Horses are being claimed, race cards are being filled and drivers and trainers are staying close to each other in the standings. Add them all up and it’s a definite sign that the competition factor at Fraser Downs
is at a fever pitch.
“Last Saturday (Oct. 3) five horses went to new barns and two were claimed the night before,” said Director of Racing Jackson Wittup. “This always points to a healthy meet.”
Drivers have been caught up in the atmosphere, as well. Heading into this weekend Serge Masse has 28 wins while Dave Hudon has 23 and Barry Treen 22.
While no drivers were able to win more than two races last Friday, Jim Marino took matters into his own hands on Saturday’s card. He wound up in the winner’s enclosure four times with each drive paying double figures, the lowest price being $17.00.
In the trainers standings, Masse leads with 24 wins, Hudon has 15 and Treen siwth with 13. One veteran trainer who doesn’t drive – Wayne Isbister – has registered 10 victories.
MOHORICH GOES OUT IN STYLE
After some 50 years in the trade, one of the most popular and successful trainers to ever share his talents at Fraser Downs is retiring. Jim Mohorich will continue to be on site with his freeze branding work for Standardbred Canada but his training career came to a fitting end last month. In typical fashion, Mohorich’s final starter was Run Way Star, winner of the Arbutus Stake for three-year-old fillies.
The second leg of elimination races for Clash of the Pacific is scheduled for Friday evening as part of a 14-race program. Post time for the first race is 7:10 p.m. The $75,000 final is slated for October 16.
(Fraser Downs)
To view Friday’s harness racing entries, click here.