Lawrence Cooper
Thunder Ridge
164 Thunder Road
Prestonsburg, KY 41653
(606) 886-7223-Main Number
(606) 886-7225-FAX
(606) 886-1977-Racing Office
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Representatives






Lendell Coleman
Jim Murphy
Harley Emerson
Clint Binkley
Jim Wilkerson
Jim Goble
2008 Leading Trainer Brian Loney
2008 Leaders at Thunder Ridge

Leading Driver by Wins
Ridge Warren

Leading Driver by UDR
Ridge Warren

Leading Driver by Earnings
Ridge Warren

Leading Trainer by Wins
Brian Loney

Leading Trainer by UDR
Brian Loney
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President
USTA
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Tyler Shehan
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Thunder Ridge Officials
5/26/09 KyHarnessRacing.com

    2009 Thunder Ridge Officials

    Rich Williams - Presiding Judge
    Billy Perkins - Race Secretary
    Lou Haskell - Associate Judge
    Mark Peters - Associate Judge
    Walt Reins - Starting Judge
    Pam Coleman - Paddock Judge
    April Neafus - Program Director/Charter
    Stacy Blanton - Identifier
    Glenda Foley - Timer
    Anita Ratiff - Photo Finish
    Billy Perkins - Announcer
Racetracks
Thunder Ridge begins 2009 season on Sunday
5/21/09 KyHarnessRacing.com

    This Sunday is opening day at Thunder Ridge for their seven
    week meet. With most of the regulars racing, there are
    several new faces this year. Bluegrass Downs leading
    trainer Roshun Trigg sent his stable to race. Curtis Bradford,
    of Mississippi, has landed at "The Ridge" looking for catch
    drives.

    This year's race secretary, Billy Perkins, said there is a
    waiting list for stalls, and every stall is accounted for.

    Post-time has been changed to 6:30 PM daily through out
    the meet. Full fields are expected this year.
Stiltner red hot on opening day
5/26/09 KyHarnessRacing.com

    James Stiltner starts off his meet at Thunder Ridge with his
    guns loaded. Stilter, who appeared to be unbeatable,
    brought home four winners after sending out five horses
    from his stable.

    Just before the races began, Rich Williams held the usual
    "drivers meeting" reminding everyone about the new
    whipping rules.

    The eight race card begin at 6:30 PM and ended just before
    the sundown.
18 year old loves to race
6/4/09 by Eddie Blair

    Just two weeks after her high school graduation in
    hometown Albion, IL, Cassidy Melloy wasted no time with
    her summer plans. She was already racing at Bluegrass
    Downs in Paduchah, Ky while finishing up her senior year at
    Edwards County High School, where she finished 14th in
    her graduating class.

    Cassidy credits her knowledge and love of harness racing
    from growing up around the sport and learning from her
    father Pat Melloy Jr., who is veteran trainer and driver.

    Although she has driven some of her father's horses
    Cassidy, has some horses of her own that she handles
    both the training and driving duties. During the first week
    of the Thunder Ridge meet she trucked all the way across
    the state to race her 2-year old Cambest colt at the
    Mayfield Fair.

    When asked if she had a favorite horse in the barn, "Sporty
    Sally," she answered, "because we raised her from a baby
    and I had always wanted to drive her."

    That chance came at Bluegrass Downs where Sporty Sally
    found the winners circle like she had done many times
    before with Pat driving her.

    Cassidy was about 11-years old when Sporty Sally began
    racing. Cassidy's win aboard Fox Valley Steffi this past
    week made her one win away from 20 career victories.
Stiltner Captures His First Trainer Title
7/17/09 KyHarnessRacing.com

    It was an amazing closing weekend at "The Ridge". Stiltner
    edged Brian Loney out for leading trainer. Terry Cullipher
    claimed the driving title, and Brian Loney had his 1000th
    training victory on Friday July 10th, with Sharon Again with
    brother Dale in the sulky.

    Until this year, the trainer title belonged to Loney - it's been
    the Brian Loney show for the past few years. Unlike in
    years past, this year Stiltner brought in a 15 - 20 horse
    stable. He was on top of his game, having his horses fit and
    ready to race.

    James Stiltner ended the 7 week / 24 day meet with a
    bang, having 4 wins on Saturday. Ironically, Stiltner began
    the meet with four wins on opening day.

    As the meet ended on July 11th at Thunder Ridge,
    horsemen are, once again, gearing up for the historic Red
    Mile. In the next couple of weeks, trainers will begin moving
    their stables to Lexington, the final run of the 2009
    Kentucky raceway circuit.

    Also, we can't go without mentioning the leading groom of
    the meet, Edwn Wilson.

Curtis Bradford guides My Cody to victory in F&M
6/15/09 KyHarnessRacing.com

    The pace was a fast one in the Fillies and Mares Open pace
    on Saturday evening. It was a calvary charge for the lead
    as starter Walt Reins gave the official word - "GO".

    While his competition was three wide into the first turn,
    Curtis Bradford made a clever move in the race by taking his
    mount, My Cody, back to last. On the backstretch, the battle
    continue up front with Melloy on the inside and Stiltner on
    the outside. Bradford was waiting at the back of the pack.

    As the field past the half in 57:2, Melloy and Stiltner were
    still in a fast pace battle, Curtis Bradford was still at the
    back of the pack, still waiting to make his move.

    When the horses were at three quarters, the hard fought
    pressure for the lead had took its toll as it became obvious
    the front end race had nothing left. At that juncture, a new
    battle was evolving.

    Down the stretch it was Bobby Wilson and Curtis Bradford
    in a dual. Bradford snapped the twig pulling away by 3/4's
    of a length.

    The win gave Bradford and My Cody's trainer Christopher
    Bush their first for the Thunder Ridge meet.
2009 Leading Groom
Edwin Wilson
2009 Leading Trainer
James Stiltner