Plan to start your Canada Day long weekend by attending the races at Grand River Raceway in Elora, Ont. this Friday evening (June 29).

Following a great first race at Georgian Downs, Racing Under Saddle Ontario (RUS Ontario) will be holding its second event of the year at Grand River Raceway on Friday. This season, RUS Ontario has initiated a new approach to have more consistent races at fewer tracks.

Grand River Raceway has been a great supporter of RUS Ontario from the beginning. It was an easy choice when selecting the track, as the organization has been able to work seamlessly with Grand River’s Kelly Spencer to make each event successful.

Racing Under Saddle Ontario plans to join Grand River the last Friday of each month all summer.

“Racing under saddle adds another dimension to a race card, illustrating the versatility and incredible adaptability of the Standardbred racehorse,” Spencer has said. “The athleticism of the riders is equally impressive, and race fans appreciate the diversity.”

Racing under saddle brings a younger fan base out to the track, and families come out when RUS racing is on the card.

Friday’s RUS event has been carded as Race 2 on the program.

All Out Henry, the winner of the Georgian Downs race, will again have Karoline Nielsen in the irons. The duo has drawn Post 5 and has been installed as the 9-5 morning line favourite.

Amityville Lindy, who will have Maggie Jones up in Post 3, has been assessed at odds of 5-2 on the morning line.

First-time starter Azucar, who will be under Marielle Enberg from the rail, has been gauged as the 3-1 third choice early.

Next Kash (PP2, Amber Lawson-Brand, 6-1), Callie Magoo (PP4, Natalie Elliott, 5-1) and E L Rock (PP6, Brittany Kennedy, 5-1) will round out the field.

After Race 4, participants in the ‘NEIGHbourhood Barn Tour’ will be given the opportunity to meet and pet racehorse Callie Magoo. Following the tour, RUS riders will be on the tarmac for a meet and greet where fans can chat to riders and ask questions.

It’s sure to be another great Fun and Frivolity Friday at Grand River Raceway! Racing will go live at 6:30 p.m. and the RUS dash is expected to head behind the gate at 6:50 p.m.

To view the harness racing entries for Friday at Grand River, click the following link: Friday Entries – Grand River Raceway.

(With files from RUS Ontario)