The Raceway at Western Fair District wished its longtime starter, Brad Pittock, a happy retirement with a race named in his honour during Friday night's action in London, Ont.
The featured $7,200 Brad Pittock Retirement Trot was won by Enjoy Trotting and trainer/driver Lorne House. The four-year-old Muscle Mass gelding enjoyed trotting on top as he opened up a quick 4-1/2-length lead when the early front-runner broke stride and then cruised to victory in 2:03.4 for owner David Omicioli. Sent postward at odds of 5-1 in the seventh race conditioned trot, Enjoy Trotting paid $13 to win while favourite Its Sally Ideal broke stride from the pocket mid-race. Its A Long Story and Painted By Matisse rounded out the top three finishers.
Western Fair recognized Pittock's years of dedicated service with a ceremony in the winner's circle following the race. Going forward, Pittock's next chapter will still include appearances as the track's fill-in starter from time to time.
In other Friday night racing action, Cassidy Schneider sent out starters in three of the evening's 10 races and swept them all. The Arthur, Ont. horsewoman's training triple was comprised of winners Seel The Dark ($3.90) and stable newcomer Hally Road ($50.10), both driven by Dan Clements, as well as Docs Rock ($5.60), with Colin Kelly in the bike. Coming off her second straight season of training more than 80 winners, Schneider is Western Fair's reigning Trainer of the Year and an O'Brien Award finalist for the Future Star Award.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Western Fair Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)