Rain until noon Friday forced the scheduled races at Cornerstone Raceway in Yorkton to be postponed 24 hours. The one-day delay left the eight-race card going off under near ideal conditions and the night was highlighted by three feature races
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The Pace for the Lilies, sponsored by veterinarian Kenn Wood and his wife Nancy, was run this year in memory of Clare Widdifield. Widdifield, who died in May, was a longtime horseman, who showed horses from the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver, to The Stampede in Calgary, to The Royal in Toronto. He was also a businessman, who originally opened The Hitching Post with his son in Yorkton.
George Widdifield, Clare's son, said the family only found out their father was being honoured at the beginning of the week.
"We're quite honoured," he said after taking part in the winner's circle presentation, with his Mother Lucille, adding it was nice his father, who had moved to British Columbia in 1986, was still remembered in Yorkton.
George, Clare's only son (he had three daughters Beverley, Donna and Anne Marie), said it was appropriate his father was recognized through something related to horses.
"Dad appreciated a good horse of all kinds, whether it was a good race horse, a good show horse or a good work horse," he said.
In his day, Clare "raised a lot of different kinds of horses," said his son, adding that he was best known for his Clydesdales. "...He showed horses for 50 years."
George said he believes his father would have been "very humbled" by the honour. "He had a lot of accomplishments, but never wanted to talk about them. He'd be very pleased and humbled by it."
Wood said dedicating the race was a way to recognize horseman, something he started three years ago for Fred Harris, who actually rode in the cavalry at Vimy Ridge.
Last year it was in memory of Lorne Lockhart.
So when Widdifield died, it was a natural to hold the race in his honour, given his connection to horses, said Wood, adding he actually purchased his farm from Widdifield when he moved west.
Wood said as a veterinarian he respects good horsemen, noting when he works with untrained horses in his business his respect grows.
When looking at someone like Widdifield and his long involvement with horses he said "that means a lot to me," adding the trainers and drivers at the track follow in the footsteps of people like Widdifield. "These guys are good horsemen. No one respects that anymore, but I have a lot of respect for these guys for that reason."
Blake Piwniuk won the Pace for the Lilies in 2:02 with Sergeirachpaninoff, over Ed Tracey and Invincible Yankee and Glenn LeDrew with Right On Willie.
Standardbred Canada and the Saskatchewan Standardbred Owners and Breeders Association sponsored the Prairie Lily Pace, split over two races.
Stagger Lee, with Brian Gray in the cart won one half of the pace, carrying a purse of $4,400, repeating the performance from 2010 when the mare took the same blanket.
This time Stagger Lee overcame Marlowe, driven by Piwniuk, and Minettas Liberty and Tyler Redwood for the victory in 2:01.1.
Gray said Stagger Lee has been waiting for the stake races this week and kept her out of some claiming races leading up to the event to avoid losing the mare.
"We left her out of claimers for fear someone would take her," he said, adding it would have been good business to claim the mare that finished second last week and first this week in larger purse feature races.
Stagger Lee is owned by teenager Levi Morin, who missed the race attending a hockey camp.
“The kid was away at camp, but he'll be happier than hell," offered Gray.
As for Saturday's race, Gray said drawing the two-hole was a key, allowing him to manage the race against Marlowe, who had won the stake race a week earlier.
"Marlowe is mighty tough right now," said Gray.
Gray said with Stagger Lee it's a case of keeping her focused, terming the horse "a bit of a 'griff'," a term he said equates to flaky, requiring that she be "handled with kid gloves."
"She's very touchy at the gate...She's an odd horse behind the gate," he said.
But in the race he was able to tuck in and wait. Gray said he wasn't going to make the first charge at Marlowe, adding that Redwood made the first move deciding "to push the issue a bit," but Marlowe "didn't give it up on the front."
Gray then made his move, and it worked out.
"She (Stagger Lee) had to work for her money tonight, but the two-hole trip helped," he said.
Gray said it was a case of having a game plan for the race, adding it worked out, which is not always the case.
The other half of the Prairie Lily Pace, a $4,300 division, was captured by Redwood, who piloted Imlosingyou to the 2:01.2 win over Piwniuk with Out Of Snorts and Clayton Braybrook and Als Dream Gal.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Yorkton Exhibition.
(Trot Insider exclusive by Calvin Daniels)