For anyone who has ever dreamt of driving a racehorse, there’s still one spot left in Grand River Raceway’s upcoming Standardbred Xtreme Adult Harness Racing Camp

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The camp runs October 1 and 2, and the evening of Octover 3. Co-hosted by the Hands On Horses Program, the camp will give participants a unique glimpse inside the world of harness racing. The camp combines a variety on hands-on activities, including grooming and jogging, in addition to classroom sessions with industry professionals and officials. Past participants in the camp include current, new and potential standardbred owners, along with some general horse enthusiasts.

Each day, camp participants will spend two to three hours learning about the basics of grooming, harnessing and jogging with the help of four retired racehorses. The classroom topics will cover: anatomy, basic care, horse health check, nutrition, horsemanship, stable management, conditioning, financials, fractional ownership and veterinary care. The camp also involves a field trip to Emerald Ridge breeding farm on October 2. The Standardbred Xtreme Adult Camp will culminate on Monday, October 3 at Grand River. Participants will make their racing debuts, accompanied by professional drivers in double-seated jog carts, in a pair of special half-mile exhibition races.

The inclusive cost for the camp is $300. For more information about the camp, click here. To register, contact Kelly Spencer at (519) 846-5455 ext. 238 or [email protected].

(Grand River Raceway)