Art Rooney Pace Saturday Remembers Steelers Founder, Rooney Patriarch

It was a celebration of Art Rooney, the late and legendary founder of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Rooney Family patriarch on Thursday at the Nat Sherman Townhouse on 42nd Street in New York City. The ?Chief,? known for his omnipresent cigar, and passion for both football and racing, has a race named in his honor with the 25th edition of the Art Rooney for three-year-old colts set for this Saturday night, May 30, at historic Yonkers Raceway. Family members, harness horsemen, and cigar aficionados gathered at a press conference to pay homage to the football Hall of Famer, whose family purchased Yonkers Raceway in 1972. Son Timothy J. Rooney has been the famed harness track-s president and CEO since then. On hand to reminisce and set the stage for Saturday-s silver anniversary edition of the Rooney were Tim Rooney, Jr., a Pittsburgh product, Art-s grandson and Empire City Casino-s General Counsel; three of Art-s great grandchildren Eileen Rooney and Patrick Rooney (two of Tim Jr.-s four kids), and Cara Galterio. The Rooney clan was joined by four horsemen participating in the Saturday-s Rooney: driver Brian Sears, who will handle the favorite In the Arsenal from post position 2; the 2014 leading reinsman Jason Bartlett, who drives upset-minded Arque Hanover from post 3; and Tom Fanning, trainer of Betting Exchange (coupled in the wagering with In the Arsenal, leaving from post 5), accompanied by co-owner Howard Taylor. Sincere thanks to the Sherman family ? Michele Sherman was able to stop by to visit with Tim Rooney, Jr. after the proceedings ? and to the entire gracious Nat Sherman Townhouse staff for their hospitality, not to mention the fine smokes. Rooney, Jr. acknowledged that his grandfather taught him the ?Art? of smoking a fine cigar. He also told the story that his father was named after Tim Mara, the Giants co-owner, not because of the football connection, but because of a tip on a horse race. Legend has it that Art had parlayed $10 into $300,000 during a two-track winning streak in 1936 ? starting at the old Empire City Trotting Club and ending in historic Saratoga ? monies that financed the Steelers into a football.‎ ‎‎ ‎‎‎‎John Cirillo, who hosted the proceedings, reminisced about the first time he met Art Rooney, Yonkers Raceway's young PR man in 1981, publicizing the Sheppard Pace. Following that press conference, the senior Rooney, rather than spending more time with the horse owners and writers, instead walked the grounds of the harness track, engaging in chit chat and handing out cigars to the maintenance workers, electricians, and hot dog vendors. Back to the race: In the Arsenal, driven by Sears, already has a Yonkers open stakes win to his credit, drew post position No. 2 and favorite status for Saturday night-s $300,000 Rooney. ?He-s more mature mentally and physically than he was at two,? Sears said. ?In elimination races, you have to race a favorite as if he-s the favorite, so I put him on the lead. He knows what he-s doing out there.? Arque Hanover, driven by Bartlett from post 3, looms with an upset chance after going off stride with plenty of pace in his elimination, but was still able to finish fourth. ?I was overloaded,? Bartlett said. ?He was definitely a winner. He had so much pace, he started getting crooked on me and made a break. It shows how good he was that he came back and made the final, anyway.? The Silver Anniversary edition of the Rooney, one of the sport-s premier events for the three-year-old male pacers, goes as the fourth of 12 races; approximate post for Rooney is 8:15 PM. Sears will be in the sulky behind In the Arsenal, a son of American Ideal trained by Kelvin Harrison for co-owners (breeder) White Birch Farm and In the Arsenal Racing. The colt won the second of last weekend-s two elimination races, defeating Rock N- Roll World by a head in 1:53.1. In the Arsenal has won eight of his 13 career races and $431,843, making him the richest sophomore in the final. He first gained prominence last summer, winning the $125,000 Lawrence B. Sheppard, the Raceway-s premier event for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Last week-s other elim winner, Sonofa Sizzle (1:52.1), wasn-t as fortunate with the open draw. He landed behind the eight-ball with George Brennan picking up the assignment for trainer Josh Green. Sears drove the son of Life Sizzles a week ago. The field for the Rooney Pace: Rock N- World (Dan Dube), 2-In the Arsenal (Brian Sears), 3-Arque Hanover (Jason Bartlett), 4-National Seelster (Andy Miller), 5-Betting Exchange (Dave Miller), 6-Bet You (Brett Miller), 7-Cartoon Daddy (Yannick Gingras), 8-Sonofa Sizzle (George Brennan).