The 2025 season of harness racing at Hiawatha Horse Park kicked off on Saturday, May 3 and it didn't take long for defending driving champion Garrett Rooney to make an impact.

With his win aboard Kenogami Rose ($3.30; pictured above) in the second race, Rooney surpassed the $10 million mark in career earnings. That win was the first of four on the nine-dash card for Rooney, who also connected with Mostly Dali (1:57.1; $10.10) in the fourth, Champagne Bettina (1:58.1; $2.90) in the sixth and Sir A (1:54.1; $7.90) in the finale.

The top dash-winning and money-winning driver at Hiawatha in 2024 as well as Dresden Raceway, Leamington Raceway and The Raceway at the Western Fair District, Rooney posted career best numbers in 2024 with 293 wins and more than $1.46 million in earnings. The Iona, Ont. horseman boasts 1,872 career victories along with $10 million in purses.

Hiawatha's 21-day meet will consist of live racing on Saturday nights through Sept. 20, with post time at 6:30 p.m.  The season's highlights will include Ontario Sires Stakes with multiple Grassroots and Prospect Series legs scheduled at the five-eighths-mile oval on July 19, Aug. 2, Aug. 30 and Sept. 6.

To view the full results from Saturday's card of harness racing in Sarnia, Ont., click the following link: Saturday Results - Hiawatha Horse Park.

(Standardbred Canada)