lets just say this guy would not be even calling that much if Craig Rail had not gone to Victoria. has even called horses that are not in the race. And it's not David Fowler, (who is very good), so it isn't hard to work out. Hopeless caller and needs to get the plum out of this mouth.And to think they even put his dial on TV on Briz 31. not that many people watch that stupid channel anyway.

[fakeleft]

Chris Barsby is the best caller in the land. I could listen to him read a phone book. Fowler sucks. Home of Jack two runs back wasn't even called in the last mile.

[fakeleft]

And the other day Fowler said Hal Thomas was his special at the Gold Coast even though it was Thomas Crown. Don't even get me started with the night he gave my mate a hot tip with Spyhunter.

[125sloth]

I do not like any of them. When Craig Rail left Barsby only got more work thanks to that. He even calls horses that are not in the race, also cannot pick photo finishes well, and often calls races from a tv monitor instead of looking at the actual field.

[125sloth]

Nothing personal against the guy, but he needs to get the poofy plumb out of his mouth, and speak proper English, without trying on the "private schoolboy" language. He gets tied up with his words quite often because of this. It's very frustrating for punters. but not on track as nobody bothers to go anymore anyway. Its like a morgue at all the tracks.

Bill Collins, Bert Bryant, Ken Howard, and even Vince Curry would turn over in their graves if they heard the standard of race calling now

[125sloth]

The callers in America are very boring, but more accurate with numbers and finishing order than one particular caller in Queensland, who would have to be the worst caller in Australia, can't even get the numbers in right order. Bill Collins would be turning in his grave at the poor standard now.

[saveus228]

keep in mind, the announcer was outdoors in the tower and it was about 10 degrees windchill that night with some fog and rain (I was there, probably the first time I ever hit a tri where two of the horses I needed were off stride in the race). update: Hitchiker is still perfect for his career.

[KDET10]

If you listen closely at the end you can hear hitchhikers diesel motor screaming away. hahaha

[decorum67]

Incredible; to break stride,give em a 20 lenth lead, and still come home running and win.Good driving,and boy has that horse got a motor.

[alicemrox]

wow the american race callers are boring

[riddyzarzoff]

Thanks for the video. Should be more of 'em. But I wish those callers would get some downunder enthusiasm in their calls. Apart from they're off!I wasn't too inclined to get out of my chair.

[fromdaspires]

holy shit!

[thenextbigchristmas]

this was a very good race i just wish i could of been there that night but i got layed off by lou pena the Harness driver cal expo rules

though and sctott ehrlich is the man

[lordpye]

What did he not see? I thought Ehrlich gave a pretty decent call.

[bvlahos23]

the race caller should use his guide dog to call races seeing that he cannot see shit

[lakings13]

great comeback! you almost never see this kind of recovery in a harness race