Sandra Shea of Pictou, N.S., grabbed the first place prize of $1,000 in the I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club’s Pick 8 Online Handicapping Contest on the Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Super Finals at Mohawk Racetrack on Saturday night, presented in cooperation with the Ontario Sires Stakes program.
The contest challenged players to select the winners in the eight OSS Super Final races. Over 300 people participated in the contest and each person was awarded points based on a mythical $2 win and $2 place wager on their selections.
Sandra finished with a bankroll of $78.40, after selecting four winners including longshot Tymal Peacemaker who won the Three-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace in 1:51.2.
Shea, a former owner and trainer, used to raise, train and race horses for many years throughout the Maritimes along with and her husband under Flying Tar Stables. Although she no longer owns or trains, she considers herself a loyal fan and enjoys following harness racing throughout the Maritimes and at Woodbine and Mohawk, of course keeping up with the OSS.
Taking second place and $500 in prize money was Beth Wallace of Dundas, Ont., who finished with a bankroll of $74.90. Beth isn’t new to harness racing contests and was previously successful in 2010 at Flamboro Downs where she won a piece of a racehorse and was one of ten owners who co-owned two-year-old Bad Boy Matt. Beth and her husband are frequent visitors to Flamboro Downs and Mohawk Racetrack.
Third place and $250 goes to Sean Strongman of Kitchener, Ont., who finished with a final bankroll of $72.60. Sean grew up in a family of horsemen, as his uncles and grandfather drove and trained horses. He has continued to be an advocate of Standardbred racing for the last 40 years. Throughout the years he’s owned many horses with trainer Rob Fellows, enjoying many success stories, including memories of Greek Beech participating in the OSS Grassroots program.
Congratulations to Sandra, Beth and Sean!