Over the past two Friday nights, more than 70 fantastical costumes have paraded through Grand River Raceway
.
This Friday night marks the final installment of the Horse Name Costume Game. The event offers $5,000 in cash prizes for participants of all ages, and challenges race fans to dress in the likeness of the name of a horse racing that night.
The top five children and five adults win a combined total of $1,500 each night of the promotion which is presented in cooperation with the Ontario Harness Horse Association.
The following are the top finishers from August 20:
Children (15 & under) Top 5 ($50)
• Jacob Conley (Hockey Bum)
• Julia McCarrison (Cambest Princess)
• Alyssa Scheifele (Cambest Princess)
• Sydney Jones (This Girl Rocks)
• Sara Kalapuca (No Bananas Today)
Adults (16 & up)
1st - $600 - Sunni Vann (Concessionaire)
2nd - $300 - Jessica Koniuch (On My Last Nerve)
3rd - $200 - Keith Scheifele (Shoplifter Hanover)
4th - $100 - Michele Hildebrandt (No Child Left Behind)
5th - $50 - Laurie Giddy (This Girl Rocks)
Photos from August 20 are available here.
A video of the costume parade is below.
In addition to $1,500 in nightly prizes, photos of all participants will be posted for online voting. The person with the most popular costume at the end of the promotion will receive a $500 cash bonus.
The race entries for this Friday are posted here.
Some staff recommendations for costume ideas for Aug. 27:
• Bashful Way
• Casimir Justafox
• Lucan Butterscotch
• Bar B Dancer
• Handsome Yankee
• Suntan Place
• Tropical Grey
• Benns Lightening
• A Stray Comet
• Rose Run Jesse
• Cons In Victory
• Condor
• Bear Creek Baron
• Warrawee Knight
• Celebrity Venus
• Lucrative Lady
Prizes for each Friday night:
• KIDS (15 & under) Top 5: $50 each
• ADULTS (16+) 1st : $600; 2nd : $300; 3rd : $200; 4th : $100; 5th : $50
Participants must register with the Costume Crew in the lower lobby between 6:30 – 8:00 p.m..
All costumes will be featured on the racing broadcast following Race 6, when a panel of three judges will determine the winners based on creativity, effort and presentation.
Complete contest info is available here.
First-race post time for Friday's card of harness racing is 6:30 p.m.