Launched in July of 2009, Trackmen Golf Club Stable XVII, LLC, is a claiming venture with top New York horseman Bruce Levine and Pennsylvanian Ron Dandy as trainers. TGC Stable XVII is a 14-unit New York LLC with 20 partners: Howard Baker’s Zahav Enterprises, Phil Cassidy, Charlie Colan, Rich Dahab, Len DeVito, Jack Fenton, Bill Hirsch, Joe Lasagna, Mike Lipack, Ralph Miccio, Ritchie Parrotta, Joe Pires, Danny Porciello, Dominick Sansotta, Max Weintraub, Byron Weisz and Wayne Weisz.
TGCer Bill Hirsch’s Hirsch Thoroughbred Management, LLC is the TGC Stable XVII LLC’s Manager. Hirsch purchased a half-interest in Coach Fruscio from prominent Thoroughbred owner Roddy Valente. Asked about our new acquistion's namesake, Mr. Valente replied: "Coach Fruscio was my son Stephen's varsity coach for 3 years of varsity basketball at Lasalle Institute in Troy, NY, and they had a great run!" Let's hope the 4-legged coach lives up to his moniquer!
STATS: Trainer Bruce Levine's career victories now total just over 2,200! A New York native, Levine saddled his first winner at Aqueduct in 1979, and he counts 26 graded stakes wins among his victories. "I always came to the track to play the horses. That was my biggest hobby", Levine said. "Eventually, I found my way to the backstretch and started walking hots. I guess that's the way a lot of trainers get started." Learning from the ground up, Levine has amassed over 3,300 in-the-money placings, with the majority of his 8,500 runners competing on the tough NYRA circuit. 2008 marked his best year ever: Levine ranked 8th nationally in number of races won and 16th nationally in purse money won. Levine's 751 runners posted 188 wins, 126 seconds and 104 thirds for purse earnings of $6,561,285 and a 56% in-the-money average. Bruce Levine also won the Monmouth Park training title 2009 and 2008 as well as the training title at the 2009 and 2007 Meadowlands meet. For the year 2009, Levine saddled 723 runners for 143 wins, 138 seconds and 105 thirds. At year's end, his stable earned $4,841,224 while posting a 20% win average and a 53% in-the-money average. Levine's 2010 stats thru June 14 reveal his 194 runners have recorded 38 wins, 34 seconds and 36 thirds, while earning $1,128,154 and posting a 20% win average and a 56% in-the-money average.