After an off-season longer than anticipated, Racing Under Saddle is ready to begin the 2017 season. The first race will be at Georgian Downs on Saturday, July 15th with a five-horse field set to go behind the gate. Post time for the races is 7:15 p.m. and the RUS race is carded as race 6 at approximately 9:02 p.m.
Taking a closer look at horses and riders, there is a great variety in the short field. Callie Magoo is veteran RUS horse that everyone is familiar with by now nd he'll join up with rookie rider Stacey Reinsma, who will make her first pari-mutuel start as a rider after two qualifiers together in preparation for the race.
Local to the Innisfil oval is rider Maggie Jones, who partners with Pukka from post 4. This duo has looked very confident during three qualifying miles together. While this will be Pukka’s first pari-mutuel start under saddle, Jones is no stranger to these events having participated since the beginning of RUS in Ontario.
Another first-time RUS starter is the lone mare in the race, rail horse Someday Lu. In the irons on this well-gaited trotter is Denmark native Karoline Ostergaard Nielsen who is in pursuit of her first RUS win on Canadian soil.
Rounding out the field are Thor Seelster (PP2) ridden by owner/trainer Natalie Elliott, and E L Rock (PP3) ridden and trained by Brittany Kennedy. Both of these geldings have plenty of under saddle experience, although Thor Seelster hasn’t started in a RUS race since 2015, while E L Rock has just one pari-mutuel start in RUS events.
Riders will be available after the seventh race for a meet and greet. This is a great opportunity to ask questions about the horses or riders, get rider autographs and to learn what it takes to be part of RUS.
RUS Ontario would like to thank Greenhawk Campbellville for its donation of goodies to the season opener, including a blanket presentation to the winner after the race.
RUS is always looking for new trotters to saddle up. If you are interested or curious to know more about the benefits of racing your horse under saddle, contact RUS by email at [email protected] or call/text Natalie at 519-440-8716.
The next RUS race dates will be announced soon, so keep an eye out for RUS coming to a track near you!
For the card's entries, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Georgian Downs
(with files from RUS Ontario)