The Standardbred Connection January 2016 | Page 13
These historic tracks helped to shape early Americana and made household names out of the drivers, and heroes out of the amazing horses. The
Standardbred can still be seen racing on the track
today, with superstars of our sport still racing for
these immortal stakes such as the Messenger,
Finally, the famous Brandywine track, located in Battle of Brandywine, and Colonial. e
the Delaware Valley, combined with Liberty Bell
to put on a circuit that rivaled only Roosevelt and
Yonkers raceways on Long Island. Brandywine
was long considered the prettiest track around.
Direct Scooter and Ramblin Willie, as well as famous drivers Stanley Dancer and Billy Haughton
brought crowds of over 14,000 to the track. The
famous Niatross raced across her surface and
Herve Fillion putting many of his 16,000 wins over
Brandywine’s track. Like Liberty Bell and Roosevelt, the 80’s were not kind to her, and dwindling
crowds, Atlantic City, and rising property values
sealed her fate. She closed her doors in 1990 with
Harrah’s stepping up and moving Brandywine’s famouse stakes races to their track.
Roosevelt Raceway photos courtesy of the
Library of Congress.
continued to be a successful track until she closed
her doors in 1988. There is little left of the track
today, with a movie theater and shopping center
situated in the former parking lot and condos and
apartments on the grandstand site.
USEF Announces
2015 Equestrian of the Year Nominees
Misdee Wrigley Miller, Driving
The Bill Robinson Trophy is presented to an equestrian competing with horses or ponies across all the
breeds in harness or for driving performance in non-international competitions.
Misdee Wrigley Miller has always been passionate about driving and has competed with many different
breeds including American Saddlebreds, Arabian, Friesian, Hackney Horse, Hackney Pony, Standardbred, and the Dutch Harness horse. In 2015, Miller turned her attention to competing with her coaching team of Dutch Harness horses and her American Saddlebreds. She got the season off to a strong
start by winning the prestigious coaching championship at the Devon Horse Show, and followed that
up with wins at the CAA Carriage Fest