Grand River Raceway hosted its first ever Racing Under Saddle (RUS) event during a busy Fun and Frivolity Friday Night at Grand River Raceway on July 26.
Riina Rekila clinched the win in the seven-horse field aboard Harlequin, a 12-year-old Balanced Image gelding owned by Shanna Maltby of Acton, and trained by Geoff Maltby. Leaving from post five, Rekila overtook Hetties Honey in the stretch to score a three-length score in 2:02.2.
Oaklea Uptown and Marit Valstad finished second. RUS Ontario’s defending champ Sixth Man, with Sharleen MacDonald, was third. Hetties Honey and Anna Humphris finished fourth in a deadheat with All Cantab, ridden by Jenni Judin. Entry Hanover (Sarah Town) and Lollipop Girl (Linnea Lindstron) rounded out the field.
Action in the bike on Friday night was dominated by Scott Coulter, a winner of five races on the card.
The Tan Tornado kicked off the whirlwind with race favourite Luke But Dontouch in race two. It was the Richard Moreau trainee’s 30th career win. Boknows Momngranny was 11 lengths the best to record a new season’s mark of 1:56.2 for owner/trainer James Hewitt in the fifth. Coulter hit the hat-trick with maiden winner Orillia Santina in race seven for Terry McCormick, who also trains the filly.
Coulter crossed the wire in another commanding 11-length finish in race 10 with Augusta. He shares ownership of the trotting filly with his brother, trainer Steve Coulter. The 2:01.3 clocking matched her career mark.
Coulter closed out the card with an $18 winner, piloting Bold Arrow to his first win of the year for owner/trainer John Smith. Coulter currently sits third in the Grand River Raceway standings behind Trevor Henry and Brad Forward. The Brantford reinsman is a career winner of 3762 races and $25 million.
