Both with decisive leads in their respective categories, Ed McHale and Reg Gassien capped the 2018 Kawartha Downs meeting as leading trainer and leading driver respectively.
McHale, winning 15 races from 46 starts before the Saturday, Sept. 29 finale, sent one winner on the 10-race program when Gassien piloted odds-on favourite No Panic from off the pace to take the last race on the program. McHale ended the meet, then, with 16 wins ahead of Mike Weller and Sheldon Rose tying for second with seven wins on the meet.
Gassien entered the Saturday card with 46 wins, 20 ahead of Guy Gagnon in second place, from 135 drives. The leading driver scored a hat trick on the card, including his win for trainer Ed McHale, placing his final win tally at 49. Nick Boyd took second with three driving wins on the card and Guy Gagnon ended the meet in third.
Time Passages upset at 23-1 in the $4,800 featured pace. Going wire to wire, the Louie Eftimiadis-trained three-year-old gelding by McArdle withstood first-over pressure from Northern Prima and held off a stretch bid from third-over Everyone Hanover to win by a head in 1:57.2. Ryan Guy drove the $48.70 winner.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Kawartha Downs.