Driver Trevor Henry won seven of the 12 races on Heritage Night at Hanover Raceway Saturday, including the race named for his father Ross.
Henry tied the track record for most wins on the card, which he has now equalled twice and shares with fellow Arthur, Ont. resident Bruce Richardson.
Henry drove Positrack in the Ross Henry Pace and got away fourth behind Macs Fortune and Ryan Holiday, who carevd out fractions of :28.3, :59.3 and 1:29. However, Henry pulled out three-wide at the third quarter mark to take over command and draw away by more than five lengths to win in 1:59.1. Positrack is conditioned by Tom Williscraft, who scored a training triple on the card, and owned by Kevin Carter of Clinton, Ont.
Henry’s other wins were in race one with Kurlymo for Karl McNaughton of Clinton in 2:00.3; in race two with Fast Water for owner Derrick Anderson of Grand Valley in 2:00.4; in race six with Kennairn Crystal for owners Dustin and Catherine McClure of Clinton in 1:58.1; in race eight with Williscraft trainee Kashas Kid for owner Pat McIllhargy of Lucan in 1:58; in race 11 with Skip Go Boom for owner Lavern Reid of Dundalk in 1:58.4; and in the final race with Carlynda Hanover for owner Jim Watt of Clinton in 1:57.4.
Williscraft completed his triple with the Ryan Holliday-driven Donegal Mac rallying home from off-the-pace to upset favourite Cams Best Bet in the Preferred 3 Pace. McIlhargey's 10-year-old gelding won by a neck in 1:56.
Hanover Raceway paid tribute to its past Saturday night, and two of the biggest names on the night were Keith Waples and Dave Wall.
Waples said he raced at Hanover the very first year the current track was opened and believed it was in the late 1940s when they held Fair meets. Waples was good friends with the late Helen and Norm Lambertus, who were honoured in race 11 and stayed to help with their blanket presentation on behalf of their son Bill, who lives in Pennsylvania.
Wall said he won his very first professional race at Hanover and still remembers it vividly. He said he remembers feeling sick to his stomach coming around the final turn because he realized he was going to win. Wall also said Hanover was a very professionally run track and gave kudos to the improvements made to the facilities over the past decade as well as the work done to make the track surface one of the best in the province.
Hanover Raceway also held a fundraiser during the night's races for two local horsemen, Stuwart Sowerby and John Kennedy. Sowerby has been a regular driver at Hanover for most of the past decade, but suffered a broken collarbone during a training accident earlier this summer. He returned to the sulky in early September. Kennedy of Hanover is a local trainer and driver and owner who just recently completed reconstructive knee surgery and will be laid up for the next six months.
Gord Dougan, General Manager at Hanover Raceway, said one of the best things about horse racing is the way tracks and people come together to help out each other out when their fellow horsemen are injured and out of work. Dougan said both of these men rely on horse racing to make a living, and trainers and drivers were encouraged to donated a portion of their earnings on the evening to the two men. There was also a silent auction table with items for the racing fans to bid on.
Heritage Day didn’t come without its hurdles as the Hanover Fire Department had to be called in on Thursday to put out a fire in the judges' booth.
Dougan said a lot of people came together to build a new judges stand in the grandstand area, and he was very proud and thankful of the efforts that these people made. It wasn’t until just after 11 a.m. Saturday that the Ontario Racing Commission judges gave the go ahead to allow the card of racing to proceed.
Dougan said he was confident that they’d be able to put it together, but it takes a lot of effort to get none employees resituated with their equipment in proper working order.
Henry might not have been the biggest winner on the night. Earl and Shirley Sturgeon of Gorrie, Ont. won a $3,000 travel vacation voucher courtesy of Hanover Travel and Cruises, Transat Holidays, and Nolitours.
Hanover Raceway continues live racing next Saturday night with Hanover Rona day. One name will be drawn to win a $2,500 home renovation voucher courtesy of Hanover Rona. Post time is 7:15 p.m.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Hanover Raceway.
(With files from Hanover Raceway / Photos courtesy Iron Horse Photo)