Post by Big Tee© on Jul 18, 2006 11:15:35 GMT -5
Ninety-one-year-old Leo Burns of Albion, Ill. isn't showing any signs of slowing down. Neither is his two-year-old filly Winsome Wyoming. The duo demolished the competition in their division of the freshman filly trot yesterday at the Wayne County Fair in Egyptian Colt Stakes action.
Starting from the extreme outside post six in the field of eight, Burns tapped the filly a few times behind the gate and left with enough speed to accompany Hollys MnM and Randy Crisler to the front. When it looked like a speed duel might develop, Burns grabbed hold of his mount and was content to place her in a hole behind the leader. However, when space wasn't available along the inside, Burns put the filly in gear again and easily cleared the leaders at the quarter-mile marker in :32.1. From that point on, no one came within three lengths of the pair.
Winsome Wyoming trotted home in a time of 2:08.1, remaining undefeated in four starts for the driver, who still carries a stop watch when he drives. Sweet Baby Jane and Ray Hanna was the best of the remaining horses to finish second. Fox Valley Calypso and Ray Gash moved in for third.
Winsome Wyoming increased her career earnings to more than $5,000 with the victory. The smallest margin of victory for the chestnut thus far has been four lengths at Marshall, Ill.
"She was the last horse in the sale," said Burns, who does all of his own driving and training. "She's the one I wanted. She was a nice sized filly and I got her for $2,600."
Burns bought her and turned her over to Alvin Schrock, the agent on Winsome Wyoming, for 30 days. Schrock broke her and got her jogging for Burns before he drove up and brought her back to the Edwards County Fairgrounds.
"She wasn't the easiest thing to break," said Burns. "She wanted everything her way. But I knew right away she had speed. She showed that in the paddock when she was turned out."
Winsome Wyoming brought attention to Burns following her 14-length romp at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Spring Preview in late May. The filly has been unstoppable ever since, using gate to wire speed in each of her outings.
Born and raised in Marshalltown, Iowa, Burns and his wife, Marjorie, trained and raced horses for more than 60 years until 2001. Their operation was based at the Edwards County Fairgrounds in Albion, Ill. for a majority of that time. After Marjorie became sick in 2001, Burns left the business to take care of her until she passed away in 2003. Burns got back into the business at age 88 and now has two horses under his care.
When asked about getting someone else to drive his horses, he replied, "Why would I want to do that. What is the use of having a horse and training it if you don't drive it."
Burns and Winsome Wyoming will make their next stop on their home track Tuesday, July 25. The Edwards County Fair offers two nights of racing July 24 and 25 with a post time of 7 p.m.
The Egyptian Colt Stakes covers seven county fair locations in Southern Illinois. Racing will resume Sunday, July 16 at the Wayne County Fair before moving to the Edwards County Fair in Albion, Ill. July 24 and 25.
(Hoosier Park)
From The Harness Edge
Starting from the extreme outside post six in the field of eight, Burns tapped the filly a few times behind the gate and left with enough speed to accompany Hollys MnM and Randy Crisler to the front. When it looked like a speed duel might develop, Burns grabbed hold of his mount and was content to place her in a hole behind the leader. However, when space wasn't available along the inside, Burns put the filly in gear again and easily cleared the leaders at the quarter-mile marker in :32.1. From that point on, no one came within three lengths of the pair.
Winsome Wyoming trotted home in a time of 2:08.1, remaining undefeated in four starts for the driver, who still carries a stop watch when he drives. Sweet Baby Jane and Ray Hanna was the best of the remaining horses to finish second. Fox Valley Calypso and Ray Gash moved in for third.
Winsome Wyoming increased her career earnings to more than $5,000 with the victory. The smallest margin of victory for the chestnut thus far has been four lengths at Marshall, Ill.
"She was the last horse in the sale," said Burns, who does all of his own driving and training. "She's the one I wanted. She was a nice sized filly and I got her for $2,600."
Burns bought her and turned her over to Alvin Schrock, the agent on Winsome Wyoming, for 30 days. Schrock broke her and got her jogging for Burns before he drove up and brought her back to the Edwards County Fairgrounds.
"She wasn't the easiest thing to break," said Burns. "She wanted everything her way. But I knew right away she had speed. She showed that in the paddock when she was turned out."
Winsome Wyoming brought attention to Burns following her 14-length romp at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Spring Preview in late May. The filly has been unstoppable ever since, using gate to wire speed in each of her outings.
Born and raised in Marshalltown, Iowa, Burns and his wife, Marjorie, trained and raced horses for more than 60 years until 2001. Their operation was based at the Edwards County Fairgrounds in Albion, Ill. for a majority of that time. After Marjorie became sick in 2001, Burns left the business to take care of her until she passed away in 2003. Burns got back into the business at age 88 and now has two horses under his care.
When asked about getting someone else to drive his horses, he replied, "Why would I want to do that. What is the use of having a horse and training it if you don't drive it."
Burns and Winsome Wyoming will make their next stop on their home track Tuesday, July 25. The Edwards County Fair offers two nights of racing July 24 and 25 with a post time of 7 p.m.
The Egyptian Colt Stakes covers seven county fair locations in Southern Illinois. Racing will resume Sunday, July 16 at the Wayne County Fair before moving to the Edwards County Fair in Albion, Ill. July 24 and 25.
(Hoosier Park)
From The Harness Edge
