Cheddar Bay went gate-to-wire to win the $10,000 Don McElroy Memorial Invitation Pace on Friday (Oct. 13) at The Raceway at the Western Fair District.
In the feature pace, J Harris and the Peter Core trainee set panels in :27.4, :58, and 1:26.1 before crossing the wire 2-1/4 lengths the best in 1:55.3. G A Speed Sammy (Scott Coulter) finished second and Pembrook Legacy N (Lorne House) was third.
Donald and Heather McGregor own the seven-year-old Betterthancheddar gelding as he earned his fifth win of the season and 19th career tally. He moved his seasonal earnings to $50,470 and career bankroll to $240,754. Cheddar Bay paid $2.40 to win.
Considered one of Ontario's top catch drivers in his day, McElroy posted 4,015 wins and more than $18.5 million in purse earnings during his driving career.
A two-time Lampman Cup winner as the top driver in the Ontario Sires Stakes program, McElroy was added to the Wall of Fame at Western Fair in 2010 where he won seven driving titles and captured the track's signature event — the Molson Pace (now the Camluck Classic) — on three occasions. He passed away this past April.
Two Autumn Series events opened up the Friday evening card with two fields of six freshman and sophomore colts and geldings competing for their respective $8,500 purse prizes.
In the opener, Stonebridge Comedy (Paul MacKenzie) clicked out panels in :30.1, 1:02.3, and 1:32.2 before romping to an eight length achievement in 2:02.4 for trainer Paul Megens and the ownership of Saltwater Stable. The winner paid a $5.10 win ticket. Royal Tea (Brad Moore) finished second with Dark Hammock Road (Anthony Hamlin) third.
In race two and the second division, Irish Dreamer got away fourth at the quarter in :30.1 before pulling first over through panels in 1:02.4 and 1:33.1. The Paul Reid colt met face-to-face with My Buddy Sam (Garrett Rooney) in the lane and they crossed the wire in unison for a dead heat victory in 2:03.2. Three-year-old Irish Dreamer is owned by Leonard Christopher and Anthony Mulcahy. Jennifer Pinkerton trains and co-owns the second winner, My Buddy Sam, with Patricia Bailey. The pair returned a $2.70 ticket to win. Sollwitt (Bradley Harris) completed the ticket.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - The Raceway at the Western Fair District.