Busy Gorham ties for training lead at Pinnacle

HURON TOWNSHIP, Mich. - Robert Gorham, who won the training title in Pinnacle Race Course's 2008 inaugural meet and again last year, won three races Sunday to tie with James Jackson in this year's race. Gorham won consecutive races starting with Tropic Rose ($4.40) in the second race. Pauliano Pkwy ($7.40) and Motion Me On ($12.80) followed.

"I have 48 stalls at the track, including a few supplemental stalls next to the barn and they're all full," Gorham said during a break between surgeries at his Kalamazoo veterinary clinic. "All told, we have about 64 head in training."

Gorham is on the road constantly, racing at Presque Isle Downs, Thistledown, and Pinnacle as well as working at his clinic.

"Cleveland has a lot of similar races," he said. "You do what you have to do in this industry. It's been tough on everybody, but especially here in Michigan."

"It's hard to rationalize keeping horses in training sometimes, but you've got to make the best of the situation," he said of the reduction of racing dates in Michigan.

There are only 44 day of racing at Pinnacle this year, all on Saturdas and Sundays through Oct. 31.

"Ultimately, we're not the only industry in the state that has had to do with less," he said. "I try to stay enthusiastic. That's what makes it all worthwhile."