August 28, 2009
HERO HORSEMEN HONORED AT ROCKINGHAM
FRIDAY; $30,000 JOSEPH CARNEY MEMORIAL TROT ON SUNDAY
SALEM, NH-- Harness horsemen Todd O'Dea and Walter
Ross, JR. were honored in a winner's circle ceremony at Rockingham Park on
Friday for their help in saving the life of a fellow horseman who suffered a
serious heart attack last month during the afternoon of racing.
When trainer Andrei Guidette, Jr. was
stricken in the Rockingham Park paddock on July 22, O'Dea and Ross
were cool in the midst of the crisis and immediately responded to administer CPR
until medical personnel could arrive on the scene. Guidette was taken to a
local hospital and then transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston,
where he subsequently underwent a quadruple bypass operation.
Reportedly, Guidette is recuperating and in good
spirits as he hopes for a return to racing
next spring.
"I hope he lives a long and happy life," said
Ross.
O'Dea echoed that sentiment and added, "I hope he
gets back to racing soon."
Live racing resumes on Saturday with a 10-race card
and Rockingham will also simulcast the full card of Thoroughbred racing from
Saratoga which includes the running of the Grade 1 $1 million Travers Stakes,
also known as the Mid-Summer Derby.While three-year-old filly sensation and
Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra and Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird are
sitting this one out, the Travers shapes up as an outstanding betting race with
a competitive field filled with quality from top to bottom.
On Sunday, Rockingham concludes the 2009 live
harness meet with an 11-race card highlighted by the sixth edition of the
$30,000 Joseph Carney Memorial Trot and defending champion Scorpion Moon has
been installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite in the seven-horse field.
Everyone coming to the races is eligible to win a $50 gas card from Klemm's
Mobile on the Run in Windham, NH. Post time is 1:05 PM.