Battin Celebrates 5,000th Win

A come from behind score with homebred pacer Dazzlin Rosie gave longshot players reason to celebrate Tuesday evening at The Raceway at Western Fair District, and it went down as a career milestone score for veteran reinsman Ross Battin.

The Monkton, Ont. horseman, who has sat behind horses at more of Ontario’s ovals – defunct and currently operational – than most, joined the 5,000-win club with the victory.

Battin left out from Post 7 with the mare and tucked her into an early three-hole before advancing on cover on the way to the three-quarter pole. She stormed home in :29.1 and drew clear to win by 4-1/2 lengths in a time of 1:58.3.

Battin, who also trains the mare, co-owns the daughter of Playboy Killean-Logicallyinclined with Paul Rutherford of Listowel, Ont.

A reinsman since the 70s, Battin has racked up close to $27 million in lifetime earnings thanks to countless trips around the province’s ovals – and the odd trip out of province. Battin has won multiple driving titles at numerous tracks across Ontario and he’s captured the Lampman Cup as the Ontario Sires Stakes’ leading driver a record seven times. He was also inducted to The Raceway at Western Fair District’s Wall of Fame in 2010.

Later on the Tuesday program it was Easton Beach rallying for a narrow triumph in the $11,000 Preferred 3 for horse and gelding pacers for trainer/driver George Ketros.

In the 1-1/16 mile affair it was Ideal Jet who threw down fractions of :27.4, :55 and 1:25.1 before tiring. Jaydens Place was parked every step of the mile while trying to get to the leader, and Easton Beach swung out to catch that foe’s cover on the way to the half. Easton Beach later tipped three wide on the way to the three-quarter pole and he wound up scoring by a half-length margin over Champagne Phil in 2:02.4. Homey Joe was third.

Mary Ketros of Arthur, Ont. owns the five-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere-Easton Alliance N. The gelding won for the fourth time this season and for the 14th time in his career. The win pushed his lifetime earnings past $100,000.

To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.