Sophomore pacer Dustylane Wildbill took top honours winning the featured stakes event at St. John's Racing and Entertainment Centre on Sunday's harness racing card, which was sponsored by Meridian Farms.
Dustylane Wildbill romped to a five and a quarter length victory, stopping the clock in a career-best clocking of 2:03 in the $2,200 featured sixth race for two and three-year-old Newfoundland-owned pacers. Freshmen Salmonier Storm and Son Of Rocknroll rounded out the top three finishers.
Shane Forward was in the sulky for trainer Scott Forward and local owner Joanne Forward. The Meridian Farms-bred colt is a son of Ss Sand Dollar, who has won half of his 12 career starts.
This week's $1,190 Preferred class, sponsored by Rene Allard, was also won by the driver-trainer team of Shane and Scott Forward as Inspired Art drew off by nine lengths in the stretch. Carl Stafford's eight-year-old pacer hit the wire in 2:01.3 with Muzzysenglishbaby and Machthemoment finishing second and third, respectively.
Team Forward also won the opener with five-year-old pacing mare K Ngs Hurricane edging out Brandishing by a head in 2:11.3. Another Ss Sand Dollar offspring, the winner is owned by Christine Hedges and Jacqueline Smith, and bred by Meridian Farms.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - St. John's Racing.
The St. John's Racing & Entertainment Centre sent out a release that recapped the day. The contents of the release appear below.
Meridian Farms day at the races was a huge success in Newfoundland on September 29. The card featured added purse money for every race and a stakes race for two and three-year-old pacers sponsored again this year by Bill Andrew and Meridian farms.
The $2,200 Meridian Farms stakes race was won by the Meridian Farms-bred Dustylane Wildbill (driven by Shane Forward) in a lifetime best of 2:03. Finishing second was two-year-old Salmonier Storm, with Terry Williams in the bike.
The day was about giving back to the community and fans, as Newfoundland harness racing handed out $250 donations to both the Goulds Lions Club and the local 4H club. Besides watching the live racing, the fans had a lot to do, as double cart rides were offered between the races and free food and beverages were provided for all in the pari-mutuel building.
The day started off with cooler presentations from local Minister of Business Innovation and Rural development, Keith Hutchings. Minister Hutchings is the local MHA for the Ferryland district where the racetrack resides and is a big supporter of harness racing.
The preferred pace, which was sponsored by trainer Rene Allard, went to Inspired Art (Shane Forward) in 2:01.3 with Muzzysenglishbaby (Dennis Lambert) finishing second.
St. John's Racing and Entertainment Centre and the NHHOA would like to thank Bill Andrew, Meridian Farms, Rene Allard and all of our local sponsors that made Sunday such a huge success.