TALKING SPORTS

‘The horses are now in the turn’

By TED WADDELL

Posted 7/30/25

MONTICELLO, NY — The harness racing action starts at the “Mighty M” with track announcer Howard Oil whetting the appetite of the racing fans. “The horses are now leaving the …

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TALKING SPORTS

‘The horses are now in the turn’

RR photos by Ted Waddell

Dan Rawlings with Gotta Minute N, trained by Michael Annunziata, in a 1-mile pace with a purse of $7,000.

RR photos by Ted Waddell

Dan Rawlings driving Marvin B. Swift, trained by Steven Ray.

RR photos by Ted Waddell

Michael Merton with Sorprese, trained by Bryson Dunning.

RR photos by Ted Waddell

Joseph “Joe P” Pennacchio is pictured with Backstreet Player, trained by Nicholas Devita.

RR photos by Ted Waddell

Jim Devaux, one of the Mighty M’s leading drivers, posted his 30th trip in 148 starts to the winner’s circle. He’s with Tattooman, trained by William Parker Jr.

RR photos by Ted Waddell

Scott Keppler placed Psalmsfortysixfive, trained by Jose Godinez, into the winner’s circle. As of July 21, he had posted 15 wins at Monticello Raceway in 110 starts.

RR photos by Ted Waddell

Kyle Dibendetto is pictured driving Arch Credit, trained by Robin Dibenetto in the first race of the day, a 1-mile trot with a purse of $7,600.

Posted Wednesday, July 30, 2025 3:54 pm

By TED WADDELL

MONTICELLO, NY — The harness racing action starts at the “Mighty M” with track announcer Howard Oil whetting the appetite of the racing fans. “The horses are now leaving the paddock” is followed in short order by “The pacers/trotters are now in the turn,” and both of which are preceded by the traditional fanfare of “The Call to Post.”

From the perspective of a sports scribbler, it’s funny who you can run into at local sports events.

For example, take the harness-racing action on Wednesday, July 23. Actor Mike “Friz” Frizalone—a big-time harness racing fan—showed up to watch the trotters circle the track at Monticello Raceway.

Frizalone is a veteran of Paul Austin’s Liberty Free Theatre, and starred in numerous productions at the local theatre, under the direction of Austin.

Taking a moment to switch from “the boards” to his love of Standardbred horse racing, he said of the sport, “It’s a great sport, a sport where the average guy can own a race horse… In Thoroughbred racing, you have to be a millionaire to start, [while] in harness racing, you can have a horse for a few dollars put away, spend five or ten thousand dollars on a horse.” And then you’re off to the races.

In comparing Thoroughbred jockeys to harness drivers, Frizalone noted the former usually weigh in at about 100 pounds soaking wet, while harness horse pilots are “anywhere from 130 to 230 pounds,” as “the sulky takes the weight of it back off the horse… The average driver is, say, 165 pounds.”

Asked his take on the Mighty M’s general manager, he replied, “Shawn Wiles has managed to keep this place open through COVID. The track surface is great, and he’s always looking after the horsemen, the safety of the horses and the drivers.”

Friz’s take on the local harness track?

“It’s not what it used to be, but you can’t come here and not have a good time. You’ve got perhaps two-and-a-half minutes where you can scream and yell, and might make some money… You might have to put up with profanity once in a while [but] it’s not church; it’s a race track.”