Selected Emails
Regarding my Roosevelt Raceway Site
~~~~~
Also read what people
wrote in my Roosevelt Raceway guestbook
by clicking
HERE
Date: Mon, Feb 21, 2000, 12:01pm
I saw your webpage via the USTA website,
it brought back some great memories,
especially how they would be open on
Thanksgiving night. I noticed that you
remembered the red haired guy that
called the races on the first floor. You
may want to add that the redhead is
actually Howard Oil who is now the track
announcer at Monticello Raceway! Thanks
for the memories!
Date: Mon, Feb 21, 2000, 12:22pm
Subject: Right on the mark!
Jeff,
Having read your piece on RR I can't
agree with you more. Your descriptions
of detail are great! I feel the same way
you do. Although I left NY 20 years ago
I return to NY to visit the family on
the holidays. Just recently, at
Christmas time, I passed RR and was
disturbed to see the plant in such a
mess. I will look for some photo's of RR
and that era. My neighbors at that time
owned horses that raced at the NY
circuit.
I will also ask some of my NY
buddies for any info they may have. I
now reside near Washington, DC and own
horses that race at Rosecroft. What a
difference time makes? Can u remember
when we couldn't get parking or a
program on a Saturday nite? Where did
everyone go? They use to pack in 22-25k
people per nite.
Keep me posted on any of your new
additions. By the way, what are they
going to do with that land? Any chance
for a new harness track?
Reply from J Rosen: No chance of
any harness track or any track. The
area where the parking lot and stable
area was is allready a couple of
shopping malls and they plan to build a
hotel complex where the grandstand was.
They should at least call the restaurant
there the Cloud Casino!!)
Date: Mon, Feb 21, 2000, 12:35pm
Jeff,
I wanted to take a moment and Thank
You for remembering my dad. My father
called the races at Roosevelt from
1968-1985. The owners thought they were
doing my dad a favor by firing him.
Again thanks-keep the spirit
alive!
Randy Lee
Reply from J
Rosen: Your dad was probably one of
my favorite race callers. I remember
the great double headers where I would
hear Fred Cappasella at the Big A or
Belmont in the Afternoon and Jack Lee at
night. I also remember your dad calling
the quarter horse races at Parr Meadows
in Yaphank.
Date: Mon, Feb 21,
2000, 12:54pm
Jeff,
Your page brings back
great memories. I remember all of what
you listed. I was in my teens back then
and loved going there with my late Dad
and my friends. I'm from the Uniondale
area. As you stated , thank god for
Belmont Park! Thanks for the memories.
Steve
Date: Mon, Feb 21, 2000,
1:13pm
Subject: Thanks
You brought a tear to my eyes, thank you
for the memories.
I was the caretaker of the horses
Mr.AAA, Sunbest Hanover, and Netaro, we
won many a race at Roosevelt, with
Carmine in the bike.
Jeff Feinman
Date: Mon, Feb 21, 2000, 4:03pm
Jeff,
I first laid eyes on RR in 1959 when my
dad purchased his first horse. It was
not until 1966 that I could pass for 18
and get in through the turnstiles at
night. I remember the great Adios Butler
setting the then track record of 1:57.4.
Bye Bye Byrd, Widower Creed, Best of
All, Overcall, Overtrick, WW Smith,Irvin
Paul and his brother Stephan Smith and
oh so many others. As the track
announcer at Pompano Park from 1975-1982
and Monticello in the 70's and early
80's and having grown up in the Bronx
it was a dream come true to call the
races at RR the last three years of its
existance. Its demise was devastating to
its employees at the time and a terrible
blow to many residents of Long Island.
RR will always have a special place in
my heart. It's just too bad you can
never go home.
Thank you,
Jerry Glantz
Date: Mon, Feb 21, 2000, 7:15pm
I enjoyed viewing your page - I'm must
be a bit younger then you and only
started attending Roosevelt in their
last few years - I too have always had
that same ill feeling everytime driving
down the Meadowbook.
Date: Mon, Feb 21, 2000, 8:18pm
Hello Jeff,
I visited your site and feel its long
over due that an Islander shared his
views on our beloved
sport. I wish you luck and sucsess, and
hope all in harness enjoy. My photos and
memories are
old and not alway's pleasant, but as
soon as I can I will forward some.
Racing there at times was
fantastic, and it was only 35 minutes
away (lol), I did get to see some greats
(Doc's Fella/Rambling Storm/anxsous
Robbie/Timothy
Haymaker/Pinoccio/Guts/Tuscan hanover
and Dignatarian and ON THE ROAD AGAIN).
And Great Horseman. Good luck and nice
meting you, Joe Klis.
