A busy Fun & Frivolity Friday Night at Grand River Raceway saw driver Robert Shepherd win six of the evening's 12 races and WEG TV personality Greg Gangle make his announcing debut
Gangle was the 13th guest announcer in the track’s From Bike To Mic Series. His call of race six began and ended with race favourite Scottish Queen ($3.50), who maintained the lead for the mile to finish two lengths ahead of No Teasing Me and Shaza Northernbell. The win was the mare’s first from 12 this season after moving to the Robert Shepherd barn for owner Daniel Mead of Rockwood, Ont. Shepherd also drove the pacer.
Scottish Queen’s win marked the midpoint of a natural driving hat trick for Shepherd and the fourth of six wins on the card. He also drove the winners Cambest Pauper ($14.50), Thats What I Do ($5), Gunga Win ($6.90), Lexus Hawkeye ($6), and R Lil King ($10.40).
The Cambridge, Ont. resident is a career winner of 1,803 drives and $14 million. He’s enjoying a banner year as a trainer, with 27 wins from 140 starts and $195,000 earned in purses.
The evening also showcased the $130,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Final for two-year-old pacing fillies. Its No Secret captured the first OSS trophy of her career with a 1:56.4 front-end effort that put her two lengths ahead of Kims Royal Day and Kamkar Kutie. Shawn Robinson trains the Badlands Hanover miss for breeder-owner Robert Hamather of Exeter, Ont.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Grand River Raceway.
(With files from Grand River Raceway)