Kawartha Downs hosted 11 qualifying races last week to help prepare the horses and track for the opening night of the 2015 race meet on Saturday, May 30. After the qualifiers, the track’s leading driver, Gord Brown, commented that the track was good, just needed some water.

Obviously someone was listening. Tonight, about a half hour prior to the start of qualifying races at 4:30 p.m., the track was deluged with rain, it absolutely poured. The five qualifiers were contested in very wet conditions and the prospects for a clear night of racing weren’t looking good.

However, just before the first race was about to begin, the rain stopped and Kawartha was able to enjoy a great evening to kick off the 2015 meet. Track Superintendent Doug Hie had the surface in great shape so the conditions didn’t get too muddy.

The evening celebrated Gord Brown, who earlier this year went over the 4,000 mark in lifetime earnings. The Fraserville track’s leading driver for many years now, Brown donated a new set of driving colours to be auctioned off Saturday night in support of the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society.

In a fitting end to the night, Brown won the final race on the card with Major Aaries, who crossed the finish in 1:57.1 for trainer and co-owner John MacMillan.

Racing will continue every Saturday night at Kawartha through October 3 (except September 19). Post time is 7 p.m.

To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Kawartha Downs.

(With files from Kawartha Downs)