RUS Ontario descended upon Flamboro Downs on Saturday night (September 20) and gave notice that racing under saddle is stepping up its game at each stop it makes.

Not only was Saturday’s RUS race at Flamboro one of the most exciting of the year on the track, but the patrons responded to the well-matched field by pushing over $13,000 through the betting windows, which set the mark for wagering on a RUS race at a new high level.

Carded as Race 3 on an action-packed night at Flamboro, the dash provided a thrilling finish which required a photo to determine that the winner was the Natalie Elliot-ridden Lexus Hawkeye, who is trained by Pam Forgie for owner John Patterson. The duo crossed the wire only a nose in front of Twin B Excalibur (ridden by Evelyn Harms). Harlequin and rider Riina Rekila finished third by less than one length.

The RUS race was part of the first annual Flamboro Horse Festival. The festival saw five different disciplines of equine stars perform exhibitions in front of the grandstand apron. Included in the festivities was a thrilling reining demonstration by Starr Boisvert, a side-saddle exhibition from Grace Lockwood, and two kinds of high-stepping Hackney ponies exhibited by Laurie Palmer and Joanne Heath.

Also making an appearance was the National Percheron Championship Shows Reserve Grand Champion Mare, driven by Rheal Bourgeois. And much to the delight of the grandstand crowd was Logan and Bailey Donaldson putting on a roping clinic, as fleet-footed mascots Flamboro Flo and Black Beauty tried vainly to dodge pinpoint, accurate lassos.

Not to be outdone on a big night, the Mini Horse race proved to be an exciting addition to the evening. A large field of seven ‘Minis’ raced hard for the quarter-mile distance and showed that size is not everything. The Mini Horses also dazzled the crowd with an in-the-grandstand meet-and-greet.

Thank you to everyone that came out for the event and made it such a success.

(RUS Ontario)