Brandywine Raceway (Spellbound Lobell race)

A 1986 race video of me, Doug Ahart, driving a horse I owned and trained to a win, breaking his maiden at the old Brandywine Raceway in Wilmington, Delaware. He was by the stud, Nero. No, i was not hurting him. I was whipping the wood shafts!

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• brandywine raceway
• spellbound lobell
• doug ahart
• harness racing
• horse racing

[bri6760]

Thanks for posting, we too, raced at Brandywine a few races back in the 80's. Had a few prospects never panned out, mostl Freehold claimers, and a few decent wins at Meadowlands, Rosevelt, and Garden State. I saved old programs, with,Nasemond, Nero, Sir Dalrae, Silk Stockings, Etc...maybe donate them at sompoint..

[cuphorse]

Thanks for your comments and the memories. The tri-state area was a nice place to race horses. I had collected a bunch of old programs myself, but ended up selling most of them on ebay. Seems to be a market there for most everything!

[bootgrip]

You hit the shafts only twice. I'm glad they fine drivers for whipping like this now.

[cuphorse]

Geeze, you have some telescopic eyes for the poor quality of video that was submited. I think I know how I hit my horses and it was on the shafts. Back then I did occasionally use catchdrivers that raised welts,,,,like Bea Farber,,,,,,but I never did.

[bootgrip]

@cuphorse What, your bike has three shafts two on the side and one over the horses back? Then yes, I guess you are hitting the shaft. Video isn't that poor looks like a Jerald sulky. I can see when your hitting the horse and when you hit the shaft.

[cuphorse]

You must have x-ray eyes as you can't even see the left shaft and how do you think a driver hits the opposite side of a horse anyway? By going over the top end of that horse that is how which gives the illusion of one directly hitting the rear-end in this 2 dimensional medium of a video. Harness drivers don't change whip hands like jocks do. The whip is maintained in the same hand. I am right handed. People like you are quick to make accusations suspecting the worse and for the most

[cuphorse]

never even had actual race driving experience. I know how I drive. You are only going on a poor view in a video. If you think I should be fined by the judges, then I think you should be sued for damages for lying about what I am doing. True, the whipping rule has changed, but that does not mean that I am abusing my horse or not hitting the shaft as you imply.

[freePUAbootcamp]

Such a beautiful track. I got there once in 1986.

[bri6760]

@BIGRED224FOREVER

I was young back in the 70's but I remember the intro, and a few horses really picked up on the Prototype single shaft, especially smaller, horses or horses with rear end feet probs. I did hear that they where a bit dangerous on half milers. Later on the newer style sulkies of the 90's that added lift, and carbon fiber strength,have the same concept of the single shaft lift, without the mono shaft on top. Nice post.Would love to see your winning pic too./Brian

[bri6760]

Appreciate the reply, Ebay might be good for old early 70's programs.

Spellbound Lobell sounds so familiar. We might have crossed paths in 1986. We had 3 horses running at that time, with a few babies, that never did anything. We had Destiny's Reef=Meadowlands, Garden State & Brandywine. Auburn Knight=Roosevelt, Yonkers, Freehold, and a few races at Meadowlands. Theatre Lobell=Freehold & Roosevelt.

[BIGRED224FOREVER]

@bootgrip I have a winners photo of a horse winning in 2:03 at brandywine raceway in 1973 with a single shaft sulky. They were trying to introduce them in the early 70's and we one with the prototype. They were controversial due to drivers mainly not liking them due to safety concerns. I wonder if the shaft over the back which was made of metal and not having wood shafts along the sides gave nothing for the driver to hit? nevertheless they had a very short stay in harness racing.