A quick glaze over a London Free Press article previewing Friday's $280,000 Molson Pace from Western Fair Raceway reveals quotes from Mark MacDonald about Clowns Smile. But the article also offers much
more.
The Casie Coleman-trained Clowns Smile has drawn Post 4 in the eighth-horse Molson Pace, carded as Race 10 on the 13-dash program. With MacDonald confirmed to be at the helm, the five-year-old Grinfromeartoear gelding has been installed as the second morning line choice at odds of 2-1. Foiled Again, assessed at odds of 6-5, is the morning line choice and will start from Post 5 with Jody Jamieson navigating.
"I've driven for two-and-a-half years and [Clowns Smile] can run it any way you want," MacDonald explained. "We really had to work on him (with Coleman for Kentucky owner Ellis Bryant Inc. of Louisville and Steve Calhoun and Mike Lindley of Chatham) but he really can do it all.
"When his nose touches that gate on Friday, that's when I'm going to decide what we're going to do."
In addition to the Molson Pace, MacDonald, a two-time O'Brien Award winner, comments on a glut of other topics ranging from injuries, post-concussion syndrome, family life and the highly publicized WEG/OHHA dispute.
In regard to the WEG/OHHA dispute, which saw some trainers and drivers boycott Woodbine Racetrack earlier this year, MacDonald was quoted as saying, "…we had to make a choice and I opted with the majority. Some stopped, some continued driving. I ended up missing a month of racing and that put me behind. I lost my momentum. When we agreed to come back, it means you're playing catchup.
"Right now, it's water under the bridge," continued MacDonald. "It's what you have to do if you don't agree with what's going on.
"In the end, it's their playground, their sandbox, and if you want to play in it, you gotta live by their rules."
Click here to read the London Free Press article in its entirety.
In addition to today's article in the London Free Press, publicity/media attention has been abundant for the annually-anticipated aged pacing event.
Tonight at 6:50 and 11:25 p.m., CTV affiliate 'A' London will air a piece by reporter Brent Lale, who has travelled to Casie Coleman's training base for a close-up look at Clowns Smile, fellow Molson Pace starter Lucky Man, and an in-depth interview with the well known trainer herself.
Local radio station CJBK will be shedding light on the Molson Pace on at least three different occasions on Friday. At 7:40 a.m., Western Fair GM/race secretary Ian Fleming will handicap the Molson Pace. At 8:40 a.m., Western Fair announcer/publicist Frank Salive will also handicap the event; and, in a mock stretch call, Salive will disclose his pick to win on Friday night. At 5:50 p.m. CJBK sports director Pete James will partake in his 'Track Talk' segment.
Click here to view the entries for Western Fair's Friday card.
(With files from the London Free Press and Western Fair Raceway)
Good for Mark to have the
Good for Mark to have the courage to do the "right thing" at quite a cost to himself.
He does say "it is their sandbox and you have to play by their rules". What he doesn't mention and is one of the things that sticks in any fair minded persons craw is the "rules" are different for everyone!!