1981 Yonkers Raceway - Eastern Skipper & Herve Filion

October 3, 1981
Open Pace, $33,000
1- Eastern Skipper (Herve Filion)
2- Mr. Forty Nine (Ted Wing)
3- Millers Scout (Carmine Abbatiello)
4- All The Way (Yves Filion)
5- Secret Service (Jim Marohn)
6- Destin Grade (Jim Doherty),
7- Dorado Hanover (Bill O'Donnell)

[@raygordonteacheschess5501]

I used to bet the races at OTB and watch them on tape delay.

[@milehighed52801]

Herve Filion reminds me a little of Joe Pesci. Just sayin’.

[@comesahorseman]

😂

[@guymelissarr8967]

Secret service great on half mile tracks

[@johnucarneyPh.D.]

Thanks for this one-reminded me of how many tickets I had to tear up betting against the legendary Herve.

[@jamsid33]

"bullet" bob meyer

[@coodeville1091]

Professional wrestling was on after this at midnight

[@raygordonteacheschess5501]

Sure was!

[@taxisteve929]

A lot of incredible drivers over the years, and I will not say who was best, but I will say that I have NEVER seen anyone who could measure like Herve Filion. When he got the lead by a nose, he KNEW he had the lead by a nose. Incredible....unfortunately, he could do the same thing losing by a nose, and it took a lot of years to get him. Sad....could have won 20,000 races...EASY......all those times he measured for 2nd!!! Actually seen him let a guy win because he knew the guy was hurting and needed the money... a trainer....unfortunately, that doesn't help the trainer of the horse he is driving who just dumped a ton on him, but it is old school harness racing, where you spread the money around and make sure you are best if you are, but also, don't hurt the good guys...let them make some money to stay in the game.

[@paulabillings8679]

taxisteve929 I used to know Herve back in the day, he was a nice guy but make no mistake he stiffed his fair share of horses, especially those 3 to 5' s

[@markrocovich2234]

taxisteve929 Herve drove Maximilian Hanover for me at Yonkers, and we got our 2s and threes, keeping classified.But one night i found out Max was getting claimed, and I called Herve over from the PP and said, "Fuck next week, we win tonight!!"Herve got the message, he won, we got Z'd, and the next week he went 3 seconds faster for Billy Parker Jr. Herve could ALWAYS hide a couple of seconds when he had to...

[@taxisteve929]

Could you imagine how many races he would have won if he was trying to win EVERY start?!?!?!?!

[@BigGuyDave524]

i was there for this race , eastern skipper won 3 races in 8 days , this one , at brandywine , then back the following saturday night at yonkers

[@caesarfiorini]

BigGuyDave524 ....did it the next year too when he won in NY on Sat night and Liberty Bell on Sunday night.

[@spikeri812]

regardless of what BRONXITE said, MR.FILLION has done so much for this sport over the last 50 years. & it's an honor & privalage to have had the oppotrunity to race with him.

[@BugsWisely]

Wonder who the track vet was letting Mr. Forty Nine go to post. Obviously lame. Miller's Scout was a nice horse. I havent seen a tape where he looked sound. Horses dont jerk their head around like that unless something's wrong.

[@altstiff]

Nice upload! Love the old racing action.

[@brianjschumer]

Filion family has done do much for harness racing, Herve will be missed!!..Much props to owners of Eastern Skipper to let him go vs. Older horses. Had a very nice career, game horse

[@niterockerone]

If you keep another horse even a few inches behind you, that's an advantage in a race often won by a nose. And the weight transfer lifts the horse slightly which reduces front ankle stress.

[@taxisteve929]

Gotta love Herve in the interview talking about the horses last race where he jumped over a scalper....then the interviewer goes right back to this race and I would bet 9 of 10 people had no idea what a scalper was that Herve says he jumped over!!! LOL

[@grgoldner]

Grew up with this announcer, what's his name?

[@rstefanie2622]

13 years later here. His name is Bullet Bob Meyer. Hope you’re still alive to read this reply!

[@grgoldner]

@@rstefanie2622 Alive and well thank you!

[@rstefanie2622]

@@grgoldner Excellent news!

[@unclebillmusic]

the worst race caller that I've ever heard-he is too,too mundane-no excitement in ANY of his calls,ever.

[@nicolebourgeois9977]

Rheal bourgeois horse trainer standardbred

[@danielklein9855]

Couldn't agree with you more. His call of a race could put you to sleep.

[@kennethkobylakiewicz3157]

@@danielklein9855 Jack E Lee was an extraordinary track announcer and a better man.