Brad Forward solidified his hold on the dash-winning and percentage driver of the year awards at Hanover Raceway on Saturday night (September 17).
It's the 45-year-old Newfoundland native’s first season as a full-time driver at Hanover, and it has been very successful.
Forward's five wins on the 10-race card give him 32 victories on the season, more than double his nearest competitor in the local standings. Forward also went into the night with a .394 UDR and those wins will surely boost that number giving him the top driving percentage as well.
One of Forward's wins was in the CKNX Trot in race nine. Forward steered eight-year-old Fantastic Flirt for part-owner Bill Rankin and trainer Jenn Rankin of Dundas, Ont. The daughter of CR Excalibur was quickest off the gate and controlled the pace past a quarter in :29.3 and a half in 1:00.1. Oaklea Torpedo, owned and trained by Jayne Walker and Tom Smith, got as close as second at the third quarter mark in 1:31.2, but couldn’t close the gap and ended up finishing third. Fantastic Flirt won by more than six lengths in 2:00.2, with Massive Muscles finishing second for Paul and Julie Walker.
After the race, the staff from CKNX drew the name of Betty Ross of Wingham, Ont., who won a 58-inch high definition TV courtesy of CKNX Radio and HDTV in Walkerton.
Hanover Raceway wraps up its season next Saturday with its season-ending awards and prizes for race fans. Two people will win Lazy-Boy recliners from Smitty’s Fine Furniture and someone will win a high definition TV from HDTV in Walkerton. Post time next Saturday 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)