Five Racing Under Saddle (RUS) ladies and their trotters descended on the Huron County oval at Clinton Raceway on Sunday afternoon to partake in the very first wagering event in RUS history.
Rider Sarah Town and five-year-old mare Radical Dreamer went gate-to-wire in the $2,200 RUS event, clocking a time of 2:04.4, but only after a photo to determine the winner. Dayplanner, trained by Julie Walker and ridden by Marit Valstad, was second by a nose, with Twin B Excalibur and rider Evelyn Harms rounding out the triactor.
Radical Dreamer is owned by trainer Ronald O'Neill of Cambridge, Ont. and Douglas Millard of Woodstock, Ont. She paid $5.10 to win as the 3-2 favourite.
“What a huge privilege it was to win this race,” stated Town. “I want to make a mention that second-place finisher Marit Valstad won with this horse last week at Mohawk and had another great race this week.”
Town is looking forward to the rest of the season riding with RUS. The next scheduled Racing Under Saddle event is set for Georgian Downs on July 19.
Former Blue Jay Kelly Gruber was also on hand to greet racing and baseball fans of all ages as part of a fundraiser for the Clinton Minor Baseball Association. Two tickets were auctioned off to the highest bidder (Shannon Henry) to any destination that Air Canada flies.
In the afternoon's fifth race, locally-owned L H Hollys Cam took home the lion's share of the $4,600 purse for Lois Anderson of Clinton, Ont. Trained by Robert Anderson, the seven-year-old pacing mare was driven to the wire by Ryan Holliday for her first win of the season in 1:59 flat.
The Ontario Sires Stakes will make its first appearance at Clinton Raceway for the 2014 season on Sunday, July 20, featuring two-year-old filly pacers, and celebrates it’s 40th Anniversary. Fill’er Up at Clinton Raceway with free coolie cups, anniversary cake, the chance to win $50 gas cards after each OSS race on the day’s card, as well as OSS t-shirts and hats all afternoon on the Super Sunday Show! Post time is 1:30 p.m.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Clinton Raceway.
(With files from Clinton Raceway)