Trainer Mike Wade, who has raced horses at Kawartha Downs for many years, celebrated his hometown track’s 44th anniversary with a special victory during Saturday night's (July 30) harness racing card.

 

In the fifth race, Rick Webb drove Wade’s three-year-old pacing filly Elegant Gift to a two-length 1:59 score. In the winner's circle, Kawartha Downs made a special presentation to Webb for achieving his 500th career win as a trainer. Wade, who is best known for such standout performers as Billyjojimbob, Corn Cob Conch, Winning Breed and Im No Walton, conditions the Shadow Play daughter for Hutt Racing Stable of Pennsylvania.

 

Elegant Gift's maiden-breaking victory was the first of three wins on the night for Webb, who won the following race with Tough Get Going and also visited the winner’s circle with Cougar Gal. Reg Gassien and Tony Kerwood each notched driving doubles.

 

A great crowd was on hand to celebrate the Fraserville oval’s birthday. The Hie family, who have raced in the area since well before Kawartha Downs introduced live harness racing in 1972, provided a myriad of items for fans to enjoy, including the colours of patriarch Cliff, his sons Carman and Doug (who both raced horses at Kawartha on Saturday), the late Roger, and granddaughter Krissy, as well as photos, newspaper stories and more.