Date: Mon, Feb 21, 2000, 8:30pm
HEY JEFF ENJOYED YOUR ARTICLE ON
ROOSEVELT RACEWAY -I MISS IT ALL TOO
MUCH TOO-THANKS FOR BRINGING SOME
MEMORIES BACK-FRANKTROTS
Date: Mon,
Feb 21, 2000, 9:26pm
Very interesting, & you did good job. I,
too remember the thing you wrote about.
I also remember the rainy night Jimmy
Cruise won all 6 races he had entered
from his stable. Think he was the first
one to do this. Brought back many good
memories & good racing.
Date: Mon,
Feb 21, 2000, 9:43pm
Dear Sgt.
I too share your feeling of
emptiness over Roosevelt Raceway. I was
An asistant trainer for Denis Ginsras
when that track close. I moved there
from Buffalo with hopes of making it big
on day in the racing game. Well that
never happened but I had the time of my
life there on Long Island. As a matter
of fact on of my best friends now was
just a newcomer when I was there, His
name is Luc Ouellette. Wow what a
difference 12 years makes. What ever
became of the raceway grounds? Man I
miss that time in my life, it broke my
heart to leave.
Well thanks for letting me take
a stroll down memory lane
Sincerely
Paul Nazzarett
Date: Tue, Feb 22,
2000, 9:36am
Subject: ABOUT
ROOSEVELT RACEWAY AND HARNESS IN
N.Y.
HELLO,
I REMEMBER BILLY HOUGHTON SAYING TO MY
BROTHER GUY ( HE WORKED FOR MORE THAN 15
YEARS FOR MR. HOUGHTON) IN 1972, AFTER
THE OPENING OF THE OTB" GUY, THIS IS THE
END OF THE INDUSTRY, NO PLAN LIKE IN
FRANCE TO KEEP OUR CLIENTELE ON THE RACE
TRACK"
AND SINCE I WAS WORKING VERY HARD ON A
STUDY ON THE INDUSTRY, I DID ASK HIM IF
WE SHOULD REMOOVE THE HUB RAIL FOR MORE
SECURITY AND THE SHOW? HE SAID " I NEVER
UNDSERSTOOD WHY WE HAVE A HUB RAIL, AND
LAUGHING, HE SAID PROBABLY FOR THE DRUNK
DRIVER.
IN 1984, I PUBLISHED A STUDY, 125 PAGES,
AND ONE OF OUR RECOMMANDATIONS WAS TO
REMOVE THE HUB RAIL. MONTRÉAL WAS AMONGT
THE FIRST TO REMOVE THE HUB RAIL.
I WAS THERE VERY OFTEN TO SEE MY
BROTHER, TO THE GREAT TROTTER RACES.
IN 1959, I SAW THE GREAT FRENCH TROTTER
JAMIN FOR THE FIRST WIN IN THE
INTERNATIONAL. THIS THE TIME THAT I
DISCOVERED THAT OTHER COUNTRIES HAD THE
GREAT SPORT OF HARNESS RACING.
I AM STILL SPENDING MY TIME ON STUDIES,
HOW TO PROMOTE OUR INDUSTRY BUT AMERICA
IS QUITING ON PARI-MUTUEL FOR THE VIDEO
POKER.
INSTEAD HAVING IDEAS LIKE ALL THE OTHERS
COUNTRIES IN THE WORLDS, AMERICA IS
STILL HAVING RACES FOR THE BENEFIT OF
THE PROMOTERS ANG FORGET THAT THE HORSE
IS AN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT, THAT CREATES
JOBS.
1972, WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE DECLINE
OF THE HARNESS INDUSTRY IN AMERICA AND
ROOSEVELT WAS THE CONSEQUENCE OF A
LIBERAL COUNTRY WITHOUT A PLAN.
SHOULD WE YET COPY JAPAN.? AT THE JAPAN
CUP, IN 1998, ON ONE PROGRAM, A TOKYO
RACE TRACK( THERE ARE TEN RACE TRACKS IN
THE TOKYO AREA , OPENING ABOUT 40 DAYS
EACH) THE HANDLE WAS
47.1 BILLION YENS( 682.9 MILLION $ CAN.)
THE RECORD IN AMERICA, ON JULY 15 1998,
AT THE MEADOWLAND WAS 6.7 MILLION $U.S.
AMERICA BREEDS VERY GOODS HORSES EVEN IF
THEIR MARKET FOR EXPORTATION IS SMALL AS
MOSTLY ALL OTHERS COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD
BREED ONLY TROTTERS BUT WITHOUT A PLAN
AND A NATIONAL STRATEGY THE FUTURE IS
NOT BRIGHT.
