September 5, 2024
By Ontario Sires Stakes Communications
ELORA, Ont., Sept. 5, 2024 – The Ontario Sires Stakes 50th Anniversary celebration tour is making its penultimate stop Friday at Grand River Raceway.
The nine-race card will be highlighted by two $95,000 OSS Gold Series divisions for rookie male trotters and two Gold divisions for two-year-old trotting fillies with $95,000 on the line in each of those races, as well.
Three-time defending Lampman Cup winning driver James MacDonald will be featured prominently Friday, competing in three of the four Gold races scheduled.
MacDonald will be in the bike seat behind Chicago Hall (Muscle Mass) in Race 1 for two-year-old trotting males, TH Monica (Green Manalishi S) in Race 3 for first-year trotting fillies and then back with the boys for Race 4 with Call Me Parker (Musical Rhythm).
“He’s been good, he’s shown flashes of brilliance, but hasn’t quite lived up to his full potential yet,” said MacDonald of Chicago Hall. “He’s a nice horse and if things work out he can get a big chunk of it, for sure.”
MacDonald spoke about TH Monica and Call Me Parker, as well: “TH Monica I’ve driven a bunch of times. A friend just took her over to Grand River last Wednesday and tuned her up and she qualified really well. So, they’re expecting a really good effort from her and hopefully she brings her A-Game and if she does I think she’s one of the horses to beat.
“[As for Call Me Parker], he’s been pretty good. He’s coming into the race good and though it’s a tough bunch I think with a good trip he could definitely get a real good piece.”
The final Gold race Friday goes in Race 6 for two-year-old filly trotters.
MacDonald hails from Guelph, Ont., just about a half hour away from Grand River and got his start racing at the 5/8 mile track.
“I’ve had a lot of great memories [at Grand River Raceway],” said MacDonald. “I’ve won the Battle of Waterloo, I’ve won the Battle of the Belles three times now, I’ve won a lot of Golds there and it’s one of the tracks I kind of started driving at and having some luck. So, I have some fond memories at Grand River and hopefully it’s just the beginning of the fond memories.”
In advance of Friday’s celebrations, noted Canadian Harness racing writer and historian Robert Smith wrote a brief history of Grand River Raceway that you can read here.
Post time for Friday at Grand River goes at 6:30 p.m. Click here to get a copy of the program with information on entries and wagering advice. If you’re unable to attend in person, please visit the Grand River Raceway website for streaming information. You will be able to make a wager via HPIBet.
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