Harpers Hat Trick won the $5,000 Randy Henry Memorial Pace, named in honour of the late Randy Henry, as friends and family of the late Clinton, Ont. horseman who passed away earlier this year gathered to celebrate his life and legacy on Sunday, June 15 at Clinton Raceway.
Harpers Hat Trickprotected pylon position going into the first turn for Travis Henry and was never headed again. He reached the quarter in :28.2 but was soon pressured by the first-up Heza Handy Man (Mike Horner) to the half in :58.3. The challenger began to labour as the field turned for the backstretch and he backed away as Harpers Hat Trick brought the field to three-quarters in 1:26.4. Pocket-sitter Tuukka Rasp (Dan Clements) was unable to mount a challenge and Harpers Hat Trick sailed away to a 3-1/2-length win in 1:56. Kevndan Fraudsters (Louis Gregg) closed out of the three-hole to snatch second from Tuukka Rasp.
Harpers Hat Trick, owned and trained by Kris Haskell, is now 26-for-103 lifetime with $166,634 in the bank. Sunday's win was the seven-year-old Sportswriter-Mightymachthree stallion's first of the season. He returned $15.50 to win.
There were six second-leg $4,000 Pop-Up Series divisions on the card -- three for horses and geldings and three for fillies and mares. The male winners were Dark Moves ($14.70), Passionate Prince ($3.60) and Old Buck ($3.10). Anchor So Reel ($5.50), Shady Memories ($3) and Little T ($5.90) won the distaff divisions. The series is for non-winners of $2,500 in their last five starts or $500 per start or a race in 2025 for horses that have raced in an $8,000 claimer in their last start.
Race fans turned out in droves on the Father's Day card to celebrate dads, support the trackside fundraiser for Huron Centennial Schools grade eight students and attend the first ever Touch-A-Truck event held in the parking lot. Fans big and small could climb in, on and around all kinds of different equipment that they normally wouldn't be able to. From a crane, to dump trucks, excavators and fire engines, there was something for everyone.
"To say this day was a success would be an understatement," said Jessica Carnochan, Marketing Manager. "Traditionally, Father's Day has been a big day for us, but this one was definitely one for the books!"
Huron Centennial school was able to raise more than $5,000 thanks to the supportive fans and bettors.
Nearly $65,000 went through the mutuel windows.
Racing continues on Sunday, June 22 with a fundraiser for the Vanastra Curling Club. Fans can register online at clintonraceway.com to pick up a free $10 wager. First post is set for 1:30 p.m.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Clinton Raceway.
(With files from Clinton Raceway)