Simply put, the lists of horses nominated for the top two events at Western Fair in 2009 are outstanding
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“I’d have to say we have a 'bumper crop' of top notch horses nominated for both the 37th edition of the Molson Pace and our inaugural Forest City Pace,” says Western Fair’s Race Secretary and General Manager, Ian Fleming. “It’s just a great list of horses for both the quantity and quality of nominations for both events. With only about nine weeks to the Molson Pace we can really start to follow and concentrate on the nominated horses right up until the May 22nd eliminations.”
Eagle Luck To Defend Molson Pace Title
Owner Frank Dettore of North Ridgeville, OH has nominated Eagle Luck to defend the Molson Pace title he earned in last year’s event which produced the first 25-1 longshot winner in the history of London ’s marquee annual event dating to 1972. Also nominated are the other top three finishers from the 2008 edition including Grand Bend Turbo and Silent Swing.
Other notable nominees to chase a Molson Pace title are Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series graduate Keystone Horatio and Western Fair’s emerging Preferred Pace standout Oakley Seelster. Top Woodbine Open pacer Ramegade Bruiser joins the 2008 Little Brown Jug champion Shadow Play on the nomination list along with Western Fair's track record holder and the beaten favourite from the 2008 edition, Tigerama. Expected to start in the Molson Pace eliminations on May 22nd for a third straight year is Maltese Artist, a recent winner of the Invitational Pace at The Meadowlands.
Also certain to draw some attention on the nomination list is Royal Morn, owned by trainer/driver Rod Therres of Surrey, BC in partnership with Charles MacFarlane of Victoria.
All told there are 38 horses nominated to the 2009 Molson Pace - an increase of almost one-third from the 29 nominations received last year.
'Madonna', Darlins Delight Top Inaugural Forest City Pace List
The early weeks of the 2009 Fall Meet at Western Fair in October will have a new sense of excitement with a marquee event added to be known as the Forest City Fillies and Mares Open Pace.
36 nominations have been received including Carl MacArthur and Talacadac Stables’ Southwind Madonna. The six-year-old mare has a career bankroll of $804,000 and took her lifetime mark of 1:49.3 in a Breeders Crown elimination last August.
Other well known nominees include Chancey Lady, who set London’s three-year-old filly pace track record in May of 2008; Woodbine circuit Mares Open stalwart Four Starzz Meliss; the 2008 Breeders Crown three-year-old filly pace champion A And GS Confusion; Hana Hanover, who earned her mark of 1:49.2 when winning the Allerage Stake last October at The Red Mile; Darlins Delight, a multiple stakes winner of over $2.6 million; and the 2008 Ontario Sires Stakes three year old filly pace Gold Superfinal champion, Voelz Hanover.
Banner Send Off For Brad Forward
The March 16 and 17 programs at Western Fair will see the track’s top reinsman, Brad Forward, competing in 23 of the 24 races scheduled just prior to his departure for the National Driving Championship at British Columbia’s Fraser Downs on March 21.
A huge send-off banner in support of Forward has been signed by hundreds of patrons, horsepeople and track staff and it will remain in the front lobby of Western Fair through Tuesday. It will then be sent to Fraser Downs and put on display to spur on Forward in the eight man competition.
Western Fair’s simulcast of the NDC championship card will be accompanied by the ‘We’re Betting On Brad’ promotion on track in London which will offer a free meal for horseplayer rewards club members along with other games and prizes.
Through June, post time at Western Fair each Monday and Tuesday is at 3:35 p.m. and each Friday night at 7:05 p.m.
(Western Fair Raceway)