The Raceway will feature the 17th Annual Harness The Hope Night, combining with the OLG Ontario Women's Driving Championship, this Friday (Oct. 14) evening in London, Ont.
The OLG Ontario Women's Driving Championship will take place in races one through six and point scoring will be doubled for this event.
Here are the standings heading into the final:
1. Natasha Day (returning 2021 champion) – 58 points
2. Marielle Enberg – 50
3. Julie Walker – 48
4. Maggie Jones – 33
T5. Samara Johnson – 28
T5. Pam Forgie – 28
7. Brittany Kennedy – 19
8. Debi O’Brien-Moran – 13
Points will be awarded as follows: 10 points for win; eight points for second; six points for third; four points for fourth; two points for fifth; four points for scratch.
The overall winner will take home $2,000 in prize money, plus a set of custom-made summer driving silks from Graham's Racing Silks as well as the OLG Ontario Women's Driving Championship trophy.
Nova Scotia's Melissa Keith will be on the mic to call the OLG Ontario Women's Driving Championship races. With decades of experience in harness racing to her credit, the award-winning writer will be in Ontario covering the Ontario Sires Stakes Super Finals at Woodbine Mohawk Park this weekend, but will first be on hand Friday evening at The Raceway. Keith called her first professional race at The Raceway in 2018 and has announced at a number of tracks since then.
The program will also feature one Autumn Series event for two and three-year-old trotting fillies in race seven. Morning-line favourite Angel Of My Dreams will be looking to double up in the series with leading driver Travis Henry aboard.
All the wonderful things are back this season for Harness The Hope Night, with winner's circle blanket presentations for every race, the 'wear pink attire/accessories to win' promotion, best dressed horse and groom contest sponsored by Wilson Tack and McIntosh Pro Line, Harness The Hope swag tables on site and any donations will be graciously accepted in the grandstand and paddock.
All event proceeds are directly donated to various cancer organizations that provide direct support programs for young women faced with a cancer diagnosis and that provide much needed awareness, research, earlier detection and improved treatments for those directly affected by or who may face breast cancer in their lifetime.
Fans can tune in to COSA TV for live coverage of the event, with race one getting underway at 4:50 p.m. The Raceway would like to thank the many sponsors of the OWDC, including title sponsor Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation and significant sponsors Ontario Racing and Graham's Driving Silks.
To view Friday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Friday Entries - Western Fair Raceway.
(With files from Western Fair District)