It was an exciting finish to another terrific year at Clinton Raceway and the season's closing program made charity the big winner again.
Jason Brewer stepped up with wins in the 8th and 9th legs of the 10-race drivers' charity challenge to capture the title and a plasma TV.
The capacity crowd enjoyed the final live card of 2008 under perfect conditions and the action was a see-saw event all the way. In the eight man drivers' challenge the points lead changed no less than seven times. Mark MacDonald had surged to the front after seven races before Brewer took the lead to stay.
"I know I speak for all eight drivers in saying that we all really love coming up to Clinton," Brewer said in his trackside interview. "Since I moved to Ontario this track's been good to me."
Brewer was also asked about his plans for the forthcoming Fall and Winter seasons in view of the fact he became the first driver in history to surpass 200 wins in a single year at London's Western Fair Raceway in 2007.
"Things have gone well for me and I'm really thankful to trainers the stature of Jack Darling using me drive a great filly like St Lads Popcorn" Brewer said. "I'll probably still get to London each Tuesday but my focus now has to be the Mohawk and Woodbine circuit if that's where the work is."
All told with the donation of their driving fees, Brewer along with Jody Jamieson, Mike Saftic, Alfie Carroll, Brad Forward, Mike Horner, Bruce Richardson, and Mark MacDonald made possible a $5,000 cheque presentation to the OHHA division of the nation's Racetrack Chaplaincy Program. An on-track 50/50 draw was also conducted which raised $325 for the cause.
Brad Forward guided Arts Ragin Jet to a 1:54.4 victory in the $25,000 Ray McLean Memorial Pace. The Shaun MacDonald trainee came first over and drew off to win by three lengths over Mattscape Seelster. XLB Patrick rounded out the top three.
MacDonald, of Chelmsford, ON, holds the papers on the five-year-old gelded son of Jet Laag. It was the pacer's 10th win of the season and the lion's share of the purse bumped his overall bankroll to $146,218.
Locofoco N took home top prize in the $15,000 Preferred Trot for the team of trainer Rob Hummel and driver Mitch Sahely. The 11-year-old son of Sondon stopped the clock in 1:59.2 en route to defeating Libra Vita and Royal Missy. The Shopping Stable of Kitchener, ON holds the papers on the career winner of $566,533.
Kettle Point came up a nose the best when he stopped the clock in 1:56.3 to win the Preferred-2 for pacers. Jody Jamieson guided the five-year-old son of Kettle Bee to the narrow score for owner/trainer Esben Andersen of Wingham, ON. The victory lifted the pacer's lifetime earnings to $67,156.
Shami Cami front-stepped her way to a 1:56.3 track record triumph in the $11,000 Preferred-2 for pacing mares. Jody Jamieson engineered the winning trip for the eight-year-old daughter of Run The Table. Scott McNiven conditions the career winner of $446,726 for Kim McNiven, Twin B Stables Ltd. and Bradley McNiven.
(with files from Clinton Raceway)
To view Sunday's results, click here.