Leamington Raceway will host Kids Day this Sunday, Sept. 6, with an afternoon focused on young fans and the future of harness racing.
Track management wants Leamington Raceway to be a place where kids can get their start in the industry, whether they eventually become drivers, trainers, caretakers, owners or simply lifelong racing fans. Giving young people the opportunity to experience the sport is an important part of ensuring harness racing has a strong future and that message will be on full display in the Young Gunz race, a special non-betting event featuring seven young drivers paired with miniature horses.
At just six years old, Owen Steward will be driving Lady at one of the tracks where his dad has competed throughout his driving career. A proud fourth-generation horseman, Owen already spends plenty of time helping Papa jog horses and working around the barn.
Fellow fourth-generation horseman Noah Steward will drive Candy. Noah has grown up surrounded by horses and the racing life and enjoys helping around the barn and learning the sport from his family.
Eva Wilkins, 13, will drive Ruby as she begins her own journey in harness racing after recently discovering a passion for horses through her step-siblings.
Sibling rivalry will be part of the fun as Sadie and Jate Lilley go head-to-head. Ten-year-old Sadie will drive Dusty Boots and would love nothing more than to beat her older brother. Jate, 13, is a fourth-generation horseman who has developed a special love for mares and foals and will team up with White Lightning.
Tenley Rooney, 10, will drive Prince. She has always loved racing and horses, especially her favourite horse, Hot Fudge Sundae. Tenley is known for her positive attitude and believes her horses have raced well no matter where they finish.
Rounding out the field is Chase Graham, 14, driving Firefly. A fourth-generation participant, Chase loves spending time in the barn and training racehorses as he continues his father’s legacy in the sport.
The Young Gunz race is a perfect example of what Kids Day is all about — giving young people the opportunity to participate, learn and discover where harness racing might take them.
There is also plenty for traditional racing fans, with an 11-race live harness racing card beginning at 1 p.m.
The featured $6,800 eighth race, a conditioned optional claiming pace, has Talldarklatte as the 2-1 morning line favourite from post five, returning after an impressive four-length Leamington victory in 1:55.2 on Aug. 23 with Donnie Rankin Jr. getting the catch-driving call for trainer Melissa Loyer.
YS Delight, listed at 3-1 on the morning line from post three, set a Leamington track record for older pacing stallions with a 1:55.3 victory on Opening Day. Mark MacDonell will be back aboard the veteran pacer for trainer Garry MacDonald.
Remember The Beach (post six) enters Sunday's assignment off a 1:56.1 victory last week for driver Nick Steward and trainer Cameron McQueen, while the Michael Stamp-trained Captain Butler (post four) won at Leamington in 1:55 on Aug. 23 in rein to Robert Doyle before finishing third behind Remember The Beach.
Another Loyer trainee Speakdollarsncents (post two, Garrett Rooney) and Twin B Bodacious (post one, David Edwards) from the Michael Rogers stable round out the six-horse field.
In addition to the racing, young fans will have even more to look forward to with a massive giveaway of 17 bicycles, along with multiple toy giveaways throughout the afternoon.
Admission and parking are free.
Live harness racing continues at Leamington Raceway every Sunday through Oct. 25.
(With files from Leamington Raceway)