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Big Ranger and the B.S. ownership move

#1 · May 30, 2026, 3:48 PM

I was driving down the interstate, heading to Gettysburg. To fill the time I recounted the Big Ranger saga to my wife.

Madison Global statement on Big Ranger

It occurred to me that the ownership group just robbed the industry of potentially the greatest story EVER.

And boy do we need great stories. A small town, country trainer from Mississippi/Ohio taking his $25,000 2024 purchase from Ohio Select Sale to the Big M and compete for the Hambletonian.

It isn’t because Ronnie committed some sin. After all, Madison Global still wants him to train their other horses. The colt has already made $450,000 and is a prohibitive favorite to sweep thru the restricted Ohio stakes like Sherman thru the South. Even if they win the Hambo now, it will leave a sour taste in Ohio.

What in the world would make them NOT believe that they are living with “house money”. Ronnie would have been great in the race interviews. The industry just lost its best marketing opportunity…ever.

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#2 · May 30, 2026, 4:05 PM

I found this story disgusting. No loyalty or thanks from these owners. Ronnie developed this trotter into something special. And literal days after breaking the track record they come and take the horse. I'd tell those owners to come pick up the rest as well.

Karma will bite these owners in the rear and he'll break stride in the Hambo probably.

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#3 · May 30, 2026, 4:47 PM

Nor sure all the details. I think he was the first trainer of Sugar Instead. the horse was sold and the trainer switched to Virgil Morgan. Ronnie drove the horse at the First Gen ( i think it had been sold sometime before that race)

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#4 · May 30, 2026, 5:29 PM

Quote from MaywoodAl on May 30, 2026, 4:47 PM

Nor sure all the details. I think he was the first trainer of Sugar Instead. the horse was sold and the trainer switched to Virgil Morgan. Ronnie drove the horse at the First Gen ( i think it had been sold sometime before that race)

Yeah Ronnie had her in her qualifiers after which she moved to Virgil. But Ronnie drove her most if not all of her 2yo season.

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#5 · May 30, 2026, 6:54 PM

#disgusting #reprehensible #outrageous #preposterous

#6 · May 30, 2026, 11:09 PM

I think Anette Lorentzon is putting herself in kind of a precarious situation. If Big Ranger continues his successful ways she's probably going to be viewed as somewhat of a placeholder with Ronnie having built the horses foundation, on the flip side if he falters in any way she's going to be saddled with all of the blame.

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#7 · June 5, 2026, 7:49 PM

Ohio Harness Horseman’s Association just released a Freshman Focus on You Tube featuring Ronnie Gillespie. F that ownership group, Madison Global. Dare anyone to watch this video and not be a Ronnie fan.

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#8 · June 6, 2026, 3:40 PM

Quote from Bgtolex25 on June 5, 2026, 7:49 PM

Ohio Harness Horseman’s Association just released a Freshman Focus on You Tube featuring Ronnie Gillespie. F that ownership group, Madison Global. Dare anyone to watch this video and not be a Ronnie fan.

@bgtolex25, Do you have a link to share?

#9 · June 6, 2026, 4:20 PM

sorry. I can still be technically challenged at times.

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#10 · June 9, 2026, 11:01 PM

First race after the change:

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