Call it a cliché, but Stewart Cockshutt has been involved with harness racing long enough to know that winning is not everything

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The Rockwood resident’s three-year-old trotting filly China Pearls is among the favourites for Thursday’s $170,000 Gold Final at Mohawk Racetrack, and while the long time owner admits that it is fun to win, he says that is not the reason he has remained in the business for 55 years.

“It’s not about getting rich racing horses, it’s about the people you are with,” he explains. “That’s what makes horse racing fun.”

With a record of five wins and five thirds in 13 starts this season — including wins in the Canadian Breeders Championship and Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Association (SBOA) Stake Finals — China Pearls has provided her owners with a great deal of enjoyment. The veteran owner has shared his joy in the filly’s accomplishments with trainer Carman Hie of Beamsville, with whom he shares ownership of the Carman Hie Stable Inc., Blake Anthony of Millgrove, Peter Kloepfer of Harley and Ted Murrell of Sharon.

“Carman and I have been together since 1972. We’ve had our ups and downs in the business, but we get along very well,” says Cockshutt. “Blake Anthony and Peter Kloepfer have had horses with us for quite a while, and off and on we’ve had horses with Ted Murrell. We’re all in it together.”

Most members of the group will be on hand Thursday to support China Pearls, who will be looking for her first Gold Series victory from Post 1 in the $170,000 skirmish. In her first three Gold Series outings the daughter of Kadabra-Pure Sable logged two thirds in elimination action and one fourth in the July 9 Gold Final at Georgian Downs, and her owners would love to see her improve on those results this week.

“I’ve never seen a trotter that can close like she can when she’s right,” says Cockshutt. “She gives it everything she’s got. She’s very, very special and I think if she stays right she’s one of the tops in North America.”

Just seven fillies were entered in last week’s Gold Elimination, so all seven advanced directly to Thursday’s Final. China Pearls had not raced since her Aug. 26 SBOA victory, so when the elimination failed to proceed, Hie opted to send the filly out to qualify at Mohawk last Friday, Sept. 16. With regular reinsman Randy Waples in the race bike, China Pearls coasted through the first half of the qualifier and then sprinted home to a 1:57.4 victory.

Cockshutt notes that Waples has been a key element in China Pearls’ success this summer. The Milton resident took over the lines from Hie in the filly’s fourth lifetime start and has been a fixture in her race bike since.

“Randy’s very good at handling females. He’s a super guy and he just has a way with females,” says Cockshutt, tongue planted firmly in his octogenarian cheek. “He’s been super with her, he’s just got the patience of Job.

“You know, when you’ve got a good horse you need a good trainer, you need a good driver, you need all these things, and it just worked out,” he adds.

Waples will be looking to put his gifts to work in Mohawk Racetrack’s ninth race Thursday, facing off against six other hopefuls including reigning Gold Final champion Peach Martini from Post 2, SBOA runner-up Magic Wheel from Post 6 and last year’s Super Final champion Oh Sweet Baby from Post 7.

Mohawk sends its first race behind the starting gate at 7:10 p.m. on Thursday.

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To view entries for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Entries – Mohawk Racetrack.