The standardbred harness racing at the Cornerstone Raceway at the Yorkton Exhibition has recently suffered from the same weather related phenomenon that hampers baseball, soccer and most outdoor activities in the area, a deluge of rain.
The Friday meet managed to complete four races, one more than was completed at the opening meet of the current season, in the light rain before the clouds opened up, drenching horses, the track and race fans with water and pelting them with tiny hailstones. Race officials and drivers opted to continue the nine race card after an extended break in the action as the rain let up.
Harness racing fan and owner of several standard bred horses, Perry Trost of Yorkton, back for another season, also wished the rain had held off.
Trost has returned with a pair of horses he raced last season Pandoori and Ashley Rocks. He is also in the process of preparing a two year old colt for racing later this year.
Trost picked up Pandoori in B.C. and bought both Ashley Rocks and his two-year-old in Alberta.
Tyler Redwood currently trains Pandoori while Mark Haining is training Ashley Rocks, Trost reports. "Drivers, vary," he adds.
So far until Friday weather has kept two of his horses off the track with only Ashley Rocks competing in the first race meet to claim a third place.
Trost says he keeps coming back because he enjoys the sport. He admits it's not cheap if one plans to make some money at it.
A horse can cost as little as $1,000 or $2,000 for a better horse. Training costs between $20 and $25 a day. It generally takes about two months of training before they start to race, Trost notes. "If you can break even, you're doing well," he suggests. In order to break even an owner needs his or her horse to have at least one win a month, Trost estimates. Last season Trost admits he lost money but claims he made a few dollars the year before.
While he's not part of the new breeding program implemented by some local owners recently, he has boarded the mares for Gene and Betty Denischuk and Brian Chupa who are part of the program. "The mares have been sent to be bred and will be coming home in a month," Trost says.
He says he'll be racing standardbreds for awhile. Regina has opened a track while Saskatoon has given up their races. "Yorkton puts on a good show. Everybody tries hard here. It's good racing," Trost declares.
Results of Friday's standard bred harness race meet were: Race 1 - 1) Cataj Trophy, trained by S. Worthen, driven by R. Remillard, owned by Ruth E. Welcher, Roblin; 2) Freedoms-inferno, trained and driven by D. Tracey, owned by Minetta's Holdings Ltd., Didsbury, Alberta; 3) Digits Darby, trained by S. McLeod, driven by B. Le Drew, owned by Ronald N. McLeod, Regina. Race 2 - 1) Bad Dude, trained and driven by B. Piwniuk, owned by Jerry A, Hagenaars, Hafford, Sask. And Blake F. Piwniuk, MacNutt; 2) Ignite the Spark, trained and driven by Tyler Redwood, owned by Bonnie A. Galenzoski, Lumsden, Sask.; 3) Intheghetto, trained and driven by B. Gray, owned by Brian J. Gray, Raymore, Sask. And Alfred P. Labas, Yorkton. Race 3 - 1) Premium Cigar, trained, driven and leased by Tyler Redwood, Regina; 2) Naknak Whodare, trained by S. Worthen, driven by R. Remillard, owned by Nancy L. King and Max McInnes, Yorkton; 3) Just a Mark, trained, driven and owned by Edward J. Tracey, Leduc, Alberta. Race 4 - 1) Black Mac, trained and driven by T. Redwood, owned by Trevor and Michael Williams, Winnipeg, Man; 2) Barona Five Hundred, trained by S. Worthen, driven by B. Le Drew, owned by Bill C. Welcher, Roblin, Man.; 3) Red Star Felix, trained and driven by T. Kaufman, owned by Max J. and Debra A. McInnes. Race 5 - 1) Stagger Lee, trained and driven by B. Gray, owned by Levi Morin, Yorkton; 2) Imlosing-you, trained and driven by B. Piwniuk, owned by Jerry A. Hagenaars, Hafford and Blake F. Piwniuk, MacNutt; 3) Minettas Liberty, trained and driven by T. Redwood, owned by Keith S. Johnson, Lashburn, Sask. Race 6 - 1) Mystery Road, trained by S. Worthen, driven by R. Remillard, owned by Ronald J. Boehm, Yorkton. 2) Saatog Sonic May, trained and driven by B. Gray, owned by Paul B. and Darrell A. Gotass, Edmonton, Alberta; 3) Judges Discretion, trained and driven by T. Redwood, owned by Kelvin S. Godlien, Regina. Race 7 - 1) Way Outa Bounds, trained by E. Bell, driven by B. Piwniuk, owned by Joe Soloninko, Wroxton; 2) Dal Reo Indy, trained by E. Bell, driven by R. Remillard, owned by Twisted Sisters Stable, Regina; 3) Found My Desire, trained by S. Worthen, driven by T. Kaufman, owned by Bill C. Welcher, Roblin. Race 8 - 1) Skittles N Beer, trained, driven and owned by Edward J. Tracye, Leduc, Alberta; 2) Motorboatenbrando, trained by S. Worthen, driven by R. Remillard, owned by Nancy L. King and Shawn M. Worthen, Yorkton; 3) Invincible Yankee, trained by S. Worthen, driven by T. Kaufman, owned by Bill C. Welcher, Roblin. Race 9 - 1) O Js Boy, trained by S. Worthen, driven by T. Kaufman, owned by Max J. and Debra A McInnes, Yorkton. 2) Four Starzz Smiley, trained by E. Bell, driven by B. Piwniuk, owned by Joe Soloninko, Wroxton; 3) Camaction, trained, driven and owned by Donald J. Tracey, Calmar, Alberta.
