A gate-to-wire score in the Thursday evening opener at Rideau Carleton Raceway with pacer Double Decker earned trainer Jamie Copley the 1,000th win of his training career.

Copley watched driver Guy Gagnon hustle the five-year-old son of Mister Big-Hi Ho Hilda to the lead from Post 4 and after throwing down panels of :27.2, :57.4 and 1:26.3 the gelding used a :30.4 closing frame to hold on for the nose decision in 1:57.2.

Just two races later Copley racked up another victory thanks to a front-stepping triumph with the Camluck filly, Erosha, who got the job done in 2:01.

Copley currently holds a narrow one-win lead over fellow conditioner Guy Gagnon in the race to win Rideau Carleton Raceway’s training title in 2017. Copley’s barn is 40-for-180 this season at Rideau, while Gagnon is 39-for-77.

The milestone win for the Kenmore, Ont. horseman also helped push his seasonal earnings over $200,000 – a feat that he’s accomplished in each of the last three seasons. His barn has banked more than $4.8 million to date.

To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Rideau Carleton Raceway.