The races at the DuQuoin Illinois State Fair, which were to begin at noon (CDT), are rescheduled to 6 p.m. (CDT) due to a steady rain this morning
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The featured $540,000 World Trotting Derby is slated for Race 13 with 3-5 favourite Muscle Hill starting from Post 6. While the colt's trainer Greg Peck had reportedly stated that he will drive as reinsman Brian Sears had departed for Canada to race at Mohawk Racetrack in the Metro Pace stakes program, a new driver has now been confirmed.
As of 3 p.m. (CST), the DuQuoin (Illinois) State Fair Race Secretary Doc Narotsky confirmed that Luke McCarthy will drive Muscle Hill, in the absence of Sears, his usual driver.
“He’s Andrew McCarthy’s brother, who drove Muscle Hill last year in Lexington when Brian [Sears] didn’t drive in Lexington,” said Peck. “They drive similar. A guy came along and said ‘How about Luke McCarthy?’ I said, ‘Yes, you’ve got a point there.’
“So I got on the phone and he’s on his way here. Andrew is not driving at The Red Mile now, or I’d have used him. ”
(With files from HRC)