Grand River Raceway has showcased 10 drivers’ race calls this season in its popular From Bike To Mic series on Fun & Frivolity Friday nights. On August 31, the track introduced the first trainer call as Mike Sinclair stepped up to the challenge.
Sinclair is a longtime top trainer at Georgian Downs, but made a special trip to Grand River Raceway on Friday night for his announcing debut.
“I called a few qualifiers at Sudbury many years ago, but never an actual race,” said Sinclair. “I’m pretty calm right now, but I’ll likely get a few jitters once I put that headset on.”
Jitters or not, Sinclair was solid in his call.
“Pitter-patter, let’s get at ‘er!” Sinclair buzzed as the gates opened for race five. Bruce Richardson guided Finely Honed to the top from post three and led most of the mile, but it was Wayne Henry and race favourite Conway Garree who stormed past the pair in the stretch to win by a length over Thunder Gate and Herb N Janet. Finely Honed finished fourth. The win was Conway Garree’s second win this season for trainer George Henry, who co-owns the sophomore son of Conway Hanover with Ken Beaudoin.
Sinclair is enjoying a great season. He’s a top 10 in the Georgian ranks and is currently tied for fourth in the Sudbury Downs standings. Sporting a .327 UTR, he’s on point to record a best-ever season for wins. He’s a career winner of 556 races and $3.7 million. Accounting for his fair share of those wins is Hidden Hall, a four-year-old Modern Art gelding owned by Sinclair’s partner Rosemary Shelswell. The pacer is on a tear, having won seven consecutive races between Kawartha Downs and Sudbury Downs.
(Grand River Raceway)