The million dollar earnings milestone awaits Ramegade Bruiser, Canada’s dominant Free-For-All pacer in 2009 at Western Fair’s 2009 Molson Pace
. It’s a fact that hasn’t escaped his owner and trainer, David Brown, of Cannington, Ontario.
“That’s a nice round figure and I think he deserves it” Brown says. “We’re coming because that $280,000 purse for the final is a really great purse to go for. Even though he’s done a lot this year and it wont’ be easy. They don’t just step aside and give you that kind of money.”
Brown has gone as far as to say that it would take a sudden and unexpected soundness problem or health setback to keep him from entering Ramegade Bruiser in the Molson Pace. The entries for the May 22 eliminations will be due on Monday morning, May 18.
The 37th edition of the Molson Pace is set for Friday evening, May 29. That program will feature over $500,000 in purses again this year and it will include an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series final three year old filly pace.
“That was a bit of surprise to see that Maltese Artist wasn’t entered in the Graduate Series divisions on Saturday night at The Meadowlands. We’re still expecting to meet the best in the game. There’s Shadow Play, Mr. Saratoga, Clowns Smile, and (defending champion) Eagle Luck and those other horses on that nomination list I have a lot respect for” Brown says.
Ramegade Bruiser made his 12th start of 2009 in Saturday night’s $50,000 Open pace at Mohawk Racetrack. It marked the first time this year he suffered an off the board finish. He's amassed nine wins this campaign for season’s earnings over $260,000 which has pushed his life’s earnings to more than $893,000.
“The return to a half mile track I just don’t see as a problem” Brown says. “He does brush his knees but over the course of his career he’s handled half mile tracks just fine. The draw of course means a lot but he’s proven he can rough it on the outside too. In my travels people almost always remark to me at what the horse has made from his mixed sale price in London of $3,500. Thankfully, horses have no way to know what you paid for them.”
Doug McNair: Friday Night Special
You don't have to watch the Stanley Cup playoffs to find a hat trick these days.
Just watch 19-year-old driver Doug McNair ply his trade on Friday night programs at Western Fair.
He's had an uncanny knack for posting three wins on Western Fair's Friday night programs in the first five months of 2009 - and he's only fifteen months removed from earnings his first lifetime driving win at the London track.
On the May 8 program he turned the trick again with claiming pacers Panastasia and Carpandero Hanover along with claiming trotter In For A Treat. On the track's drivers' standings chart, McNair is a solid second behind just Brad Forward and just ahead of Dave Wall. Doug has posed for win pictures over 70 times for purses of over $500,000 already in 2009 at Western Fair.
Why Brad Forward Pays It Forward
Just prior to his departure for the World Driving Championship Series in Norway, Western Fair’s leading driver and Canadian representative Brad Forward offered details of why he is openly supportive of The Salvation Army as his favourite charity.
“It was December 23rd, 1991, and there was a terrible fire in downtown St. John’s Newfoundland which wiped out my parent’s business and many people’s homes and businesses which had been there for almost a century,” Forward recalls. “The Salvation Army was right there for all of us with food and shelter and support. Somehow in less than 48 hours they managed to organize things so that there were no children that went without toys that year. It’s just one of those life experiences I’ve never forgotten,” the 38-year-old driver says.
Last Friday night at Western Fair, Forward and Western Fair Raceway’s Marketing and Promotions Co-Coordinator Jan White made a $500 cheque presentation to Major Rob Dolby of the London Salvation Army’s Centre Of Hope. The track had pledged a $100 donation to Forward’s chosen charity for every time he finished in the top three on April 24th when he received his Canadian driving suit and helmet from Standardbred Canada CEO, Ted Smith.
Forward, now a resident of Woodstock, ON has a strong recent history of supporting his beliefs in The Salvation Army. Last December 15th at Western Fair he donated his entire day’s driving fees to the organization’s Christmas Toy Drive For Underprivileged Children. The amount came out to $1,173.
“Before 1991, I was probably like a lot of people that shrugged it off and walked right past their volunteers ringing the bells in malls throughout the year and at Christmas time,” Forward says. “After all that The Salvation Army has done for me and my family I’ve always made sure ever since that I stop and contribute. I’ll never walk right past them ever again.”
Through June 30, post time at Western Fair each Monday and Tuesday afternoon is at 3:35 p.m. and every Friday evening at 7:05 p.m.
(Western Fair Raceway)