The ‘I Love Canadian Harness Racing’ Fan Club has announced the winner of its September ‘Zoom’ Challenge, which featured the theme ‘Meet My Horse.’
Fan Club members were asked to submit images of themselves and their horses, and congratulations go out to contest winner Chelsea Chase of DeWinton, Alta., who was pictured with her horse, Cinnamon Cracker. The winning image, which appears below, was taken by Bjorn Kirby.
Chelsea helps her parents, Robin and Todd, out every weekend at the track in Lacombe.
“I’ve grown up in the industry, so it's still a huge part of my life,” Chelsea has explained. “They've been working for Keith Clark for the past six-ish years now – he's always got plenty of horses to work with and learn from.”
Chelsea admits she takes a lot of photos – she sometimes averages 200-300 shots a race day, depending on how many horses they have in to race.
Chelsea has owned Cinnamon Cracker for two years, and she’s breaking him to the saddle so she can start using him for gymkhanas. Chelsea and ‘Cracker’ went to the ‘Mane Event’ this past April as the driving horse for the Performance Standardbreds Demo (a photo from the event, courtesy Dana Zarowny, appears below). Cracker’s also currently racing at Alberta Downs.
“Cracker is a pretty laid back horse, not too much bothers him. He's very kind and can be quite the looker. He's only three, but takes everything new that's thrown at him in stride.”
“Bjorn (Bjorn Kirby, who took the winning photo) comes every once in a while with us to the races,” Chelsea explained. “When I'm busy paddocking a horse he'll take my camera and snap some pics. He's very patient and we call him our good luck charm. The past few times he's been at the races we haven't missed a cheque.”
Congratulations to the other finalists:
Edith Bovay of Rigaud, Quebec - This is a shot of Edith and Silverado Dream testing the new cut hay from their fields.
Heather Button of Clifton Royal, NB – This is a shot of Heather riding Copper N Gold on her wedding day. Fondly known as ‘Goldie,’ Heather got her as a three-year-old in 2006 and broke her to saddle.
Manon Holmes of Pont-Lafrance, NB – This is Manon with her horse, Coquette
Angela Penny of Coxheath, NS – This is a shot of Angela and her horse, RH Rambler. ‘Rambler’ retired from racing and enjoys his life in Angela’s boarding barn with 33 other horses.
Evelyn Sabraw of Lacombe, AB – This is a shot of Evelyn with her yearlings, Ruby Tuesday and Misty Oracle.
September was the final Zoom Challenge for 2014. A poll will be launched to choose the best of this year’s six Zoom winners.
The winner will receive a Grand Prize, which will include a $50 gift card to the racetrack of their choice and an enlargement of their winning photo framed or plaque mounted!