Travis Henry went back-to-back in the Gateway Casinos Charity Driver's Challenge as Clinton Raceway wrapped up its 2026 season on Sunday, Sept. 6 with a 13-race card.
After finishing in a dead heat for first last year, Henry emerged victorious in the annual Charity Driver's Challenge, finishing the eight-race competition with 61 points. He edged out National Driving Champion Jody Jamieson, who finished second with 55 points — marking his third straight top-two finish in driving contests — while Paul MacKenzie secured third with 51 points.
The championship came down to the wire, providing plenty of excitement for fans throughout the afternoon and making for a fitting finale to another successful season at Clinton. Henry did not win until the seventh race, when he got Harborlite Jimmie ($5.80) home in 1:59.2, but consistent results previously in the contest — a second, two thirds and two fourths — put him in position for the victory. He led Jamieson and MacKenzie by three points going into the finale and secured the title by taking another place finish, two lengths ahead of Jamieson in third.
Eight drivers participated in the contest: Henry, Jamieson, MacKenzie, Nick Boyd, Lorne House, Brady Galliers, Natasha Day and Jason Ryan.
The Charity Driver's Challenge once again put the focus on giving back to the community, with participating drivers donating their driving fees from the day to support the Royal Canadian Legion branches in Exeter, Seaforth, Clinton and Hensall. Thanks to sponsorship support and a variety of on-track fundraising initiatives throughout the season, more than $8,000 was raised for the local Legion branches.
“It was an incredible way to close out the season,” said Clinton Raceway Marketing Manager Jessica Carnochan. “The competition was exciting right down to the final race, but even more importantly, our drivers, sponsors, fans and community partners came together to make a meaningful difference in our community.”
The first race following the contest, the first of two $30,000 Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Grassroots Leg 4B divisions for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings, produced a track-record performance.
In the first half of a Grassroots sweep for driver Doug McNair and trainer Gregg McNair, Will Farroh motored through the back half and put 1:56.1 on the clock to become Clinton's fastest ever rookie pacer. Cheddarlucknxttime (Travis Henry) out-muscled Will Farroh early, swooping down from post five to the front on the first turn, but Will Farroh promptly pulled out on the backstretch and shot to command before a :28 quarter. After a breather to the :58.4 half and the first-over Cherry Bomber (Trevor Henry) breaking stride rounding the third turn, Will Farroh marched to three-quarters in 1:27.4, then rebuffed pocket popper Cheddarlucknxttime to prevail by 2-1/4 lengths. Untold Story (Jody Jamieson) finished third.
The 1:56.1 clocking erased the two-year-old colt pace mark of 1:56.3 set by Sports Fan, also in the Grassroots, in 2021.
Will Farroh has won five of six career starts, with his only defeat in the Battle of Waterloo, and has earned $60,088. The son of Century Farroh-Superior Rose is owned by William Brown of Hanover, Ont. and Brenda Derible of Simcoe, Ont. He paid $2.90 to win.
C Script captured the second division in 1:57.2, bringing his career record to four-for-five. The son of Sportswriter-Shark Hanover gained a big early advantage after sprinting from post one as one foe behind him broke stride and the other struggled negotiating the first turn. He went to the quarter in :28.3, half in :58.2 and three-quarters in 1:28.1 and had plenty in reserve to pull clear by 2-3/4 lengths over Dewitt For Jolouis (Jamieson), who recovered from the early miscue for place. Hp Follow Me (Galliers) completed the top three.
C Script has now earned $57,050 from his four wins for owner-breeders Gregg McNair of Guelph, Ont. McKinlay & Fielding of Gravenhurst, Ont., M&S Racing Stable Inc. of Rockwood, Ont. and Dr. Chris Robson of Grand Bend, Ont. He returned $2.10.
The season finale also provided an opportunity to recognize Clinton Raceway’s leading connections for 2026.
Pat Bissett, who entered the finale in a three-way tie for the Top Trainer Award with Cameron McQueen and Melissa Loyer, landed the decisive blow as Sportsline ($5.40) won the 11th race for the conditioner. The victory upped his meet total to seven and secured Bissett a fourth consecutive year atop the Clinton standings. Loyer, McQueen and Terry Gallant finished in a dead heat for second.
House earned the Top Driver Award, finishing the year with 25 victories. Galliers was second with 22, followed by Jamieson with 12.
The total handle on the 13-race matinee was $101,675.
Clinton Raceway extended its sincere thanks to all of its fans, horsepeople, drivers, trainers, sponsors, volunteers and community partners for making the 2026 season another memorable one.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Clinton Raceway.
(With files from Clinton Raceway)