Are you up for winning $1,000 at Clinton on Legends Day? It could happen for you, but it will happen for sure for one lucky person in the new 'Hook Up with a Legend' contest
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Eight names will be drawn Sunday, August 23 at 12:30 p.m., and each will be declared an 'honourary groom' in the Legends $20,000 Invitational Trot. First name drawn and in attendance gets first choice of driver-horse combinations. Subsequent names consecutively make their selections.
Honourary grooms will participate in a staggered post parade along with their driver, horse and regular groom, and then pose in front of the grandstand for a memento photo.
Contest winners will hook up with some of the greatest names in North American harness racing, including the Ailsa Craig, Ont. native and now U.S.-based John Campbell, the only driver ever to win over $200 million in purses. Joining Campbell are Hall of Fame drivers Doug Brown, Jim Doherty, Bud Fritz, Clint Galbraith, Bill O’Donnell, Ray Remmen and Ron Waples.
Everybody’s a winner in this contest though, because Clinton Raceway is giving $2 'Bet or Bite' vouchers (mutuels or concessions) to everyone in attendance whose name is in the box. Entries close at Midnight, Saturday, August 22 and can be made online at clintonraceway.com. Any individual aged 11 and up is eligible.
Crowd interaction is always a big part of the fun on Legends Day, and together with veteran legends Buddy Gilmour and Keith Waples, the drivers will sign free posters and give away commemorative photo pens. Just a few of the other many special features on the afternoon include guided tours of the new $7 million REACH equine centre and the popular Wind Rider equestrian finals.
Clinton Raceway is bent on making the day one to remember for the younger set as well. A blow-out youth program will be accompanied by free swimming, popcorn and lemonade.
Legends Day will also top off an incredible sports/entertainment package that promises to have four lucky people walking on air. Now up for online auction, the fantasy begins with airfare from Toronto to Newark on Friday, August 21, includes two nights at the Meadowlands Sheraton, tickets to the Mets and Phillies game Friday night, and then dinner at the Pegasus Restaurant for the Breeders Crown, Woodrow Wilson and Sweetheart races on Saturday night.
Sunday morning the foursome will join John Campbell, Jim Doherty and Ray Remmen for private Lear Jet service back to London, Ont. Limo transport to Clinton and home afterwards is included.
All proceeds from this and other Legends Day events will go to the Clinton Public Hospital Foundation. Bidding closes at Noon, Tuesday, August 4. Place your bid and monitor the ongoing bidding at clintonraceway.com.
(With files from Clinton)