“It’s a horseman crowd,” Clint Galbraith said approvingly about Legends Day, coming up this Sunday at Clinton Raceway. “It’s always a lot of fun to go.”

A native of south-western Ontario and the tiny town of Tara, Galbraith is happy to make the eight-hour roundtrip from his home near Scottsville, New York for the special camaraderie that surrounds Legends Day.

“Ferris, a guy who drove truck for me for 20 years, likes to drive and he knows all the back roads up there, so I can just relax,” added the 72-year-old double Hall of Famer, who still trains a stable of 24 horses.

Galbraith will be meeting up with nine other Canadian-born Hall of Fame drivers, including the New Jersey-based John Campbell, Jim Doherty and Ray Remmen, together with Doug Brown, Bud Fritz, Bill O’Donnell, Ron Waples, and veterans Buddy Gilmour and Keith Waples.

Only one of the participating eight drivers can win the Legends Day Invitational Trot, but Clinton GM Ian Fleming has pledged to make a winner out of everyone who enters the “Hook Up With A Legend” contest. All entrants will get a $2 Bet or Bite voucher (concessions or mutuels) just for showing up.

Eight names to become “Honourary Grooms” for the big race will be drawn at 12:30 p.m. and they’ll each pick their driver-horse combination. Contestants must be present to participate; otherwise another name will be drawn.

Honourary Grooms will take part in the post parade with their driver, horse and the regular groom, and will have memento photos taken in front of the grandstand. The Honourary Groom whose horse wins will receive a $1,000 cheque in the winner’s circle.

Entries for the contest can be made online at: www.clintonraceway.com and they close at midnight on Saturday, August 22.

Clinton’s fifth Legends Day will kick things up a notch in a number of ways, including having Vegas show girls in the winner’s circle and available for photo opportunities with the crowd. Adding to the spectacle will be Nancy Stephens’ fine harness pony leading all post parades.

There’ll also be tours of the new REACH equine centre at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., as well as the Finals of the crowd-pleasing Wind Rider equestrian competition.

All participants in OHHA’s youth and adult camps, both past and present, have been invited to attend Legends Day as VIPs for the afternoon. Those special guests will be treated to pizza in the new REACH centre and will have their own private autographing session with the drivers.

Any OHHA camp attendee who didn’t receive an invitation in the mail is welcome; just call Marketing Director Jessica Kochis at 519-482-5204 as soon as possible.

All the driving legends, as well as legendary announcer Frank Salive, will be autographing free posters for the fans and giving away commemorative photo pens.

After the races, all horsepeople are invited to a farewell-and-best-wishes party for Salive, who’ll be leaving Clinton and his post at WFR, for an announcing/publicist role at Pompano Raceway in Florida. The party will take place in the Legends Tent.

(Clinton Raceway)