John Servis

Dr. Paul Corso, left, and Brig. Gen. V. Wayne "Speedy" Lloyd share a laugh Wednesday at the 45th Annual Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Shepherdstown, W.Va. The two, along with John Servis, trainer of Triple Crown contender Smarty Jones, were recognized for lifelong achievements.

You've heard of the so-called baseball gods, right? It stands to reason, then, that there are horse racing gods also.I grew up on baseball, so I use that sport as a point of reference when I think about milestones. Many people know the magic numbers in baseball. The 56-game hitting streak. The .400 batting average. Cal Ripken's 2,632 consecutive games played. Hank Aaron's 755 home runs. At times, it's looked like each one of those milestones would be broken. At others, each has looked downright impossible to approach.

waynesboro@herald-mail.com Native son John Servis, trainer of Triple Crown contender Smarty Jones, said Wednesday that growing up as a "country boy" in Jefferson County, W.Va., made him "the person I am today. " Servis, 45, was among three Charles Town natives recognized for lifelong achievements Wednesday at the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce's 45th Annual Awards Banquet at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center. More than 300 people attended the event. The other two honorees were Brig.

CHARLES TOWN, W.VA. Smarty Jones may have lost the Triple Crown at Saturday's Belmont Stakes, but his trainer, John Servis, still is a big winner in his hometown. The anticipation of Saturday's race drew a large crowd to Charles Town Races & Slots. There was bumper-to-bumper traffic on U.S. 340 heading into the track Saturday afternoon. "There's more interest this year because this horse has a local flavor, being trained by a guy that was born and raised here," said Jeff Gilleas, publicity manager at Charles Town Races & Slots.

In 1985 at the Charles Town Races, a young trainer named John Servis bought a cheap race horse to run and went searching for a jockey.Victor Espinosa answered the call. "John was just getting into the racing business at the time and he was ready to run his first horse," Espinosa said. "He and my son, Victor, attended school together and he asked Victor whether I might be interested in riding the horse. " Espinosa agreed to ride Two Fisted. Espinosa, his son and Servis traveled to Penn National in Grantville, Pa., in search of victory.

BALTIMORE - Notes and quotes while awaiting the Grade I, $1 million Preakness Stakes at the Pimlico Race Course: Demons Begone. Those two words were trainer John Servis' explananation why he decided to give Lasix to Smarty Jones for the first time in the Kentucky Derby. "I saw what happened to Demons Begone, I didn't want it to happen to my horse," said the Charles Town, W.Va., native Saturday morning at Pimlico's stakes barn. Demons Begone entered the 1984 Kentucky Derby without the use of Lasix and was the betting favorite but bled profusely in the first race of the Triple Crown Series.

NEW YORK - So what if rain is forecast for the Belmont Stakes? Smarty Jones has already splashed to victory through pools of mud at the Kentucky Derby. Think the grueling 1 1/2-mile oval may prove too long for him? He's finished his last two races with stamina to spare! Today, millions will watch to see whether the brilliant, undefeated 3-year-old colt can become racing's first Triple Crown winner in 26 years. "He's training like a machine," said trainer John Servis, a native of Charles Town, W.Va.

larryy@herald-mail.com LOUISVILLE, KY. - Pressure? What pressure? John Servis, the trainer of Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones, wasn't feeling the pressure at Churchill Downs on Saturday. "Winning the Arkansas Derby and getting the opportunity just to run here, that was the pressure," the Charles Town, W.Va., native said following Saturday's Run for the Roses. "I wanted to get here so badly for Mr. and Mrs. (Roy and Pat) Chapman. They are great owners and deserved the chance to run a horse in the Kentucky Derby.

Management and horsemen at Charles Town Races & Slots have agreed upon the stakes schedule for 2005. "It's pretty much the same as last year," Racing Secretary Jimmy Hammond said of the 38 stakes schedule. "We are adding two stakes, the $75,000-added Go For the Green Stakes on July 2 and the $50,000-added Auld Lang Syne Stakes on Dec. 31. " As usual, West Virginia Breeders Classics XIX will be the highlight of the year for the track. The eight-race card, restricted to West Virginia-bred or-sired thoroughbreds, will be held Oct. 8, featuring the $300,000 Classic for horses three-year-old-and-upwards.

larryy@herald-mail.com LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Over the years, jockey Stewart Elliott has competed against all of the "big boys" in the business. Missing on the résumé, however, is an assignment in both the Breeders Cup and the Triple Crown Series. The latter will be taken care of this afternoon at Churchill Downs when the 39-year-old Philadelphia Park-based jockey rides Smarty Jones in the 130th Kentucky Derby - the first jewel in the Triple Crown Series. "Exciting times," Elliott said Friday afternoon in the Churchill Downs' jockey's room.

