Clinton Raceway Shares Legends Day Trivia

Randy and Ron Waples

Clinton Raceway’s 12th Legends Day this Sunday features eight drivers and five special guests who, collectively, have won 92,465 races and purse earnings of $1.4 billion.

They represent some of the best moments and grandest achievements in the past several decades of harness racing history and are all members of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall Of Fame.

They’re famous names, but how well do you know them? 

Sharpen up for the big event on June 30 with a pop quiz about the drivers: Wally Hennessey, Doug Brown, Steve Condren, Chris Christoforou, Sylvain Filion, Paul MacDonell, Randy Waples and Carl Jamieson; and special guests Ron Waples, Bill O'Donnell, John Campbell, Trevor Ritchie and Dave Wall. 

Comment below with your guesses and the answers will be posted below on Friday, June 28. (Update: The answers have been revealed below in italics.)

1. At 61, John Campbell became the oldest driver to win the Jugette when he piloted this horse to victory in 2016:

  1. Sassa Hanover    
  2. Colors A Virgin    
  3. I Luv The Nitelife
  4. L A Delight

2. Steve Condren and this horse (at 45-1) defeated Kentucky Spur in the 1989 North America Cup for trainer Tom Artandi:

  1. Jate Lobell    
  2. Apaches Fame    
  3. Goalie Jeff    
  4. Precious Bunny

3. This driver had back-to-back wins in the Little Brown Jug in the 1980s with Nihilator and Barberry Spur:

  1. Bill O'Donnell    
  2. Doug Brown    
  3. John Campbell
  4. Ron Waples

4. He was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2020 and his most famous mount was inducted in 2009:

  1. Randy Waples    
  2. Paul MacDonell    
  3. Trevor Ritchie    
  4. Chris Christoforou

5. Who is the oldest of these three?

  1. Ron Waples    
  2. Bill O'Donnell    
  3. Carl Jamieson

6. What is John Campbell's middle name?

  1. Ray    
  2. Phillip    
  3. Duncan    
  4. Soupy

7. He drove Goodtimes to his two-year-old maiden win in 1993:

  1. Paul MacDonell    
  2. Trevor Ritchie
  3. Steve Condren
  4. Dave Wall    

8. Chris Christoforou’s first Breeders Crown victory was in 1993 with this horse:

  1. Grinfromeartoear
  2. Earl 
  3. Allamerican Nadia

9. Who has more wins – Randy Waples or Ron Waples?

  1. Ron Waples 
  2. Randy Waples 

10. Sylvain Filion and his uncle Herve both won the World Driving Championship. What are the correct years in which they accomplished this feat?

  1. 1995 and 1974
  2. 1999 and 1970
  3. 2003 and 1974
  4. 2007 and 1970

11. Carl Jamieson is a native of this province:

  1. Prince Edward Island
  2. Nova Scotia
  3. New Brunswick
  4. Ontario

12. Trevor Ritchie won the 1987 Meadowlands Pace with this horse:

  1. Laughs
  2. Frugal Gourmet
  3. Nihilator
  4. Matts Scooter

13: Who has more driving wins?

  1. Wally Hennessey 
  2. John Campbell

14: For 25 consecutive years from 1980 through 2004, Doug Brown accomplished this:

  1. $1 million or more in purse earnings each year
  2. 100 wins or more each year
  3. All of the above

15. BONUS: This monument in Clinton, just a short walk from the racetrack, represents the small town’s contribution to the war effort, starting in 1941. The monument is a:

  1. Military tank
  2. Ship hull
  3. Radar antenna
  4. Statue of Prime Minister William Lyon MacKenzie King 

Post time for Legends Day at Clinton Raceway on June 30 is 1:30 p.m. The biennial event serves as a major fundraiser for the Clinton community with more than $330,000 raised. This year’s recipient is the Clinton Public Hospital Foundation.

Fundraising is generated through several initiatives, including a large online auction, 50/50 draw, raffles and donations and sponsorships. 

Fans can visit with the Legends Day drivers and special guests, and the Canadian Horse Racing Hall Of Fame reunion guests from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. under the tent on the tarmac.

The race card will also feature eliminations for the Kin Pace. The Bill Galvin Racing Alliance will be onsite to showcase the Drive To Win virtual reality harness driving experience.

(Clinton Raceway)

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