The Bill Galvin Racing Alliance (BGRA) has announced it will host the 21 finalists of the Youth Literary Derby and Youth Art Derby contests on Saturday, Oct. 17 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
The top three finalists in each category will enjoy an action-packed afternoon and evening featuring a ride on a double-seated jog cart (courtesy of the Drive With Us program), the VR "Drive To Win" experience, a harnessing demonstration and paddock tours, opportunities to meet some of Canada’s leading drivers and join a winner's circle blanket presentation. The evening will conclude with dinner and an official awards ceremony for the students.
The BGRA looks forward to celebrating the achievements of the talented young writers and artists. The finalists in the contests are as follows (in alphabetical order):
YOUTH LITERARY DERBY
- Poem - Junior (Grades 3-5)
- Anya Mathihalli of Caledon
- Olivia Schiedel of Ayton
- Karis Vyn of Ridgetown
- Poem - Intermediate (Grades 6-8)
- Supreet Kaur of Brampton
- Chloe Yee of Newmarket
- Sophia Zheng of Richmond Hill
- Short Story - Junior (Grades 3-5)
- Julia Baker of Paris
- Christine Josiah of Brampton
- Larissa Thompson of Guelph
- Short Story - Intermediate (Grades 5-8)
- Logan Benson of Hamilton
- Mikaela Willard-Riordan of Guelph
- Ruihan Zhao of Hamilton
YOUTH ART DERBY
- Junior
- Mia Cai of Ancaster
- Alice Chen of Ancaster
- Ruiya Zhao of Hamilton
- Intermediate
- Logan Benson of Hamilton
- Aabha Lamichhane of Brampton
- Ruihan Zhao of Hamilton
- Senior
- Kelton Jiang of Markham
- Jacintha Riehl of Strathroy
- Abigail Yarmoshuk of Glencoe
This event is made possible through the generous support of the BGRA's sponsors and partners. For the fourth consecutive year, prominent owner and breeder Tom Rankin has generously sponsored the prize money. Earlier this year, he also hosted an Open House at his St. Catharines, Ont. breeding farm to inspire the young participants. The Central Ontario Standardbred Association (COSA) has sponsored dinner for all finalists as well as the Drive With Us program. Equine Guelph will be providing online Youth Horse Behaviour and Safety courses for finalists aged 13 and older. Standardbred Canada will be providing complimentary Junior Memberships for the category winners.
(With files from Bill Galvin Racing Alliance)