Rockingham Park wrapped up the 103-year-old track's 2009 live harness meet on Sunday with overall gains in handle as Earlivic rallied from far off the pace to score the biggest upset in the history of the Joseph Carney Memorial Trot
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Earlivic, a six-year-old son of Valley Victor driven by David Ingraham and trained by Maurice Bazinet, was overlooked by the closing day crowd as they let him get away at 25-1 in the field of seven top trotters. But when 2-5 favourite and defending champion Scorpion Moon got into trouble behind the gate and broke before the start and then the front runners came back to him in the lane, Earlivic was able to capitalize on the mistakes and cross under the wire in 1:55.4 on a fast track.
While his final time was the slowest by only one tick of a second in the six-year record of the race to honour Rockingham's late president and owner, the across the board prices were the largest as the toteboard lit up to show $55.40, $12.80, and $5.
"When the favourite had his problems, that helped us for sure because he's a better horse," Bazinet explained. "But give a lot of credit to David because he did a really great job driving my horse. He was close to breaking a couple of times but David held him together and kept him on stride the whole way around."
With most of the field in front of him in deep stretch, Ingraham got Earlivic clear and out into the middle of the track and started picking them all off. Earlivic used his heart and talent to make up a deficit of almost six lengths and go on to win the Carney by a full length. Scorpion Moon, who was driven by Richard Wojcio, also rallied late in a courageous battle to get second money and 13-1 choice Proud Moment took third. Local favourite Slim Down, the 5-2 second choice, didn't have his usual fire and finished a disappointing fourth.
"My horse is very strong in the stretch and he proved that again today," said Bazinet. "For all of his life, coming on at the end has been his best quality."
Earlier in the day, Bruce Ranger was honoured as the meet's leading driver, Stewart Nemiro took home the award for top trainer, Dawn Anderson was hailed as the top amateur driver, and Kelly Marciano garnered the trophy as the groom of the year. New England Amateur Driving Club President Ray Ahto also presented donations from the group to the Salem Boys and Girls Club, Salem Youth Hockey, and the Salem Police Benevolent and Protective Association.
Ranger, who visited the winner's circle 91 times this summer and won purses in excess of $300,000 for his owners, has now been Rockingham's top driver in all three seasons he has competed here since harness racing returned in 2003.
Despite the tough economy, this season Rockingham was able to buck national trends and enjoy a successful meet while experiencing an increase in the amount of money wagered on track.
"The summer went by too quickly, although we had a great group of horsemen who provided us with large fields and competitive racing," said Edward Callahan, Rockingham's President and General Manager. "The handle on our live racing was up six percent. We hope the state is willing to fund the regulation of live racing for next year."
Rockinghgam will continue to offer full card thoroughbred, harness, and greyhound simulcasting year round, seven days and nights per week, plus charitable poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, and bingo throughout the entire year. The track also presents trade shows and expositions on selected weekends on the calendar.
(Rockingham Park)