Saturday evening’s $5,000 feature at Cal Expo is the Dennis Giles Memorial, named for the longtime harness racing fan and owner, who died as the result of an automobile accident last month

. He was 73.

Giles was born in Alberta, Canada and spent most of his adult life in Northern California. He was married to his wife Sherryl for 27 years prior to her passing in 1988 and leaves behind three children and three grandchildren. He is survived by son William; daughters Denise and Tamara; grandchildren Lilly, Madeline and Morgan; his brother Bill and four sisters, Beverly, Barbara, Janet and Judi; in addition to many loving cousins, nieces and nephews.

Giles worked in various areas of the home improvement industry and was passionate about his family, his friends and the sport of horse racing. He could be found at Cal Expo nearly every racing night at a table that he shared with Jerry and Maureen Pittaro, Richard Morita, Roland Dekeyser and blacksmith Jason Landers.

Giles also made the Hall of Fame plaques that hang in the simulcast area. Among the horses he campaigned were his first performer Hey Ladies, Sakra Genesis, Taps To Music, Lindasfella, Mistressoftheball and Tequila On Ice. One of his favourite racing moments came when Lindasfella won the Cal-bred Open in a lifetime best 1:52 mile. Giles owned Lindasfella in partnership with Harry Aced and Les Hunsucker, he was trained by Edgar “Sparky” Clarke and driven by Bruce Clarke. He loved to talk about that race with his many friends in the game and he will be missed.

Headlining the field for the Giles Memorial are Docs Zilla, who chased home the streaking Albion in his seasonal debut, and Ra Ra Steven and That Space, who were one-two in last week’s Sire Stakes for the sophomore pacing colts.

(Cal Expo)