Will John Bax be making the presentation to his brother following Kawartha Downs’ signature race, the Goodtimes Invitational on Saturday night? It’s certainly possible.
John, whose home base was Kawartha Downs for more than three decades before moving to Campbellville two years ago, trained and co-owned Goodtimes, now a member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. Now 25 and enjoying his retirement years at Bax’s farm, Goodtimes was one of the best trotters ever produced in Canada. The son of Balanced Image won more than $2.2 million during his racing career which started and ended at Kawartha Downs.
John’s brother Russell will start Ramas Last Son in the Goodtimes and that trotter has drawn post three in the $10,000 contest carded as race nine on the program. Rick Webb will drive the five-year-old son of Majestic Son who has won $179,000 to date. Ramas Last Son competed in the inaugural Goodtimes Invitational last year and finished a close third. Russell’s Baxmar Holsteins of Port Hope owns Ramas Last Son who isn’t the only horse competing in the Goodtimes from that nearby town.
Lady Ping, owned by Dr. Brett Anderson of Port Hope, Kyle Anderson of Edmonton and trainer Dagfin Henriksen, will leave from post four with Dagfin at the lines. Dagfin raced regularly at Kawartha for several years before moving to Cambridge last year. This will be his first appearance at the Fraserville track in 2016. A winner of $167,000 to date in her career, Lady Ping won her second last start at Mohawk and was a very close third in her most recent start at that Campbellville track. She is one of three mares entered in the eight-horse field.
Another four-year-old mare with a Port Hope owner is Amoureuse Hanover owned by trainer Brian Peterson. The daughter of Pilgrims Taj will be guided by Murray Brethour. She comes into the contest off a win last week at Mohawk.
Chuckalo Caden, a three-time winner at KD already this season, has drawn post seven with Tony Kerwood aboard. Breeder Chuck Thompson trains and co-owns the Mr Lavec eight-year-old gelding who has earned $235,000 in his career. Here is the complete field:
1. Sandy Hook Road – Reg Gassien
2. Covert Operative – Gord Brown
3. Ramas Last Son – Rick Webb
4. Lady Ping – Dagfin Henriksen
5. LMC Marshmellow – Brett MacDonald
6. Bambino Hall – Nick Boyd
7. Chuckalo Caden – Tony Kerwood
8. Amoureuse Hanover – Murray Brethour
In addition to the Goodtimes, the Saturday card also features the OLG Trot in race one and the Shorelines Drivers’ Championship in races two through six featuring the top nine drivers at Kawartha Downs this year. First race post time is 7:00 p.m.
To view the entries for Saturday night's card, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Kawartha Downs.
(with files from KD)