Harpers Hat Trick and driver Tyler Borth kicked off a picture perfect afternoon of live harness racing at Clinton Raceway on Sunday, June 16 with a victory in the $5,500 Preferred 3 Pace.
Harpers Hat Trick made front just before the quarter pole in :27.3 and cruised through middle splits of :58 and 1:26.4 en route to the 4-1/4-length victory in 1:56 flat. The favourite paid $4.10 to win. Second choice Better Be Gouda (Travis Henry) took over the pocket spot when early leaver Music To My Gears (Dale Spence) broke stride down the backstretch the final time, but when he tipped out turning for home, 21-1 shot Azucar Jack (Paul MacKenzie) shot up the inside and won the race for place.
Local owner/trainer Kris Haskell campaigns Harpers Hat Trick, now a 23-time career winner with more than $150,000 in earnings. The six-year-old son of Sportswriter has earned four of his wins this year from 15 starts.
Harpers Hat Trick kicked off a natural hat trick on the card for Borth that ended with a Prospect Series division win with three-year-old pacing colt Ballykeel Painter ($4.10) for trainer Katie MacNeil and owner/breeder Ballykeel Racing Inc. The other $8,000 division went to trainer/driver Paul MacKenzie's Lamborghini Lou ($5.20). Both popular winners turned in matching 1:58.1 miles.
Race fans, with their dads in tow for Father's Day, filled the stands and patio for the 10-race afternoon matinee. Some longshots hit the board during the last half of the card with Arthur Shelby winning race seven in gate-to-wire fashion and paying a whopping $81.20 for a $2 win ticket. The seventh race Pick 4 has a carryover of $1,500 for next Sunday, June 23. Township Willy was a $40.20 winner in the next race.
This week's trackside fundraiser was held by the Seaforth 2025 Homecoming Committee, raising funds for the 150th celebrations in August 2025. Through a BBQ, bake sale, silent auction, 50/50 and sponsorships, the group was able to raise just over $4,700 on Sunday.
Live harness racing continues next Sunday at Clinton Raceway, followed by the return of Legends Day in two weeks.
To view Sunday's harness racing results click the following link: Sunday Results - Clinton Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada & Clinton Raceway)