Management and horsemen at Charles Town Races & Slots have agreed upon the stakes schedule for 2005. "It's pretty much the same as last year," Racing Secretary Jimmy Hammond said of the 38 stakes schedule. "We are adding two stakes, the $75,000-added Go For the Green Stakes on July 2 and the $50,000-added Auld Lang Syne Stakes on Dec. 31. " As usual, West Virginia Breeders Classics XIX will be the highlight of the year for the track. The eight-race card, restricted to West Virginia-bred or-sired thoroughbreds, will be held Oct. 8, featuring the $300,000 Classic for horses three-year-old-and-upwards.

The newly-formed The Thoroughbred Club at the Charles Town Races & Slots believes the current renovations at the West Virginia thoroughbred oval aren't going far enough. "We agree that work needed to be done but we feel Penn National Gaming management could have taken things a step farther by increasing the width of the turns, expanding to a mile track with an inner 6-furlong turf course and removing the concrete base on the racetrack, a very dangerous situation," The Thoroughbred Club Chairman Harold Shotwell said.

waynesboro@herald-mail.com Native son John Servis, trainer of Triple Crown contender Smarty Jones, said Wednesday that growing up as a "country boy" in Jefferson County, W.Va., made him "the person I am today. " Servis, 45, was among three Charles Town natives recognized for lifelong achievements Wednesday at the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce's 45th Annual Awards Banquet at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center. More than 300 people attended the event. The other two honorees were Brig.

Dr. Paul Corso, left, and Brig. Gen. V. Wayne "Speedy" Lloyd share a laugh Wednesday at the 45th Annual Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Shepherdstown, W.Va. The two, along with John Servis, trainer of Triple Crown contender Smarty Jones, were recognized for lifelong achievements.

You've heard of the so-called baseball gods, right? It stands to reason, then, that there are horse racing gods also.I grew up on baseball, so I use that sport as a point of reference when I think about milestones. Many people know the magic numbers in baseball. The 56-game hitting streak. The .400 batting average. Cal Ripken's 2,632 consecutive games played. Hank Aaron's 755 home runs. At times, it's looked like each one of those milestones would be broken. At others, each has looked downright impossible to approach.

CHARLES TOWN, W.VA. Smarty Jones may have lost the Triple Crown at Saturday's Belmont Stakes, but his trainer, John Servis, still is a big winner in his hometown. The anticipation of Saturday's race drew a large crowd to Charles Town Races & Slots. There was bumper-to-bumper traffic on U.S. 340 heading into the track Saturday afternoon. "There's more interest this year because this horse has a local flavor, being trained by a guy that was born and raised here," said Jeff Gilleas, publicity manager at Charles Town Races & Slots.

NEW YORK - So what if rain is forecast for the Belmont Stakes? Smarty Jones has already splashed to victory through pools of mud at the Kentucky Derby. Think the grueling 1 1/2-mile oval may prove too long for him? He's finished his last two races with stamina to spare! Today, millions will watch to see whether the brilliant, undefeated 3-year-old colt can become racing's first Triple Crown winner in 26 years. "He's training like a machine," said trainer John Servis, a native of Charles Town, W.Va.

BENSALEM, Pa. - John Servis can breathe a little easier: Smarty Jones' final tuneup was flawless. The trainer watched from the backstretch as his Triple Crown threat worked seven furlongs Friday morning at Philadelphia Park - his only timed workout before the Belmont Stakes. "Absolutely perfect," Servis said. "As far as I'm concerned, we're right on schedule. " With jockey Stewart Elliott aboard, Smarty Jones glided along the track so efficiently his hoofbeats were barely audible as he passed by the grandstand.

In 1985 at the Charles Town Races, a young trainer named John Servis bought a cheap race horse to run and went searching for a jockey.Victor Espinosa answered the call. "John was just getting into the racing business at the time and he was ready to run his first horse," Espinosa said. "He and my son, Victor, attended school together and he asked Victor whether I might be interested in riding the horse. " Espinosa agreed to ride Two Fisted. Espinosa, his son and Servis traveled to Penn National in Grantville, Pa., in search of victory.

BALTIMORE - Notes and quotes while awaiting the Grade I, $1 million Preakness Stakes at the Pimlico Race Course: Demons Begone. Those two words were trainer John Servis' explananation why he decided to give Lasix to Smarty Jones for the first time in the Kentucky Derby. "I saw what happened to Demons Begone, I didn't want it to happen to my horse," said the Charles Town, W.Va., native Saturday morning at Pimlico's stakes barn. Demons Begone entered the 1984 Kentucky Derby without the use of Lasix and was the betting favorite but bled profusely in the first race of the Triple Crown Series.