Mulkeytown Couple Raising Champion Standardbreds

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ A homegrown standardbred racing farm outside of Mulkeytown begun as a hobby three years ago is already making a name for itself in the Illinois harness racing world.

Glen and Martha Baumann have a 2-year-old pacer named My Boy Luke which raced at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield and seta mark of 1:52.3. They own a second, aged pacer named Heartland Charmer that has also had a very successful career.

My Boy Luke raced in an elimination heat of the Governor's Cup on the Magic Mile at the Du Quoin State Fair Monday night and while he didn't win, he finished in the middle of the pack.

"We started racing in 2005," Mrs. Baumann told the newspaper. "Mary Woodcock of Du Quoin bred and raised Heartland Charmer. We won the county challenge in 2006 with a time of 1:51.2. That same morning we got a new grand baby name Luke and that's why our other horse is named My Boy Luke," she said.

Mrs. Baumann says her husband got interested in standardbred horses spending time around the barns and Rollie Brunsell at the Du Quoin State Fair.

"We go to Super Night" at Balmoral Raceway on September 20 and it is sort of a family reunion for us," she said.

"My husband had never had an actual hobby until now," she said. "And, every time Charmer wins, Mary Woodcock gets a share of the winnings. That's good," she said.

The 2-year-old, My Boy Luke, now travels the circuit in the Tom Simmons stable and Roger Welsch trains "Charmer."

Charmer has won over $150,000 and Luke picked up over $10,000 in winnings at Springfield last week.

The Baumanns farm over 2,000 acres in the Mulkeytown area and have a crop-spraying service as well.

"We have four sons and this has been good for everyone," she said.

It's just another homegrown success story borne out of the love for racing at the Du Quoin State Fair and the stories Magic Mile.

Expect to see a lot more of the Baumann name on the circuit in the years ahead.

They now have a total of six standardbreds on their farm.