The Hawkinsville Training Center held a Day at the Races on Saturday, April 2. This fun-filled festival was run and organized by Gerald Lilley, the new track manager.
There was a great turnout and spectators took part in watching live horse racing consisting of seven qualifiers and one schooler. Additionally, there were food trucks, arts and craft vendors, face painting, petting zoo, bouncy house and a 50/50 raffle.
The first qualifier of the day was won by the three-year-old McArdle filly, McAngel, trained by Garry Martin. She went to the front through fractions of :29. 1:00, 1:28 and 1:57.4, coming home in :29.4, piloted by Don Irvine Jr. This promising looking filly is owned by Martin and B Kleinberg Racing LLC.
Qualifier two was won by nine-year old trotter Pilgrims Tide, who also used front end tactics with fractions of :31, 1:02, 1:32 and 2:01, coming home in :29 piloted by Dan Shetler. The bay gelding by Muscle Massive is trained by Britney Dillon and owned by Lases Racing.
Camara Moment overtook the competition by a head, finessed by the hands of Paul Walker in the third qualifier. The three-year-old, by Control The Moment, made his first a winning one and came home the fastest last quarter of the day in :26.4. He is trained by Patrick Lang and owned by Ontario-based Dewitt Stables.
The popular Pemberton returned to the track after time off from an injury. You would have never known it with the way this five-year-old gelding took the lead and stayed there in the fourth qualifier. He won by 10 lengths, with fractions of :29.4, 1:01.4, 1:34.3 and 2:02.2. He is trained and driven by Paul Walker and owned by Ontario's Christine and Brenda Walker.
David Mueller Jr. (DJ) made his first start in the bike a victory in the fifth qualifier. Mueller drove Rockin Q, a three-year-old Britney Dillon-trained filly seamlessly, through fractions of :31, 1:01.2, 1:31 and 2:00 to win by two lengths. Both driver and horse will be ones to watch!
Trainer/driver Garry Martin returned to the winners circle in qualifier six, this time with his three-year-old Long Tom gelding. He co-owns Go Long with B Kleinberg Racing LLC and won in 2:02.3 off fractions of :32, 1:02.4 and 1:34.
The final qualifier winner was the Aaron Colley-trained, driven and owned Cee Bee Ghee Bee. This three-year-old filly, who is co-owned with D Balcom, won in 2:04 after sitting in the pocket through splits of :31.4, 1:04 and 1:35.
For more information, visit harnesshawkinsville.com or @harnesshawkinsville on social media.
(With files from Hawkinsville Training Center)