Live racing returns to The Raceway at The Western Fair District this Saturday evening and one local horseman happy to be back is Scott McNiven.
The veteran conditioner comes from a large harness racing family that includes Uncles Jack and Don, who have successfully operated Killean Acres for several years in nearby Ingersoll, Ont.
The younger McNiven has annually been one of the top trainers at the London, Ont. oval and is on pace for his 14th consecutive season of at least 25 wins and $300,000 in purses.
“I always look forward to getting back to London,” he said recently while enjoying a rare afternoon off to watch the Jugette program from Delaware, Ohio. “It’s our home track and I’m one of the people who still really enjoys racing on the half-mile track.”
Like most Standardbred farms in Ontario, the McNiven Stable has felt the pinch during a turbulent last year and a half, but have found a way to maintain a successful operation.
“It has been a lot more labour for myself and my wife Kim and we’ve had to be a little more frugal,” admitted McNiven. “But we’ve pretty much tried to run our operation like that anyway so we’ve weathered things pretty well. We haven’t had a vacation in 10 years, but we don’t mind, this is what we love to do.”
As the Fall Meet gets underway, McNiven, with the help of valued assistants Pam Hall, Natasha House, Doug Walters and 13-year-old daughter Kelley, expects he will have 12 to 15 horses ready to go and plans to have a good mix that will fit a wide variety of classes.
His hopes for a Preferred horse rest on the shoulders of Kendal Gustav, a four-year-old gelding who sports 15 wins and $108,000 in earnings so far in his career. The pacer posted his seasonal-best clocking of 1:55 earlier this year in London, Ont.
McNiven is hoping that Kendal Gustav can fill the shoes of his former local star and fan favourite Bridge Street, who had the majority of his 58 wins and $676,000 in earnings come at the Western Fair oval.
“Kendal Gustav is probably faster, but I don’t think he is as tough as old Bridge Street,” McNiven explained. “Bridge Street is tough to replace. He was awfully good to us and now he’s living out his days at the farm playing babysitter as a companion horse. He has it pretty good and he deserves it.”
Some of the exciting changes at The Raceway this season include a new look Top of the Fair Dining Room, which will also feature a new chef, new menu and new price of $25.99. Seating is still available for opening night and reservations can be made by calling (519)-438-7203 (ext. 252) or by emailing [email protected].
Guests will also notice a new voice behind the mic this season. Shannon ‘Sugar’ Doyle takes over this year after an eight-year tenure at Northlands Park in Edmonton, Alberta.
First post Saturday night is 7:05 p.m.
To view Saturday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Saturday Entries - Western Fair.
(Western Fair District)