THE CLOSING OF ROOSEVELT IS FOR THE
WORLD , THE BEGINNING OF THE DECLINE OF
THE AMERICAN INDUSTRY
SINCERELY
RICHARD LAVIGNE
ONCE A MAJOR INVESTOR, LEFT WITH ONLY
ONE HORSE AND A LOT OF EXPERIENCE ON THE
SUBJECT
Date: Tue, Feb 22, 2000,
10:11am
Hi Jeff,
You brought back the exact memories that
I have of Roosevelt. I too get that same
feeling driving along the Meadowbrook
Prky. I loved it so much that I even
took it a step farther and became a
driver/trainer which I still do on a
part time basis at Freehold. I still
talk to Carmine some mornings at Gaitway
farm we he helps out his son on
occassion who is a trainer/driver at
Freehold. I also miss those times at
Roosevelt. Great idea for the website -
keep it up.
Ron
Date: Tue, Feb 22, 2000, 11:04am
hi. Saw your name at the U.S.T.A.
webpage I race horses there in the early
60's I had good luck. Look up the old
stats in the USTA records. GOOD luck.
Paul Beckley
Date: Tue, Feb 22,
2000, 12:16pm
Thanks Sgt. Rosen for
your note; I put an item about your site
in our Web Newsroom and hope you'll
receive some feedback from our readers.
I visited Roosevelt only once, but agree
that it was a terrible loss for our
sport.
/s/ John Pawlak, USTA Publicity/Public
Relations Director
Date: Tue, Feb 22,
2000, 3:29pm This is a note to say
thank you for remembering George Morton
Levys place Roosevelt Raceway, the world
capitol of harness racing. Do you
remember ?
1- Speedy Crown
2-The marshal calls the pacers
3-The Moby Dick Cafeteria
4-The time that they converted the 3rd
floor into a disco 5-Sports Eye
6-The Promenade Cafe
7-When they tested day time racing
8-Undemai French horse
9-Rambling Willie
10-Dave Johnson calling races on a
saturday nite while he was doing the OTB
show.
11-Del Insko
12-Benny the whip Webster
13-Peter Haughton
14-Billy Haughton
15-Norman Duplaise
16-Mike Santa Maria
17-William Popfinger
SU MAC LAD,
SPEEDY CROWN,
UNDEMAI,
MOST HAPPY FELLA,
18-Tony Sisiti from newsday
Just a note to say that in my opinion
Jack E. Lee is ( was ? ) the Dean of
harness racing announcers. He was so
much better then the bullet Bob Meyer
that it was insulting. Even Roger
Houston can not compare. Ed Gorman from
the Meadowlands used the line HERE THEY
COME ! Jack E. Lee's line was THE
MARSHAL CALLS THE TROTERS AND THIS FIELD
IS IN THE HANDS OF THE STARTER.
Does anyone have any old programs ?
I live in FT Lauderdale near Pompano
Park, maybe we can put together some
kind of ROOSEVELT RACEWAY pacing series.
In addition maybe The Meadowlands can
restart The International Trot.....
Date: Tue, Feb 22, 2000, 3:41pm
So many thanks for that memory on the
race track. Coming from Brooklyn I would
take my father at least 3 times a week.
Now as I pass with my son ,I tell him
all about the good times we had there.
So sad to see it gone. As I read the
names of the drivers, it brought back
even more memories on the night Del
Insko thru a race in Yonkers, and when
he came to RR the crowd bood him. Thank
you once again.
Date: Tue, Feb 22,
2000, 9:14pm
Jeff,
Keeping up the history and preserving
the integrity of harness racing is every
fan/owner/breeder
and horsmans responsibility. By talking
about the past and the history of the
game brings it
alive, and we must learn from the
mistakes like roosevelt/yonkers and
sadly to say garden state.
Jeff, I am surprised the horseman
haven't fought harder for those tracks
and thier conditions, and seems to me
accountability for the issues of race
fixing/illegal drugs/ and integrity of
the
sport, they also fall short. Maybe I am
asking to much to clean the sport up,
maybe I am pissing
in the wind, no wonder the flats seem to
be thriving even with those issues,
maybe the SPIN IT
better?? who knows. Some
thoughts..Anyway, Charlie was a good
friend and team mate while
playing football at John Glenn, you
would have liked him..
Jeff my very
best,
Joe
Date: Thu, Feb 24, 2000, 11:35am
Dear Jeff:
I am so glad that you set up this
Memorial webpage. I'm happy that RR,
"where it all began," is not forgotten.
