Power And Grace completed the sweep of the Clinton Raceway signature trots by capturing the Seventh-Annual Vic Hayter Memorial Trot on Sunday (Aug. 7) in track record fashion.
After capturing the $15,000 Legends Day Trot earlier this season, Power And Grace returned to the Huron County oval to capture the $15,000 Vic Hayter Memorial, a race that eluded her twice before.
Driver Brett MacDonald sent the seven-year-old mare off the gate to establish an early lead. Power And Grace tripped the quarter in :27.4, the fastest opening quarter of the day. After catching a second-quarter breather, MacDonald accelerated the 2021 O’Brien Award finalist down the Clinton backstretch, reaching three-quarters in 1:28. First-over challenger Esquire was not able to reach the wheel of the leader. Power And Grace’s lead widened as the field turned for home, allowing eighth-year-old veteran Scene A Magician to escape from the pocket. Power And Grace held off Scene A Magician to win by neck in a thrilling finish.
Power And Grace captured the Hayter Memorial in a track record time of 1:58, lowering the previous mark of 1:58.1 set in 2017. The Ronald MacDonald trainee surpassed $350,000 in career earnings with career win No. 40.
Fans enjoyed a great day on track that included cotton candy, face painting, balloon animals and raffles. Well over $2,000 was raised for the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society.
The race day was in memory of the great Vic Hayter. Vic Hayter owned many hotels but is perhaps best known for operating The Arden Park Hotel and Festival Inn in Stratford, Ont. He passed away in 2016 at the age of 77 years of age. Managing his hotel business took up most waking hours, but Vic always made time for Clinton Raceway. He owned Standardbreds for 38 years.
Clinton Raceway returns to action on Sunday, Aug. 14 for Harness The Hope Day and the annual wiener dog race. Racing action will get underway at 1:30 p.m. (EDT).
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Clinton Raceway.
(Clinton Raceway)