Last Friday night, the fortune-teller won $600, and it wasn’t on account of her sixth sense with the ponies.

Jude Winterbottom and hubby George cleaned up in the first of three installments of a new promotion at Grand River Raceway called the Horse Name Costume Game. The events offer $5,000 in cash prizes for participants of all ages and challenges race fans to dress in the likeness of the name of a horse racing that night.

The Winterbottoms attended as Mystically and Viking Intimidator, and were declared by three judges as the best of nearly 30 contenders that night.

The top five children and five adults win a combined total of $1500 each night of the promotion. The following are the top finishers from August 13:

Children (15 & under); Top 5 - $50 each:
- Alyssa Schiefele (Shark Watch)
- Sienna Sovereign (Allamerican Island)
- Ryan Schiefele (JL Tiger)
- Jennifer Malina (Hockey Bum)
- Nikky Grobbo (Sandys Candy)

Adults (16 & up)
1ST - $600 – Jude Winterbottom (Mystically)
2ND - $300 – George Winterbottom (Viking Intimidator)
3RD - $200 – Becky Kloeslag (Made To Glide)
4TH - $100 – Ray Rowarth (Shark Watch)
5TH - $50 – Deb Schiefele (Striking Style)

Photos from August 13 are available at Grand River's facebook page.

August 20 and 27 mark the remaining rounds of the Horse Name Costume Game, which is presented in cooperation with the Ontario Harness Horse Association (OHHA).

In addition to $1500 in nightly prizes, photos of all participants will be posted for online voting. The person with the most popular costume at the end of the promotion will receive a $500 cash bonus.

The race entries for this Friday are posted here. Some staff recommendations for costume ideas for Aug. 20:

Mischievous Maple

Shoplifter Hanover

Casimir Justafox

Minx

American Gal

Cambest Princess

Imarealsweetheart

Surprise Factor

Random Artist

Full Circle Rusty

Elevens N Sevens

Boy In A Bubble

Hockey Bum

Captain Quartz

Thank You Officer

Wishwell Sugarplum

Blonde N Lucky

This Girl Rocks

Im Blazing Duke

Putnam Jaguar

Tropical Grey

Cow Creek Cindy

Dolce And Gapanna

Staff pleas for names to avoid:

Gyraider

Miss Crownroyal

Prizes for each Friday night:

• KIDS (15 & under) Top 5: $50 each

• ADULTS (16+) 1st : $600; 2nd : $300; 3rd : $200; 4th : $100; 5th : $50

Participants must register with the Costume Crew in the lower lobby between 6:30 – 8:00.

All costumes will be featured on the racing broadcast following race six, when a panel of three judges will determine the winners based on creativity, effort and presentation.

Complete contest info, click here.

Post time for Friday's card of harness racing is 6:30 p.m.

(Grand River)