For those patiently awaiting the sounds of thundering hooves down the stretch, shouts of encouragement at the wire, and the scrumptious smell of the trackside BBQ, the sights and sounds of live racing at Huron County's oval are just around the corner.

This coming Sunday (May 20), the 2018 season of live harness racing will get underway in Clinton, Ont. The track’s 15-week season, which will run through Labour Day (Sunday September 2), will kick off with the annual Central Huron Secondary School Fundraiser, $2 t-shirts and, of course, the fun and excitement of games and prize winning with the Super Sunday Show which will occur between the races. A special memorial race will be held during the card for the recently passed, longtime horseman Rick Forgie.

Standardbreds fire home in the lane at Clinton Raceway (Image courtesy Clinton Raceway)

Once again, the Day at the Races fundraising program will be in full swing, and will see a different group bring their cause to the track each Sunday. "This year we're working with a few new groups," states Clinton Raceway marketing representative Jessica Carnochan. "Our application process was an intense one this year. We only have so many dates, and it's becoming a very popular program." New this year are Victim Services, Huron Residential Hospice, The Tanner Steffler Foundation, BCH Minor Hockey and the Lake Huron Pony club, to name a few.

"We're also working on a ‘Horses and Hops’ event, featuring local craft breweries, and our Trackside Local Market, which will be set up three Sundays during the season.”

Main events that will be featured at the track agin in 2018 include the Kin Pace (Sunday July 8), as well as the third annual Vic Hayter Memorial Race Day (Sunday, July 22). The season will close out with the 38th annual Charity Driver's Challenge (Sunday September 2).

For a full listing of events at Clinton Raceway this summer, visit clintonraceway.com.

(Clinton Raceway)