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 lifetime.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Western Fair Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)