The year is 2022 and, yes, we still have Hall of Famers Ron and Randy Waples battling it out on the racetrack.
Not only are the father and son still going at it, they're succeeding. Ron and Randy were two of the esteemed reinsmen in a $5,000 event dubbed The Legends Trot on Saturday (Aug. 20) at Kawartha Downs. The field also consisted of Hall of Famers Doug Brown and Paul MacDonell as well as Reg Gassien, Doug Hie, Carman Hie, Mike Saftic and Murray Samons.
Ron Waples was saddled with the trailing nine post aboard Courious Joan and the public sent the duo off as the third choice at 6.5-1. But the 78-year-old wily veteran appeared to be in vintage form from 40 years ago, confidently guiding the sophomore trotting filly to a half-length victory.
As Out On A Mission lived up to her name on the front end for driver Mike Saftic, Ron Waples advanced first-up and uncovered in front of the Kawartha grandstand for the first time. As Out On A Mission hit the opening half in :59.3, Courious Joan kept on a concerted mission to track down the leader and powered past that rival to clear to the lead by the third station. On top by more than a length at the third quarter, Courious Joan trotted home in :30.1 and that was enough to hold off the late charge of Zip Me Up driven by — you guessed it — Randy Waples. Zip Me Up zipped home but fell a half-length short of the winner, with the mile timed in 1:59.3. Regal Lass (Reg Gassien) completed the triactor.
For Courious Joan ($15.10), that's career win number three and a new lifetime mark. Murray Brethour trains the daughter of Amigo Hall - Seasonalsunny for owners Leonard Callacott of Grafton and Murray Callacott of Toronto, Ont.
For Ron Waples, that makes 6,924 career victories and the popular participant's first victory (in very limited activity) since 2015 (just five starts since then).
Another Hall of Famer captured the top purse event of the card, the $7,100 Prospect Series leg for three-year-old male pacers. Doug Brown engineered a second-over tow for Wilcat Rocky ($11.20) and the Dale Heard trainee converted that trip into a 1:55.1 victory for owners Wildcat Stables Inc., Carrying Place and Antonio Tangreda of Kettleby, Ont. A son of Hes Watching - Wildcat Beauty, Wilcat Rocky picked up his eighth win of the year with seasonal earnings of $38,990.
To view the results from the Saturday night card of harness racing at Kawartha Downs, click the following link: Saturday Results - Kawartha Downs.