Another off track was the case again at Fraser Downs on Thursday (Oct. 23) night.
Due to the fact many horses have shipped to Fraser Downs from various tracks across North America, Race Secretary Darren Callaghan was able to have 12 races. The interesting point of that is 10 different trainers won races with only Bill Davis and Rene Goulet scoring doubles.
The score is now tied 2-2 between two-year-old fillies, Fast Lane Elektra and Millbanks Writer, when they race against each other. Fast Lane Elektra won the third leg of the Betty Millbank stakes series to even the score, looks like it might come down to the post position draw in the $50,000 Final on Nov. 11 at Fraser Downs.
Friday night (Oct. 24) was a nice night for racing with a lot of different stories. Jim Marino drove four winners with two of those coming from the Marjorie Dumont stable, that combination hit the winners circle with the good looking two year old colt, Mister Hat, in the third leg of the Robert Millbank stake series for his first lifetime win.
The horse with the interesting name, Ladychaterlyslover, also won for the first time in the Mary Murphy stake series for three year old fillies for Owners Theresa White and Philip McLaren. The three-year-olds are all trying to qualify for the final of the series on Nov. 11 for a purse of $75,000.
If you have followed the races in the past you might remember a young female drivers by the name of Amber Lancaster getting her drivers license and waiting for that first win, which finally came in 2012. Fast forward two years and a lot has changed for Amber. Her last name is now Torkos after getting married in 2012 and when you see her in her street clothes you will see her carrying one-year-old daughter (next month) Ava-Marie. Back to the races, Amber, drove long shot Lefty Malone to victory and the winners circle celebration was a very cute family photo.
Racing resume Thursday (Oct. 30) at 6 p.m., Friday at 7 p.m. and then we add Sunday, Nov. 2 at 12:45 p.m.
– Jackson Wittup is executive director of Harness Racing B.C.