Pons

The stallions were neck-and-neck in mid-October on the eve of Maryland Million Day.But then, a daughter of Allen's Prospect (Secret Prospect) won the Maryland Million Distaff Handicap, and offspring of Two Punch were shut out. After that, Allen's Prospect drew away to become Maryland's leading sire for the second year in a row -- and to break his record, set the previous year, for progeny earnings by a Maryland stallion.Before the Maryland Million, sons and daughters of Allen's Prospect and Two Punch, the top sires in the Mid-Atlantic region, had each earned nearly $2.5 million.

John Paul Pons Sr., 80, thoroughbred horse breederJohn Paul Pons Sr., a thoroughbred horse breeder whose family's Country Life Farm near Bel Air was the birthplace of Cigar, racing's Horse of the Year last year, died of prostate cancer Thursday at his home. He was 80.The horse-breeding operation was started in 1933 by his father, Adolphe A. Pons, a noted expert on thoroughbred bloodlines.Born and raised in Garden City, N.Y., he was a 1933 graduate of La Salle Military Academy. He served in the Army during World War II and was discharged in 1945 with the rank of major.

Allen E. Paulson, owner of Maryland-bred Cigar, has sold a 75 percent interest in the horse to a top international breeding operation, the Ireland-based Coolmore Stud, and a top TC international breeder-owner, Michael Tabor.But Cigar will remain in the United States. He will stand for a $75,000 fee at Coolmore's Kentucky branch, Ashford Stud. Ashford's 475 acres adjoin Paulson's Brookside Farm near Versailles, Ky."It is a great honor for Ashford to stand the best horse any of us can remember," said John Magnier, an owner of Coolmore Stud.

HALLANDALE, Fla. - America's horse, the Maryland-bred Cigar, departs tomorrow for the Middle East and the race that might transform him into the world's horse.Perhaps the greatest thoroughbred since Spectacular Bid, Cigar has recovered from a bruised foot and is ready to compete March 27 in the world's richest horse race, the $4 million Dubai World Cup at the Nad Al Sheba Race Course in the United Arab Emirates.Yesterday, the 1995 Horse of the Year lounged in his stall here at Gulfstream Park, oblivious to not only the grueling trip awaiting him, but also the hubbub surrounding the Florida Derby.

When Cigar is crowned Horse of the Year on Feb. 9 in San Diego, the Pons family of Bel Air will share heavily in the accomplishment. Cigar won 10 straight races and $4,819,800 last year."

In their first game earlier this season, Dundalk outlasted Woodlawn by two points.Last night, the Owls left no doubt.Dundalk (14-2, 13-1) used a run-and-gun style, an improving defense, and 26 points from senior center Danny Thorpe to rout host Woodlawn, 102-78, in a Baltimore County 3A-4A league game.The win keeps the Owls a game behind first-place Randallstown in the league race. The Owls, who lost by four to Randallstown earlier this year, will play host to the Rams on Friday."This is a good win for us, beating Woodlawn twice in the same season," said Dundalk coach Andy Pons.

As an airborne traffic reporter for WQSR radio, Joy Pons is accustomed to being in a plane -- but she's not accustomed to being on a plane. Naked. With 40 men watching her. Ms. Pons found herself in that unusual situation when she agreed to pose for a Playboy magazine and video feature called "Girls of the Radio."How Ms. Pons, who describes herself as self-conscious and stable, ended up posing for Playboy is somewhat of a mystery, even to her.It all started last fall, when WQSR morning show host Steve Rouse heard that Playboy was looking for female radio personalities to pose for a video and magazine shoot.

HAVRE DE GRACE -- The wind blows, the season begins to turn, the leaves come a-tumbling down. This week we'll examine the cows for pregnancy. I assume most of them are expecting. If they're not, I'll be distressed and our new young bull will be in serious trouble. Bovine reproduction is our main business here, and his role is important.As it happens, though, I'm fairly confident. The behavior of the cows suggests that they've been settled, as cattlemen say. Back in the spring and early summer, I worried more, because I never saw the bull, well, doing it. He seemed interested in the cows, but I hoped it wasn't just an intellectual interest.

At one point, Josh Pons was wondering what he was doing in the horse farm business. His family's Country Life Farm in Bel Air was striking out with its stallions. The future was uncertain.But a half-hour on Sept. 9, 1990, helped change all that.On that day, offspring from the first crop of a new Country Life stallion, Allen's Prospect, won both Maryland Million 2-year-old races and earned $140,000."Without question, that was the watershed day, not only for that horse, but also this farm," Pons said of the victories by Xray and Ameri Allen.

When preparing defenses for Woodlawn's 6-foot-7, 220-pound junior forward Guy Butler, Dundalk boys basketball coach Andy Pons recently encountered what a lot of other area coaches have this season.After Pons had put his strategies to work, Butler still scored 30 points last month to lead Woodlawn to a 61-58 victory over the Owls."We had the lead on them and they just kept going to him and we couldn't stop him," said Pons. "He's so big and strong that he gets position real well. At halftime, we stressed not letting him get position inside and I thought we did a nice job of denying him position, but he just popped outside and buried the threes."

