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Father-son duo from Clinton win harness racing award

CLINTON — The father-son racing team of William C. "Bo" and William P. "Pat" DeLong, who run a successful stable based on their farm in Clinton, won the James Laird Memorial Award for Excellence at the Wisconsin Harness Horse Association awards banquet Jan. 21 in Madison.

Each year the WHHA chooses a horse, stable, person or groups of people with Wisconsin ties have been successful whether it is in Wisconsin or on the national level.

Harness racing in Wisconsin has always been a family sport and Bo and Pat DeLong are no exception. For years they have dominated various Midwest States Circuits. This year proved to be one of their greatest.

The Illinois County Fair stakes circuit saw two DeLong horses battle head-to-head all year. Mr. Creepy and Colemanandthesea were virtually unstoppable throughout the season. While running the stable up and down the road, only twice did one of these two not hit the board.

On the pari-mutuel side, the DeLong’s saw many winners throughout Illinois and Indiana. Voomerang pushed his earnings over $200,000 this season while taking a four year old mark of 1:51.4 at Maywood Park to complement his three year old record of a blistering 1:50.2. He’s So Hot, co-owned with Ernie Miller, Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin, continued his success this season with wins in the Illinois State Fair Championship, Dudley Hanover at DuQuoin, Oak Brook Terrace OTB and Cole Muffler Stake, while nearing the quarter of a million mark in earnings and also taking a record of 1:50.2.

Two-year-olds seem to be the DeLong forte. Liveanotherartoday and Vavoomster both took two year old records of 1:53.4 at Balmoral Park. But perhaps one of their biggest thrills of the year came with Fridaynightflight, (co-owned with trainer Roger Welch) after winning the $127,800 Abe Lincoln Stake at Maywood Park. En route to a two year old record of 1:52.2 and earnings in excess of $380,000, Fridaytnightflight scored victories in numerous Indiana Sire Stakes, the Circle City, and the Fox Stake 85.

Bo & Pat are a powerhouse to be reckoned with throughout the Midwest. Poised with exceptional horses and the best of partners,trainers, and drivers, 2012 should be a big year for this duo.