HRTV® - About Us

Way to Go Tammi and John

Wednesday on Race Day America, it was a chance to acknowledge a milestone for Tammi Piermarini. The Bostonian was able to reach the 2,000th club, and she did it on her home turf at Suffolk Downs. For those who don’t know Tammi, it was met with humble gratitude, but more importantly, with her husband John at her side. Oh, didn’t I mention, John is her agent. To know them, is to love them, right down to their thick Boston accent and love of the Sox.
�
Now with three children in the house, next to Joy Scott, Tammi has to be one of the hardest working mothers on the backstretch. Up early and to the track for workouts, making sure to get home in time to see the kids off to school (thank goodness, it’s summer), and a quick turnaround back to the track for the afternoon card. John also keeps more than busy with his wife’s “business”, which is no small task when your wife is leading rider. If a “bad choice” is made in a race for a normal team — words are usually exchanged. Oh, to be a fly on the wall in the house of this team at dinnertime.
�
John is Tammi’s biggest fan. That’s not to say, he doesn’t give a critique every know and then. He does, but it’s always delivered with love and humor. The Piermarini’s can also be quite nomadic. When the season is done in Mass., the family hits the road for Tampa, the Mid Atlantic, or of recent, Turf Paradise in Arizona.

They work hard, but they also play hard and when the visit takes them to Southern California, they appear as any other tourist family. Baby strollers out, enjoying the pleasant weather at the “Great Race Place”. Between the popcorn and pictures, John will be trying to get his wife on a two year old, with the career goal as usual being the Kentucky Derby.

“I think she’s got another thousand winners in her, but we’re gonna have to travel to get it,” he said on the phone with confidence. “But it’s up to my wife”.

One thing is for sure, they are definitely on the same page — and that’s what I love about them.
�
Congratulations, Tammi and John, — go get 3,000th.

THOUGHTS ON A HOT JULY EVENING

First off, Summit of Speed was tremendous. The horsemen were very inviting, the track staff all class acts, and last but not least the fans: How they endure the humidity all summer long is a mystery to me. Calder is 40 years young, but they still give off that aura of 70s racing, which I still believe is one of sports best eras. It was also fun working with Caton Bredar. Ok, it’s always fun working with Caton, but down there especially as she was one of the people responsible for putting on the show for a number of years. She knows that place like the back of her hand, and along with her knowledge of the game, makes it as easy as it’s going to be. And to close out the trip on Sunday, before leaving, I actually got to see a Manatee in the hotel lagoon: I know what your thinking, “Huh??”- Ok, I realize – nothing to do with racing, it was just cool.

As far as this weekend, Delaware could you have a better race? I think not. I realize the Delaware Handicap is a small field, but it doesn’t get any better of a showdown. In a day and age when many connections would rather “duck” each other to find easier spots to run their horses, I applaud the owners and trainers of Havre de Grace and Blind Luck for taking a shot at each other for the sixth time. Pace should be legit, similar style, and both appear to be peaking. Call me a homer, but I’m pulling for Blind Luck. Jerry Hollendorfer was on Race Day America, and he couldn’t have been classier. He has never backed off on his praise of his mare and it appears he has gotten back on the right track- so to speak. Take nothing away from Havre De Grace, Fox Hill Farms owner Rick Porter was also on RDA, and deserves as much praise for how his mare has been managed. Call it Ali vs Fraizer, call it what ever you want: All I can say, is “Safe Trip” everybody, and to quote the great Boxing Referee Mills Lane- “All right now touch gloves…. NOW, LET’S GET IT ON!

Peter Lurie

August 26, 2011

Way to Go Tammi and John

July 15, 2011

THOUGHTS ON A HOT JULY EVENING