On March 8, 2009, HARRY ANTHONY; beloved husband of Mary Anna Pons (nee Panowicz); devoted father of Anthony B. Pons and his wife Kimberly, Theresa M. Shamoo and her husband Zachary; loving grandfather of Alexander Pons, Carson and Jordan Shamoo. Friends may call at Gonce Funeral Service, P.A., 4001 Ritchie Highway on Friday 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial in St. Benedict Church on Saturday at 10 A.M. Interment in Holy Rosary Cemetery.

Preakness Day might be Maryland horse racing's day in the national spotlight and certainly does the most good for the pocketbook of the state's thoroughbred industry. But Maryland Million Day, being run for the 23rd time Saturday, might do the most good for Maryland's racing pride. The card of 12 races at Laurel Park (12:15 p.m. start) is restricted to horses sired in Maryland, and, as more than one horseman put it, unlike the Preakness, it makes players out of local breeders and trainers rather than relegating them to spectators.

On June 9th 2008, Christopher Lee Pons Family will receive friends on Thursday, June 12th from 3-5 P.M. & 7-9 P.M. at WITZKE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 5555 Twin Knolls Road, Columbia, MD, where services will be held on Friday, June 13th at 11:00 A.M. Interment will follow in Columbia Memorial Gardens.

After the birth of a foal at her horse farm in Fallston, Ellen Pons waited, poised for the right moment to capture the newborn and his mother. The foal nuzzled on the mare, trying to figure out how to get milk. The mare lowered her nose and touched it to the foal's nose, and Pons snapped a photograph. "Taking photographs of an animal is like trying to catch a dancer who is moving in the perfect position," Pons said. "Knowing the horse's body language helps me to expect the unexpected."

On Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2005, JOSEPH PHILIP PONS, SR., husband of May Jo Pons (nee Ryan), father of Honore Adrian Pons, Andrew Mac Namara Pons, Joseph Philip Pons, Jr., Michael Pons, and Alice Pons, and six grandchildren. The family will receive friends at Country Life, 319 Old Joppa Road, Bel Air, Md., from 3 P.M. to 8 P.M. on Monday, Oct. 17. Following his wishes, Mr. Pons' body has been given to the Maryland Anatomy Board. Contributions may be made in his memory to the Radio Reading Network of Maryland, 2901 Liberty Heights Avenue, Baltimore, Md. 21215.

It would have been difficult to fit one more person in the winner's circle at Laurel Park yesterday after the 16-to-1 long shot Surf Light upset the field and brought pure joy to the family of Joe Pons, who passed away this week at age 83. "Surf Light is a nice filly," said Mike Pons, president of the Maryland Million and one of Joe's sons. "But she's been kind of unlucky. She hits tigers every time she goes on the racetrack. To see her win like that, it's like a 70-yard Hail Mary pass.

Play Bingo, a 4-year-old colt with bad feet, lagged so far behind the field for most of the $250,000 Maryland Million Classic on Saturday that he appeared to have no chance to win the centerpiece of Maryland Million Day at Laurel Park. When the six runners in the race turned for home, however, Play Bingo, under jockey Ryan Fogelsonger, closed with a tremendous rush, racing by leaders Aggadan and Five Steps to score the biggest victory of his career. The powerful performance was a fitting climax to the 12-race Maryland Million Day, the second most important day of racing in the state after Preakness Day and a showcase for the Maryland breeding industry.

Joseph P. Pons Sr., patriarch of the family that owns Maryland's oldest extant commercial thoroughbred breeding farm, died of a heart attack yesterday morning at his Bel Air home. He was 83. Mr. Pons resided at Country Life Farm with his wife and four of their five children. Racing's all-time money winner, Cigar, was born at the farm, and 1961 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Carry Back was bred there. "It just won't be the same, walking out in the paddock and not seeing Joe," said William "Billy" Boniface of Bonita Farm.

So pro hockey is starting up again tonight. The Mario Lemieuxs and Jaromir Jagrs haven't laced their skates since spring 2004 because of a 10-month lockout that cost the NHL its 2004-05 season. Oh, you hadn't noticed? Well, you're not alone, according to sports business and marketing experts, who say the NHL has a long way to go to re-establish itself as a major sport - if it ever was one. "It doesn't have the mass appeal of baseball, football or basketball," said Ernest Lupinacci, a New York advertising consultant who worked at ESPN.

Maryland-bred Declan's Moon clinched the Eclipse Award as outstanding 2-year-old male yesterday with an impressive victory in the Hollywood Futurity at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif. The gelded son of Malibu Moon and 8-year-old mare Vee Vee Star won for the fourth time in as many starts. Three of the victories were in graded stakes. The Hollywood Futurity, worth $449,500, was a Grade I. The flawless record secures Declan's Moon the 2-year-old championship for males -- although votes still have to be cast -- and a leading role in the new year as an early favorite for the Kentucky Derby.