Rideau Carleton Raceway, my local track here in Ottawa, has had a banner month already - and the month is not even half finished
. On November 1, Rideau hosted the OSS Grassroots Finals. Then, this past Sunday, the Trot Canada National Handicapping Championship brought handicappers from across Canada to the nation’s capital to vie for a top prize of $25,000.
Both events brought Rideau to life like I have rarely seen at the track at this time of the year. The Grassroots Finals were very well attended, and very well bet. Some of the province’s top horse people were there, including Jody Jamieson, who dazzled fans with a six-win performance. At the TCNHC, the real action was off the track, but it allowed fans from far and wide to get a firsthand look at the quality of Rideau’s horses and horse people, such as drivers John Macdonald and Guy Gagnon. Fans also got to hear track announcer and Trot Radio host Norm Borg in action on both occasions.
It is only fitting that the area set aside on the lower level of the Rideau grandstand for the TCNHC was an area normally occupied by a wrestling ring, as the finalists were in for a real fight. With all of the participants in their “game-day uniforms”, a leaderboard with regular updates, and live reports and interviews from the contest area by local radio personality Lee Versage, the event was almost as entertaining to watch as it was to participate in.
For all of these reasons, I have decided to write this blog to congratulate the staff and management of Rideau Carleton Raceway on their successful presentation of both events. They were well-planned, well-attended, and well-received by fans and industry participants. Congratulations as well, of course, to TCNHC champion Roy Sproxton, the other TCNHC finalists, and the connections of the Grassroots Finals winners and all other participants.
Kudos are also in order to all the others who were a part of both events. The Ontario Sires Stakes program has for years been recognized as one of the best of its kind in harness racing, and the Grassroots Finals reflected the commitment to excellence that is evident throughout the OSS program and those who manage it. In addition, horse people deserve credit for the success of both events. The Ontario Harness Horse Association, the National Capital Region Harness Horse Association and many other industry groups were very supportive of the TCNHC. Of course, the participants in the TCNHC and the fans who attended the Grassroots Finals also contributed to the success of both events. Last but not least, the popularity of the TCNHC and its qualifying events across Canada speaks volumes about the efforts that Standardbred Canada and racetracks across Canada make to create interest and excitement in this marquee event every year.
I watched the video that Kelly Spencer prepared and read her blog about this event. She sang the praises of the TCNHC better than I could. One view that I share with her is that events like these give us every reason to be optimistic about the future of the sport and the commitment of fans, horse people, track management and other stakeholders.
It is important for tracks to put on events that bring in fans locally and attract attention from both inside and outside the region, to the extent that they can. Rideau had two outstanding opportunities to do just that, and rose to the challenge, with the help of lots of people who are devoted to the sport. Let us maintain this momentum.