June 15, 2023, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – Josie Hall is no stranger to harness racing.  Having been married to trainer/driver Aaron Hall for the last five years, the daily routine of the Standardbred is quite familiar.  However, the title ‘Josie Hall: Horse Owner,’ is something completely new and exciting for the life-long Maine resident.

“It all started when our racing partner Mike McGee was looking for a horse to race this summer in Maine,” noted the 30-year-old pre-school teacher from the quaint, small town of Gardiner.  That’s when they contacted bloodstock agent Marc Reynolds.

Always on the lookout for new horses, Reynolds found a maiden New York-bred filly racing in Delaware with Andrew Stafford.  Unraced last year at two, and now three with eight starts this season, it was evident to her previous owners that she may benefit from a softer landing spot. 

Enter the Halls and their partner McGee who jumped at the chance to acquire Jazzville.  A well-bred Huntsville sophomore, she was a $60,000 yearling purchase in 2021.

“Mike asked if I would like to be a partner on Jazzville and I immediately said yes,” Josie recalled.  “I go to the races all time, and I love to support my husband when he catch drives and races the horses from our stable.  I thought this would be a fun way to get more actively involved.” 

The filly arrived at the Hall’s stable on Monday and was out on the track first thing Tuesday morning.  “She’s a nice filly, perfect size for a half-mile track.  She pops along with two fingers,” noted Aaron Hall.  “I have been jogging her lightly since she arrived.  But we’re going to have Josie go with her next week.”

Mrs. Hall certain knows her way around the barn and can drive a pitchfork with the best of them.  Of course, Josie and Aaron Hall are high school sweethearts that have been together for the last fifteen years, so being immersed in the horse business was not really an option for the former High School Basketball star.  But, this will be the first time that Josie has owned one of her own.

“Don’t get too attached,” her husband joked, “we have a partner.”  But McGee is more than just a partner.  He and Aaron are good friends and have owned horses together for quite some time.  In fact, McGee was the best man at the Halls’ wedding in 2018.

All the Halls stable in Gardiner where their barn of 18 houses stock for Aaron and Josie, as well as his father Craig, brother Ryan Hall and step brother Jason Bertolini.  One could bet that all the Halls will be ‘striking up the band’ when their newest stable-mate makes her debut on Saturday.

Josie Hall and Mike McGee’s Jazzville (5-2) drew post two in the $4,000 maiden pace on Saturday (June 17) with her hubby listed as both trainer and driver.  Slated as race 11, there are six distaffs in the race, with the morning line favorite McSizzla (post one, Andy Harrington) listed at 7-5.  Trained by Sara Harrington, she is the only 4-year-old in the field.  Ironically, a filly by the name of Bet On Jozie (6-1, Bruce Ranger) occupies post five.  Could this be an omen?  Only time will tell.

Racing starts for the weekend at Cumberland on Friday (June 16) with a packed 13-race program.  The feature kicks things off with a $6,000 conditioned pace, led by Bush Man N (5-2, Kevin Switzer Jr.) scoring from post three, and followed closely in the trackman’s selections by Nagle (3-1, Dan Deslandes, post 5).  Getting some post relief this week is Call Me Maverick (4-1, Mike Stevenson, post 2) a former Maine Sires Stakes champion and a proud graduate of the Gordon Corey Institute of Equine Erudition.  Alison Hynes will check him up.

Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. is tied for second place in the drivers’ standings, and is currently at 2,997 wins lifetime going into the Friday-Saturday programs.  The local trainers must also be feeling the excitement build toward the latest Cumberland driver milestone as Switzer Jr. has 19 mounts over the weekend’s 25 scheduled races.

Two divisions of ‘Learn and Earn’ baby races will be held before Friday’s card starting at 1:15 pm.  The races go for $200 each and give the youngsters a chance to get behind the gate before their freshmen Maine Sire Stakes divisions start in earnest in early July.

Saturday’s (June 17) program carries 12 races, and features two $14,684 divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies, carded as races one and nine.

The wagering menu always includes a 50 cent trifecta in every race, as well as the standard collection of lucrative wagers with low 16% takeouts scattered throughout the card. 

Cumberland will offer Belmont viewing and programs, as well as all the pertinent wagering options every Saturday.

Live harness racing continues at Cumberland throughout the Spring and early Summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend.  First post is slated for 3:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 5.

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