It isn't every day when one sees a man-vs.-horse race. It also isn't every day when the horse's driver says the human has a 60 per cent chance of winning the tilt

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As explained in an article by Monique Chiasson in the Truro Daily News, 17-year-old Nick Wood from Great Village, Nova Scotia will be taking his best shot against six-year-old Arcane Hanover gelding River Cane Saturday, October 9 at Truro Raceway.

The event is part of the Atlantic Breeders Crown, which is taking place this weekend at Truro Raceway.

River Cane's driver, Bernard McCallum of Hilden, Nova Scotia, went on the record as saying that he's giving Wood the morning line edge. "I give him a 60 per cent chance of winning," McCallum said. He went on to say, "Both will have a standing start so it will take a while for the horse to get its speed."

Wood, a Grade 12 student that has been competing in track and cross-country running since Grade 7, chimed in on the upcoming tilt, which is expected to take place halfway through Truro's Saturday card, which will kick off with a first-race post time of 1:30 p.m.

"I've had lots of competitors but this one is pretty intimidating because of his speed and size," said Wood, who will try to complete one lap around the half-mile Truro course before the horse goes around it twice.

"I'm not nervous. I like trying new things and it seemed interesting. Not many humans would race a horse," Wood explained.

(With files from Truro Daily News)