Roosevelt Raceway is where I fell in
love with harness racing, leading to my
realizing my dream of becoming a
standardbred owner.
Yet my greatest memories of RR are as a
fan. It amazes me how many of those
horses I watched race at RR have had a
great impact on the breed.
Keep up the site!
Thanks,
Deborah Hill
Date: Fri, Feb 25, 2000, 1:38pm
Hi Jeff..
Thank you. You really made my day when I
found your site. But with tears in my
eyes unfortunately. Roosevelt Raceway
was a Great track and I still don't
understand why it was not left there as
a Historical Site. I spent days and
nights there, I myself owned Racehorses
and it was like going to watch a child
in a recital everytime they raced. They
ripped the guts out of me when they
closed. I myself was very involved in
fighting for this track. But we could
never get ahead of them to prove what it
mean't to everyone for the track to be
reopened. So many people were affected
by the closing. Unfortunately those not
directly involved could never realize
the Horsemen, Trainers, Drivers and
Horses that lost so much when they shut
the doors. So very sad.
I will keep coming back to this site to
see anything new that has been added. I
have many memories of the track and if I
can gather up any material for you I
will send it to you.
You are doing a great job and myself and
I am sure many others truly appreciate
your efforts and what you have done to
keep the Memories alive. God Bless You
and Good Luck.
Dotti- Harness Racing Fan and Owner
Date: Fri, Feb 25, 2000, 10:55pm
It's sad to hear that RR is really gone,
some of the names are right out of my
past, I would say that your missing a
few really great drivers that made RR
there home for many years Clint Hodgins,
Joe O'brian, Billy Hudson, Frank
Stafford, Henry Thomas, Buddy Gilmour
just to name a few, Roosevelt always had
the best.
Fred Hudson
Date: Sun, Feb 27, 2000,
8:11am
Began going to RR in 62,my
uncles since it opened. Always did well
there ,a rail byrd ,clocking the last
qts in pre race work outs! got so i
could tell when a horse was on the
muscle. Course buddy G could stiff
anything or let Sach Werner win with a
new claim .But i loved that long
stretch! Good luck to you Sarge! Try
pocono downs,it aint the palace RR was
but i like the stretch there too!
Date: Sat, Feb 12, 2000, 12:47am
My friend that was nice stuff on the old
Race way..i wen't there many times from
New Jersey,,the red hair kid is still
around,,the guy is at the meadowlands.
Ted...
Date: Mon, Feb 28, 2000,
1:15pm
Jeff
great article,brought alot of great
memories.I have owned horses for the
last 10 years,only wish I was able to
stand in the winners circle at Roosevelt
Raceway.Its was a dream of mine while I
was growing up. once again great
article!!!!
sincerely yours
Joe E.
Date: Wed, Mar 15, 2000, 8:31am
Subject: good bye track
I loved just to be there, I also
enjoyed watching the people, and
watching my mother yell at the horses
like they could hear her, but that
didn't stop her.they will turn the track
into a shopping mall, we don't have
enough traffic, now more tunnel and
bridge people. they got rid of the track
and will make the Island a zoo. I think
we should make all the tracks which are
left historical sites and fight to
preserve them. so we can look back at
them as Roman ruins,and remember where
we lost a few bucks but had a great
time.
Love and Stuff Joyce
Date: Fri, Mar 17, 2000, 5:24am
(EST-3)
Hey Jeff
Robin sent me your page Fantastic. Boy
did your memorial to Roosevelt Raceway
bring back some Great memories. I'ts
ashame such a great place like that had
to be abandoned and the International
Trot has never been the same. Those
outstanding drivers The Redman
(Carmine), Lushhh (Fontaine), Ben the
Whip (Webster). I look at whats going on
today at Yonkers and feel sad to see how
far down this sport has come. I still
visit the Medowlands once in awhile, You
know the place across the river in the
swamp LOL. Thanks for the visit and if
you get up around Goshen,NY stop in to
the Harness Hall of Fame you might enjoy
it. They have one of the first mobile
starting gates on display. Oh and in
July they run stake races on the old
Goshen Track. your sight is great and
thanks again.
Date: Tue, Mar 21, 2000, 3:10pm
my parents were a winner of the twin
double in 1964 at roosevelt. they tell
me it was an exciting time. not too
mention the amout of some of those
payoffs. I was trying to find any
information about roosevelt during that
time. we have scrapbooks and pictures of
that 1964 great racing season. i also
work with a gentleman who owned horses
at that time and knew many of the
jockeys. My question to you is who is
the biggest single ticket twin double
winner in roosevelt history? waiting on
your reply thanks
Email:
sgtjeff@webtv.net
page 2 of selected emails (more letters)
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