Super Sunrise and rider Amanda Barron won the second annual Pacing Under Saddle exhibition race held during Saturday afternoon's (August 27) harness racing card at Century Downs Racetrack and Casino.
Contested as a non-wagering race, the Pacing Under Saddle event featured retired Standardbreds and their riders racing for charity. Century Downs awarded the winning rider with a $750 donation to a charity of her choice along with a commemorative belt buckle and blanket. Barron and the 12-year-old retired gelding Super Sunrise, who is a career winner of 25 harness races and $189,964 in purses, were racing for the Brody Lane Fawcett Fund.
Fourteen female riders participated in eliminations and the top seven returned for the final (one late scratch)
Rounding out the top three finishers were Meadowlark Appache (Kaylea Hepburn/Plunkett Ranch & Rescue) and Rays Crown Royal (Jaline Munkholm/HRA Backstretch Foundation).
Other participants and charities represented included: Armbro Blacktie (Alina MacLeod/Greener Pastures), Demons B Gone (Amber Lynn Fawcett/Cystic Fibrosis Canada), Dragonwyck (Shirley Hanna/Irricana Volunteer Fire), MJG Phanatasie (Janice Lea/Irricana Volunteer Fire), and Nut Brown Hare (Kelly Kay/Bear Valley Rescue).
This year each rider was asked to seek pledges for a charity of their choice, and after all totals were in, it revealed that over $10,000 was raised
More sponsors also stepped in this year, including the Gerry Hudon / Don McDougall stable, ASHA, Dr. Jim Rhodes, Century Downs, Century Bets and Standardbred Canada
Century Downs Outrider Janice Lea spearheaded this idea last year. She owns a trail riding company that uses many retired Standardbreds and she was able to once again supply most of the horses for the event.
The event raises awareness of Standardbred racing, the endurance of the Standardbred and Century Downs. It serves as a crossover between the Alberta and BC Standardbred industries, between Alberta Standardbred and Thoroughbred industries, and, of course, the charities themselves.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.
(With files from Century Downs)