The six-year-old Standardbred mare Huntress — based in Berlin and owned by Manklin Creek LLC — returned to Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington on Thursday (Oct. 23) to win her 47th race, this time for Maryland native Russell Foster. Huntress won the $12,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap, beating Canadian-bred Pasta’s Delight by 1-1/4 lengths. Foster would go on to win five other races that evening.
The Foster name is well known in Maryland’s harness racing circles. Russell’s grandfather Arty Foster, and his father Arty Jr. were both in the business, and they introduced Russell (born in Easton) to the horses at an early age. Russell started jogging horses when he was nine- or ten-years old. He started going to the tracks to paddock them once he turned 14.
Russell got his qualifying license when he was just 19. He drove mostly for his family in the early part of his career until his business took off in 2015. His wife and young son Blake are often found at the paddock with Russell. Russell’s U.S. Trotting Association bio adds that “like most [people] born on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Russell enjoys hunting, fishing and of course crabbing in his spare time.”
Live racing at Rosecroft runs through December 15. Races are in Monday and Thursday evenings with the first race of the evening starting at 7:15 p.m.
