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Fonner Park Thank You and Awards
My own thoughts and opinions
First off, hats off to the JOCKEYS. In what profession do you have the most difficult job in your chosen trade and earn the least amount of money.
These guys are riding the hardest to handle, most infirm horses around a bullring no less and make by far the least amount of money. True heroes.
Hats off to the TRAINERS who not only kept these sore animals together. I would venture to say these were fewer breakdowns than most tracks I watch, and those are many.
Some specific mentions
Best husband and wife team
Kelli and Armando Martinez....Armando is 52 years young for heavens sake and was the leading jock this season. Always smiling when he dismounts. Wife and conditioner Kelli has her horses looking great on the track, no matter how cheap they are.
Jocks with the most balls ( figuratively)
Dakota WooD
Never saw a hole he didn't likeno matter how small. Great judge of pace on the top or closing. Certainly my personal go to jock this meet for value and great race riding
Tara Hynes, ex standard bred trainer and horselady from NJ will ride any discard you throw at her. One of the regular jocks want off at the last minute, call Tara and she will take the mount. Still obviously learning but boy does she have nerve of steel and I wish he the best. Probably can model if racing doesn't work out
Jake Olesiak I was critical of this guy on a couple of threads but I will say this. I didn't realize he was riding hurt for awhile until another poster pointed it out. Works all night at his regukar day job and then shows up to ride. Does not abuse horses with the whip, which may account for what looked like a lack of effort to me.
OTHERS
Chris Kotulak isn't it refreshing to have someone who truly understands the game to be at the helm? Because of Chris I believe Fonner will not ride a one trick pandemic pony. People where exposed to Fonner and I believe it will become a guilty pleasure for many of us in the years to come and tough never seeing pandemic handles, should easily see higher handles than ever before. Great job to you and the entire management team
Steve Anderson First in the handicapping role. Steve knows this track and it's trends inside out. Great insight and delivery in his paddock picks each and every race. Steve and Mountaineerman Mark are the two analysts that know their stuff about handicapping and more importantly the peculiarities as they relate to their own tracks. Looking forward to Steve's interviews of Fonner celebrities next season. As far as announcing, just fine as will, but I don't know what "Bill Daley" means!
Judges Far better than their pandemic partner Gulfstream and I don't mean that as a left handed compliment. Infirm horses, bumping every race out of the gate and into the turns and making swift and correct calls to objections.
Jay68802 Esteemed PA poster and best cheerleader a track can have. Fonner hire this guy on your marketing team.Biggest public supporter you have and also let me know behind the scenes when I posted something that needed correction. Looking forward to having a few beers with Jay when I make the sojourn to Fonner.
Please add any unsung heroes I may be missing
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. It would make me nervous to ride a horse another jockey wanted off during the warm up
