Lexington’s richest day of horse racing in 2010 will take place on Sunday evening at The Red Mile, as two and three-year-old trotters and pacers will be battling on the historic red clay oval in eight different $300,000 events for
Kentucky-sired horses.
The Red Mile will be offering free admission to everyone, while serving up $1.50 draft beer. First post is at 6:30 p.m.
Many of the top drivers and trainers across the country will be in town with the huge amount of purse money on the line, but there are several local connections to cheer for as well.
Camgrandest, a two-year-old son of Cambest, is the only standardbred racehorse owned by Janet Banks of Lexington, who manages Dragonsmeade Morgan Horse Farm in Winchester, Kentucky. Dragonsmeade, known for producing World Champion Morgan Horses, lended a hand when tragedy struck Camgrandest at a very young age. His mother, Grand Solution, had to have emergency colic surgery at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital when her first foal (Camgrandest) was only a month old. The colt was quickly turned out with another youngster and his mother. The mare, a Morgan, quickly took Camgrandest in as one of her own and he was raised right along side her other Morgan foal.
“We had no idea that we would be racing for $300,000 with this colt earlier in the year,” said Paducah native Randy Jerrell, who trains Camgrandest. The colt began his racing career earlier this year by starting eight times at county fairs across the state of Kentucky. He currently has five wins, two seconds, and one third through 10 lifetime starts, and earnings of just over $22,000. He is currently rated as the 9-2 third choice on the morning line and will start from Post 9 in the field of 10.
A rarity in the modern day of harness racing, trainer Randy Jerrell also drives Camgrandest and will be doing so on Sunday night as well. Jerrell, who drove the colt to victory in one of the $15,000 qualifying events at The Red Mile, has driven in 125 total races this year and said he last drove a Kentucky Sires Stakes winner at the now defunct Louisville Downs in 1989, where the total purse was $12,000. He is up against some of the very top drivers in the country in the ten horse field, including Brian Sears (driving Post 10 starter Major Najor), who has already won 272 races in 1,513 starts and driven horses that have earned over $7.3 million, just in 2010. When asked if Jerrell was getting nervous as Sunday night’s $300,000 12th race drew closer, the mild mannered and humble Jerrell responded, “only if I think about it.”
It will certainly be the biggest race of Camgrandest’s brief career, but also for his owner and trainer-driver. The connections can only sit and wait in anticipation for Sunday night, but after the race, Dragonsmeade may be able to take credit for a different kind of champion.
(The Red Mile)