There are plenty of local hopefuls vying for top prize in Hanover’s marquee race, the $100,000 Dream Of Glory Trot. Among those with a good shot is P C Firecracker. The homebred gelding out of Promising Spark is trained by Peter Clements, who shares ownership with Amy Clements.
The name ‘Clements’ is familiar to those in harness racing around Hanover, Ont. Peter’s parents, Bruce and Glenna Clements, were associated with Alan Walker --- another huge name in the sport --- through a family connection. Two successful horses ensured the family would stick with the business. Peter Clements claims, “Cotton Maid and Cadenza are the two horses that started it all for my family.” Bruce built a track in Dobbinton in 1964, and after big success with Devons Prince, they built training stables in 1981 where Peter continues to train today. Devons Prince was the top two-year old pacing colt in Canada during his freshmen campaign. Thirty years later, Clements is still producing quality young horses, including P C Firecracker.
According to his trainer, P C Firecracker was a little immature as a two-year-old, so he was turned out. He began his 2012 campaign much like his name suggests --- on fire. He won seven out of his first eight lifetime starts, including two of three in the City of London series. The three-year-old son of Amigo Hall was crowned champion in the $53,800 final of that event at The Raceway at Western Fair District, taking the race in a lifetime-best 2:00.2.
“We had him ready to qualify last year before we turned him out. He came back stronger and we raced him a bit in the winter to get him ready for stakes. He raced super-well in the City of London final. He’s the first horse we’ve had that’s won a series final.”
P C Firecracker has been victorious in all but one of the races where he has remained on stride. His first loss on a clean line came Thursday, July 12 in Hanover when he finished third behind a track-record tying The Golden Child and West Grey Bay. The breaks don’t seem to bother Clements much however.
“He’s really not a runner. He got interfered with in Sudbury and didn’t like the track conditions in Elora.” On stride, Clements has confidence his three-year-old is competitive, stating, “if I didn’t think he was, I wouldn’t enter.”
Hanover Raceway is considered Clements’ home track, and he has a history of strong performances in the Dream Of Glory, with PC La Mousse his most recent finalist in last year’s event. On racing in Hanover, Clements claimed, “It’s one of the best half-mile tracks in Ontario. Being half an hour away, we nominate everything we can when it comes time to stake our horses. We always try to race in Hanover if we can. It would be great to win at home.” Clements is well aware of the challenges upcoming with strong contenders due to race in the eliminations, but, as he says, “anything can happen in a horse race. We’ll never turn it down.”
(Hanover)
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