Clinton Raceway hosted its annual $15,000 Vic Hayter Memorial Trot day on Sunday, Aug. 8, with the race card boasting a season-high handle and attendance.
Horseplayers pushed $82,980 through the windows over the 12-race card.
The annual event is held in memory of the former Stratford, Ont. hotelier Vic Hayter.
Charmbo Prince captured the $15,000 invitational trot for veteran driver Mike Saftic and longtime trainer John Rier.
Charmbo Prince was right-lined by Saftic prior to the :59.1 half-mile marker and pulled within half a length of leader Power And Grace (Brett MacDonald) entering the final turn. Charmbo Prince began pulling away halfway down the lane to score in the sixth annual Vic Hayter Memorial Trot, tripping the teletimer in 1:58.2. Power And Grace finished 1-1/4 lengths behind and favourite Sicario (Austin Sorrie) rounded out the top three.
Charmbo Prince returned $11.90 to win as the 5-1 second choice.
The four-year-old Royalty For Life gelding has now won two in a row and four of 11 races this season for John Rier, who also co-owns with Randy Rier of Hanover, Ont. He topped the $100,000 career earnings mark with his seventh lifetime win.
The race card also featured three $7,000 division of the Prospect Series for three-year-old trotters. Get To The Pointe, a Muscle Mass gelding, captured the first of two divisions for colt and geldings in a dominant 5-3/4-length victory clocked in 2:01.1 for driver/trainer Wayne Henry.
The second division saw a fierce battle down the stretch between Horoscope and eventual winner Willywin, trained, owned and bred by Bill Megens. Driver Travis Henry completed his driving hat trick with the 2:02 Prospect Series victory.
The sole division for filly trotters saw driver Brett MacDonald send trainer Darryl Laver's homebred Petro Angel down the road for a 1-3/4-length score in 2:00.4.
The eventful program kicked off with Maximus Power winning the $5,500 Preferred 3 Pace by a head in 1:56.3. Travis Henry was in the bike for trainer Scott McNiven.
Early showers cleared and top talent prevailed in fantastic racing action over the Huron County oval. Clinton Raceway is back in action next Sunday at 1:30 p.m. as the track welcomes two-year-old colt pacers to town for the Prospect Series.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Clinton Raceway.
(With files from Clinton Raceway)