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Dry Tavern native, Dave Palone, sets world record in harness racing

By For The Greene County Messenger 2 min read
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Dave Palone rode Missy Tap to victory in the 15th race at The Meadows Racetrack and Casino last Friday night, giving him his 16,754th career victory.

This one was a little more special than the rest, however.

The Nov. 14 victory put the Jefferson-Morgan graduate and Dry Tavern native one ahead of Heinz Wewering of Germany, giving him the world record for harness racing wins.

Palone, 52, might have to overtake Wewering again as the 64-year-old driver, like Palone, is still racing.

Wewering is in the twilight of his career, though, and races a limited schedule, so Palone is expected to eventually stretch out his lead, although he said he will cut back on his schedule now that he has the record.

The record-breaking moment was emotional for Palone, whose father, Marion Palone, died on Nov. 4. His mother, Jean Palone, was in attendance.

Palone has been one of the top drivers at The Meadows, his home track, for years. He has been named Harness Tracks of America Driver of the Year seven times, including last year.

Palone, already a member of the Harness Racing Hall of Fame, has been the winningest driver at The Meadows for 25 straight years and has led the country in wins four times, the last time coming in 2012.

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