In a racing rarity, a harness driver over the age of 90 won a pari-mutuel race on Friday, Dec. 20.
Donning new black and gold driving colours, 91-year-old horseman Bill Megens guided his homebred three-year-old trotter Willy Strike to victory in the evening's $6,000 sixth race at The Raceway at Western Fair District.
Megens worked out a perfect pocket trip for the Alarm Detector-Market Strike gelding, who prevailed in 2:06 by a quarter of a length over the oncoming even-money favourite, HA Code Red and Scott Wray, with 9-5 pacesetter My Sweet MVP finishing 1-1/2 lengths behind in third in rein to J Harris. Willy Strike was the 4-1 third choice and paid $10.60 to win as he improved his record to 2-1-4 in 24 starts during his debut racing season.
Megens has driven in just 21 races this year, including two on Friday night, and last drove a winner on Oct. 12, 2021 at Western Fair with a limited number of driving starts -- just 42 -- between sulky successes.
The veteran Guelph, Ont. horseman boasts 1,190 career driving wins and has 364 training victories since official records were kept.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Western Fair Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)