Scioto: Emoticon Legacy clocks world record in Charlie Hill Memorial Trot

Emoticon Legacy, under a hand drive, put separation on the field to set a new track and world record for 4-year-old stallions, winning the $250,000 Grade 2 Charlie Hill Memorial Trot in 1:50 2/5 on Saturday night at Eldorado Scioto Downs.

An uncharacteristic break by race favorite On To Norway (Yannick Gingras) as the field left the gate allowed 2025 Charlie Hill winner Hillexotic (Austin Hanners) to go straight to the front from post four, hitting the quarter in 27 1/5. Zeron got Emoticon Legacy away third and tipped out as the field went by the 55 2/5 half. By the 1:23 three-quarters Emoticon Legacy drew head-to-head with Hillexotic and drew off to win by six lengths in the world record performance. Emoticon Legacy was the 7-5 second choice and paid $4.80 to win.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

Fresh off a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Maple Leaf Trot, it was just the 4-year-old stallion's seventh start, and second win, on the year. The Luc Blais trainee by Walner is a winner of over $1.3 million for owner/breeder Determination and has a lifetime-best of 1:49 2/5 set at The Red Mile.

"I've raced against him enough to have a lot of respect for him," said Zeron, who sat behind the horse for the first time Saturday. "I felt like I had the best horse in the best spot really. I spoke to his driver last year, Louis-Philippe Roy, and he gave me all the instructions to get in the winner's circle today. He's an incredible animal, and I could feel the speed he was giving me coming out of the last turn, so we just rode it out."

The previous track record of 1:50 4/5 was set by Winner's Bet in the 2024 Charlie Hill. The previous world record of 1:50 3/5 was co-held by Uncle Peter (set in 2013) and Nordic Catcher S (matched in August 2026).

--press release (Scioto)--