The 15-week meet at Clinton Raceway kicked off with a 10-race card on Sunday afternoon (May 21), with trotters and pacers bringing in more than $67,000 to the mutuel windows for the track's 2023 season opener.
It was an exceptional day of racing and community as the local high school, Central Huron Secondary School, hosted a BBQ, bake sale, 50/50 drawing and silent auction as part of the Day at the Races fundraising program.
"We are just humbled and so ever thankful to the staff and management as well as the race fans that came out to support us," stated coordinator and Guidance staff, Leigh Melady.
"After a few, shall we say, different seasons, it was so good to get back to what Clinton Raceway is all about: the community, the spirit and all-around great feeling of live harness racing on a Sunday afternoon," added Jessica Carnochan, Clinton Raceway's Marketing Manager.
Pembrook Legacy N took the featured race on the day, a $5,000 Preferred 3 Pace. The 10-year-old Bettors Delight gelding sat third as Noneyabizzness took the lead past a :27.1 first quarter and carved middle fractions of :56 and 1:25.3. Pocket-sitter Artistic Meadow dropped anchor up the backstretch, so trainer-driver Lorne House advanced Pembrook Legacy N to overtake second before the final turn and then reeled in the leader in the stretch to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:56.3. Samuel Taylor owns the 19-time winner who paid $2.60.
Driver Tyler Borth bagged five victories on the 10-race card. He scored a natural hat trick with Ilovewhatido (2:00.3 winning mile; $3 to win), Passionate Prince (1:58.4; $3.10) and Excaliber Seelster (1:59.2; $2.50) and then later bagged back-to-back wins with Teen Tattler (1:59.1; $4.30) and Innocent Kiss (2:00.2; $25.10).
Racing resumes next Sunday (May 28) with 50+ Day at the races, where race fans can pre-register at clintonraceway.com for a $5 package that includes lunch, a program and a $2 wager.
First post time is 1:30 p.m. (EDT).
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Clinton Raceway.
(with files from Clinton Raceway)