Cal Expo: Bob Johnson rolling along at age 74

The Bob Johnson stable was hot last Saturday night, accounting for three of the first six races on the card with Mooney Svendsen doing the honors, including victories in the Glen Holt Memorial Pace and the Open Trot.

Johnson, who will turn 75 next month, has now made 2,533 trips to the winner’s circle in his career with over $12 million in earnings.

While a hat trick is great in anybody’s book, it doesn’t come close to matching the night winners Bob sent out at Los Alamitos on February 11, 2000, when he won an amazing eight races.

“I remember the date because I have a picture at home that was taken with all eight horses,” Johnson related. “There were some nice ones in that group, including Kaycees Doll, who won the $250,000 Lloyd Arnold down there.”

Johnson’s triple last Saturday started out with Talkin Tootsie recorded her third win on the season from five appearances as she hung a neck decision on 1-5 favorite Pridecrest in the co-featured Open Trot. Marin Garey and Henry Weiseneck own the mare.

Two races later, it was the Johnson owned, bred and trained 11-year-old trotter Franks Best who added another W to his resume, which now includes $270,000 in earnings.

Rounding things out was Allmyx’sliventexas, who ended up in a dead-heat with Gorgeous For Real in the Open Pace for owner/breeders and longtime clients Wayne and Rod Knittel.

“I’d been in a bit of a slump going into that night, so it was extra nice,” Johnson said. “I’ll tell you, winning never gets old.”

Bob was asked to talk a little about each of the winners.

“To be honest, I was just hoping to get a check with Talkin Tootsie, because she had missed a few weeks. I thought she went a super mile to beat a very nice trotter in Pridecrest.”

Franks Best is one of the most popular performers on the grounds and was picking up his second snapshot on the year while using his patented late charge. “No question, he’s my all-time favorite. He just keeps on going at age 11, and he still has that desire to win.”

Johnson has always been high on the Knittel’s Hi Ho Silverheel’s hombred Allmyx’sliventexas, who has a 1:51 4/5 mark that was set last year at Running Aces and is closing in on the $100,000 earnings plateau.

“That was a solid group and I wasn’t sure how things were going to shake out early, but Mooney was able to work out a great trip. I think this horse is really coming up to some big races.”

-edited release (Mark Ratzky for Cal Expo)