Just like the name of one of the major contenders in the signature event at The Raceway at Western Fair District, the Camluck Classic is Done Well.
The Camluck Classic is an annual race that draws some serious heavyweight harness talent, including recent Confederation Cup champ Done Well, the four-year-old son of Well Said who will garner some serious backing on the tote board on the night of May 31 in London.
There will be plenty of other offerings on tap aside from the $157,000 Camluck Classic, as the evening will showcase plenty of horsepower and a plethora of entertainment for those in attendance.
Fans will have the opportunity to enjoy the action from the infield tent, which proved to be a big draw at last year’s event. The venue offers a unique vantage point along with food and beverage offerings for $55 (taxes included). Tickets to the infield event are currently on sale with limited tickets available.
The ‘Party on the Patio’ is also back this year and will feature food and beverage offerings. Popular local entertainers Sarina Haggarty and Connor Morand will be on hand to perform new material and cover songs throughout the evening.
“I think what makes the night special is that it’s a night to truly celebrate the best equine talent, both local and those who ship in from other locales,” said Greg Blanchard, director of racing with the Western Fair District. “The Camluck Classic is the cornerstone of the night, of course, but we annually host our first Ontario Sires Stakes event of the season along with a quartet of City of London Series finals, too. The City of London gives our local horsepeople a chance to showcase up-and-coming trotters and pacers on the big stage, in front of a large crowd.”
Blanchard has said that this year’s event, both on and off the racetrack, is shaping up to be one of the most memorable to date.
“It’s the culmination of a long meet that spans the entire winter season,” he said. “At the same time, it’s like an unofficial kick-off to summer in London. We’ve tried to create a fun-filled on-track experience that night where there is something for everyone – live entertainment, food and beverage specials, contests and giveaways, an attractive wagering menu and of course, world-class horse racing.”
As for the headliner itself, top-shelf pacers from both Canada and the U.S. are set to battle it out on the half-mile oval.
Aside from Done Well, notable names like Sintra, Ideal Jimmy, Southwind Amazon and last year’s Camluck Classic champ, Rockin Ron (who set a track record of 1:50.1), will battle for all the spoils.
“It’s become an important event on the annual calendar for older pacers,” noted Blanchard. “We have been able to attract top-quality fields each year, which speaks to the reputation that the race has garnered. The base purse of $150,000 has a lot to do with it and the fact that it’s one dash for the cash, by invite, with no starting fee.”
Unveiled as the Labatt Pace in 1972, the first winner was Key Ones Uno, piloted by Jack Kopas. Other stars that have claimed the crown include three-time champs Jambo Dancer and State Treasurer, two-time victor Foiled Again and Staff Director.
The Camluck Classic was known as the Molson Pace from 1992-2017. Seelster Farms became the title sponsor last year.
“We’ve been fortunate to have outstanding title sponsors for this race over the years, including Labatt and Molson, which are two of the biggest brands in Canada,” noted Blanchard. “When we changed the name last year, we also brought in Seelster Farms as the new sponsor. The ‘Seelster’ name is one of the best known in the sport and to have Canada’s largest commercial Standardbred nursery right in our own backyard is something we are proud of. We were ecstatic to have them sponsor the race named after the most prolific Canadian stallion in history.”
For those who can’t be at Western Fair, race fans can tune into a special online broadcast of the Camluck Classic from ‘The Raceway’ beginning at 10:30 p.m. The one-hour broadcast is part of a three-race series sponsored by the Central Ontario Standardbred Association (COSA).
The broadcast will be streamed on the Standardbred Canada website and aired via the Flamboro Downs, Grand River Raceway and Raceway at Western Fair District Facebook pages.
To view Friday's entries and program pages courtesy TrackIT, click the following links: Entries | Program Pages.
The results of the post position draw for the $157,000 Camluck Classic appear below.
(Post – Horse – Driver – Morning Line Odds)
1 - Ideal Jimmy - B Holland - E Miller - 2-1
2 - Done Well - D Dunn R Burke - 7-5
3 - The Wall - J Bongiorno - N Surick - 9-2
4 - Southwind Amazon - D Palone - P Holzman - 5-1
5 - Sintra - J Jamieson - S Jamieson - 3-1
6 - Rockin Speed - B Davis - J Seekman - 12-1
7 - Trump Nation - J Bartlett - A Harris - 10-1
8 - Rockin Ron - L Roy - R Burke
Had not been planning to
Had not been planning to attend Camluck Classic this year until one horse grabbed my attention. I've never seen or will I ever have another opportunity to see a horse with six charted lines with five of them being charted with last quarters in 25 in change. So for me this horse has drawn me out so to should it draw out anyone who loves racing. This is history in the making that may never be duplicated.
(I'llHaveAnother Ontario Needs Racing)