Derick Giwner

Clear skies may have been a deciding factor in Derick Giwner's winter success at New Meadowlands | Photo by Lisa Photo I did it!

Trainer Casie Coleman is one of many in racing using Twitter | Photo by Michael Burns Once a year I revive the column Clyde Hirt made famous in Sports Eye – Impertinent Questions. It gives me the chance to get a dozen or so thoughts off my chest with some quick shots.

The author driving trotter Christy Rae | (photo by Mike Lizzi) I will be on hand at Monticello Raceway this Thursday (April 12) for the 14th annual Passover Trot, a race for drivers of Jewish descent. Well, that is only a half truth. Typically the Passover get-together for us Matzoh-loving menschen is a Pace, but after 13 consecutive pace races, 2012 will feature the Passover Trot.

When handicapping harness races you will quickly notice the wide-ranging conditions of each race. Outside of straight claiming races and open events, most races will be based on the money won by each horse over a period of time. The majority of tracks use the standard of money won over each horse’s last four to six starts. This works nicely because standardbreds race about 2.5 times per month, which means recent activity is a good indicator of form and current ability.

Yonkers Raceway | Photo by Derick Giwner