The Charity Driver's Challenge wrapped up the racing season at Clinton Raceway in record-setting fashion.
The event raised over $7,000 for the Clinton Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion and through eight driver's challenge races and four Grassroots divisions, a total of $118,041 was wagered. That is an all-time high.
Brett MacDonald won the Charity Driver's Challenge. In his eight challenge drives MacDonald posted two wins, one second, one fourth, one fifth and had one of his mounts scratched for a total of 148 points, eight more than runner-up Doug McNair.
“It comes down to the type of horses you drive, especially when you drive with that many good drivers, the horses and the trips you get are how you win that type of thing,” said MacDonald, who led all drivers at the Clinton meet with 17 wins. “It’s nice to do something for charity too.”
In the Grassroots division races, Bob McClure made his debut in the winner’s circle in the second of four races for the two-year-old pacing fillies, guiding Sports Duchess to a gate-to-wire score from Post 4.
“I think that’s the first time I ever drove a horse for Blake that was competitive, usually I’m fifth choice so we don’t usually have very much luck. It’s a running joke between us, he actually fist bumped me in the winner’s circle and laughed and said, ‘Hey look we got a cheque together’,” said McClure of trainer Blake MacIntosh. “But she’s real slick gaited through the turns, which helps at a track like that. She raced great.”
He went on to win two more races.
He won the third division, making a bold three-wide move down the backstretch with CL Sportsextreme to grab control of the race and cruise home to a 1:58.3 victory. And McClure finished the hat trick in the last division, putting Sweet Pink on the front heading by the half and cruising home to a three length victory in 1:59.2.
Complete results from the action-packed afternoon are available at Clinton Raceway Results. Grassroots point standings can be found on the Ontario Sires Stakes Leaderboard.