Racing for a Cause

For East Windsor’s Jimmy Takter, a victory in Saturday’s Hambletonian at The Meadowlands with Pastor Stephen would have special meaning.

Not because it would be the trainer’s third triumph in the $1.5 million race, but because it would be for a special cause.

The horse is named after the Takter family’s church pastor, the Rev. Stephen Heinzel-Nelson, and along with fellow owners John Fielding and Brittany Farms, have pledged to donate 5 percent of the horse’s earnings to benefit Villages in Partnership, an organization founded by the pastor and his wife, Liz, to assist the people of Malawi in Africa.

The fundraising effort, called Pastor Stephen Racing for Africa, brings assistance on a wide range of projects, from building clean water wells, to constructing new schools and medical clinics and starting agricultural improvements and reforestation efforts.

“I’ve been involved with our church for over 20 years and I named the horse after Stephen, and it turned out to be a good horse,” said Takter, who has lived in East Windsor and has trained horses at his complex, Millennium Farm, for the past 10 years with the help of his wife Christina, who handles the business side of the stable. “It was brought up that we can do something for Africa. Stephen had spent the whole year down there, and hopefully it will work out.”

During the post-position draw on Tuesday, Pastor Stephen, which will be driven by two-time Hambo winner and hall-of-famer Ron Pierce, drew the unlucky 10 hole, with morning line odds set at 10-1.

“I think he is going to race good. The 10 hole, somebody’s got to get it. Unfortunately, it was me this year, but we still have to race the race, and I think he’s good,” said Takter. “I think he can win the race, but it’s going to be hard.”

Pastor Stephen, who finished third in his Hambo elim last Saturday with a time of 1:53.1 to qualify, has had seven starts this season with three victories, two seconds and one third-place finish.

“He was much better,” said Pierce after the elimination and who is seeking his third Hambo triumph since winning in 2007 with Donato Hanover (he also won in 1993 with American Winner). “He had a little virus that had weakened him and I wasn’t happy with the way he raced the last couple of weeks. He was much better in the elim and much stronger. He was keeping up real nice and had hold of the bit and everything. I was very pleased with him and we know we’re going in the right direction with him. He’s getting his strength back; he’s sound and everything. It should be interesting because I feel much more confident now than I did coming into the elim about this week.”