The weekend cards slated for Century Downs Racetrack & Casino feature unique races and new faces, all in the name of charitable endeavours.
On Saturday, the second annual Pacing Under Saddle event gets underway. There are two eliminations as 14 horses have entered, prompting one seven-horse field on Saturday and another on Sunday. The top eight riders will come back for a final on Saturday, August 27. All races are carded as exhibition races with no pari-mutuel wagering offered. These horses must be retired Standardbreds and must wear hopples.
New this year, all riders were asked to represent a charity of their choice and any money that is collected by them will go to that charity. Century Downs will donate $1,500 ($750, $500, $250) to the respective charities of the horses that finish in the top-three for the final.
"With no trotters in Western Canada we believe this is a unique event and was a lot of fun last year," stated Century Downs' Jackson Wittup.
Saturday, August 13
(Post/Horse/Rider/Charity)
1. Nut Brown Hare (Kelly Kay / Bear Valley Rescue)
2. Armbro Blacktie (Alina MacLeod / Greener Pastures)
3. Bohemian Bliss (Rylee Mallo / Roar Society)
4. MJG Phanatasie (Janice Lea / Irricana Volunteer Fire)
5. Dragonwyck (Shirley Hanna / Irricana Volunteer Fire)
6. Poster Winterwood (Evelyn Sabraw / Team Diabetes)
7. Rango (Chelsea Chase / Performance Stdbrds.)
Sunday, August 14
Post/Horse/Rider/Charity)
1. Rays Crown Royal (Jaline Munkholm / HRA Backstretch Fdn.)
2. Demons B Gone (Amber Lynn Fawcett / Cystic Fibrosis Canada)
3. Melanies Gunner (Jenn Clark / Autism Speaks)
4. Outlaw Last Chance (Devann Crick / Breast Cancer)
5. Super Sunrise (Amanda Barron / Brody Lane Fawcett Fund)
6. Meadowlark Appache (Kaylea Hepburn / Plunkett Ranch & Rescue)
7. Rehearsal Hall (Kayla Chappell / Juvenile Diabetes)
Sunday's card at Century Downs Racetrack & Casino features three Ontario-based drivers coming West for Pacing For Charity, and the local support for the initiative has resulted in those drivers have the most chances possible to raise funds.
Jody Jamieson, James MacDonald and Jack Moiseyev have picked up drives in each race on Sunday's 10-dash card, with the card commencing at 1:10 p.m. (local time).
All three of the Ontario-based drivers will be donating 100 per cent of their winnings to charity. Moiseyev will drive on behalf of breast cancer. Jamieson will team up with autism, and MacDonald will donate whatever he earns to juvenile diabetes. All three charities will be on hand Sunday at Century Downs to be part of the festivities. The three drivers will sign autographs starting at 11:45 a.m. in front of the grandstand where the public is invited to meet and greet.
To view the entries for the weekend's cards at Century Downs, click the following link: Entries - Century Downs.