On his 65th birthday Darrell Coville hopped into the sulky for the last time and snagged a final victory from three drives on Sunday, June 30 at Rideau Carleton Raceway.
After six months away from the sulky, Coville returned to the bike a winner in the first race on the 10-race card as he steered 1-9 favourite Vanilla Malted to a 1:55.2 win in a $6,100 conditioned pace. The three-year-old Sweet Lou gelding, co-owned by trainer John MacMillan with 2099551 Ontario Inc., gave Coville win No. 6,768.
Coville’s $22-million career came to a close in Race 6, where he finished sixth driving 18-1 shot Cheque The Magic. In a career spanning over 40 years, Coville retires as Rideau Carleton’s all-time leading driver.
Also on the Sunday card, Neon Lights delivered as the odds-on favourite in the $8,100 Preferred Trot. The five-year-old Chapter Seven gelding sat third as Lmc Mass Gem led through splits of :27.3, :57.1 and 1:26.3. Driver Jonathan Lachance pulled the Gerard Demers trainee first over approaching the final turn and took control through the stretch to win by a length in 1:55.3. Lmc Mass Gem held second from Wildwild Men in third.
Owned by La Ferme Tag Inc. and Les Ecuries GLD Inc., Neon Lights won his third race from 13 starts this season and his 16th from 62 overall, earning $162,096. The $3.10 winner accounted for one of three wins for Demers on the night, the others coming with Majo Lou Beka ($4.30) and Hp Patriote ($5.60).
In the $8,100 Preferred Pace, Chaleurs Ad went wire to wire to upset 1-5 favourite National Debt in 1:53.2. Trainer-driver Guy Gagnon pushed for the front from the pylons and set fractions of :28.3, :57.2 and 1:26 on the lead. Pocket-sitter The Roadies gave chase from second while Prince Giovanni, ranging first over, settled for third. National Debt rode cover but stalled in the stretch and finished fourth.
A seven-year-old gelding by Riggins, Chaleurs Ad won his third race from nine starts this season and his 32nd from 87 overall, earning $68,920. He paid $13.00 to win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.