The Bill Galvin Racing Alliance (BGRA) will be hosting the finalists in the 2024 Youth Literary Derby and Art Derby on Saturday, Oct. 5 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

An action-packed evening is planned for the top three entrants in each category, including paddock tours, riding in a double-seated jog cart with a trainer, taking a turn in the Virtual Reality Harness Driving experience, meeting some of Canada’s top drivers, dinner, a race presentation and more. The evening will culminate with the awards presentations to the students.

For the second consecutive year, prominent Standardbred owner and breeder Tom Rankin has generously sponsored the prize money for these contests. On May 25, Rankin welcomed the public to his St. Catharines, Ont. breeding operation for an Open House event to meet the mares and foals, and to provide some inspiration for aspiring writers and artists.

In addition to Rankin’s generosity, the BGRA is also fortunate to have the support of the Central Ontario Standardbred Association (COSA) and Equine Guelph for these contests.

COSA is sponsoring the dinner along with the Drive With Us program, which will allow each finalist to ride in a double-seated jog cart with a trainer. Equine Guelph will be providing free access to its online Horse Behaviour and Safety courses to any finalist that is 13 years of age or over.

Finalists in the contests are listed below in alphabetical order, followed by their hometown.

Youth Literary Derby

Short Story, Junior (Grades 3-5)

• Anna Dennis  (Embro)
• Sadie Follings (Hanover)
• Katherine Scott (Brinston)

Short Story, Intermediate (Grades 6-8)

• Mikaila Acton (Woodstock) 
• Eda Baklinski  (Combermere)
• Perina Baklinski  (Combermere)

Poem, Junior (Grades 3-5)

• Paige Daniels (Thornbury)
• Ian McLauchlin (Woodstock)
• Sarah Moore (Amherstburg)

Poem, Intermediate (Grades 6-8)

• June Ibbotson ( Hanover)
• Lauren Scott (Brinston)
• Sophia Zheng (Richmond Hill)

Youth Art Derby

Junior (Grades 3-5)

• Mila McLean (Combermere)
• Korbin Stock (London)
• Brielle Zonnekeyn (Peterborough)

Intermediate (Grades 6-8)

• Clara Baklinski (Combermere)
• Calissa Curry (Owen Sound)
• Hailey Jeffery (Rodney)

Senior (Grades 9-12)

• Olivia Brosseau (Kitchener)
• Alexandra Homorcean (Burlington)
• Deanna Packet (Wyoming)

(Bill Galvin Racing Alliance)