Oak Grove, KY…May 14, 2024…While harness racing’s Ayr Pioneer GB (Soulofthematter) and Paperback Thriller (Mystery Chase) took top honors in the United States Harness Driving Club’s (USHDC) events on Monday (May 13) at Oak Grove Racing and Gaming, the biggest winner of the day was a heroic equine rescue organization.
Volunteer Equine Advocates (VEA) was the special honoree of the day, receiving a $1,000 donation from the USHDC for their continuing heroic work of saving and rehabilitating horses.
VEA, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization now is in its 21st year of heroics, is dependent on volunteers and donations—100% of which is earmarked for their outstanding work.
In commenting about today’s donation, USHDC President Dein Spriggs lamented, “Heroics is the proper description of the VEA as they play such a huge role in so many areas, including the rescue and care for seized, abandoned, abused and neglected horses!
“It’s an honor for our USHDC to add them to our long list of worthy charitable recipients.”
VEA’s mission is to rehabilitate and assist horses in finding a safe and healthy new life with that continuing goal interrupted just days ago as tornado activity demolished many sections of fencing on their property putting horses in peril.
Equine Manager Kelsey Rast pointed out the severe crises that faces her organization relating, “With rehabilitation costs, hay, dewormers, feed, farrier visits, equine dental exams and immunizations so expensive, it’s imperative to maintain our standard of excellence and the recent tornado outbreaks in our area that have pummeled us in recent days puts our mission in jeopardy…but we always find a way.
“This donation today by the United States Harness Drivers Club will help our cause so much and we hope the readers of this story can help our cause, as well, in continuing our work.”
In recent days, Volunteer Equine Advocates has rescued some 26 additional horses—from aged horses to foals less than one month old and does have many horses in training, rehabilitation or sanctuary with others available for adoption or sponsorship.
“Any help is appreciated so much, and we have a ‘wish list’ on our website (veatnhorserescue.com) for specific items in need,” Kelsey concluded.
On the Oak Grove racetrack on Monday, a pair of USHDC events were contested with the aforementioned Ayr Pioneer GB and Paperback Thriller winning their respective races.
The English bred nine-year-old gelding Ayr Pioneer GB got picture perfect handling from owner Dein Spriggs to scorer a 1:56.1 win—his second straight win in USHDC competition after a win last week for trainer Tony Dinges.
Nestled in the garden spot throughout the journey as Messi N, driven by Jafari Frasier, cut panels of :27.2, :57.3 and 1:25.4, Ayr Pioneer GB waltzed by once straightened away for the drive home and hold off Mach Diesel, with Jill Brown handling the lines, to win by a length. Messi N did finish third.
She’s A Fireball, handled by Cassidy Whitton, was a close up fourth while M G Kid showed good late pace to pick up the nickel for Trey Brinson.
The winner, trained by Tony Dinges, earned his 22nd lifetime success—12th on U.S. soil—and sent his lifetime bounty within one win of $100,000 lifetime—now at $98,621.
Spriggs, by the way, has 503 wins here in North America…and a handful overseas, as well.
The winner was off at 9 to 5 and paid $5.80 to win.
The six-year-old mare Paperback Thriller, beginning from the second tier for Peter Kleinhans, was fortunate to begin mid-pack while following the “rail” horse off the wings as Trey Brinson had White Belly sizzling off the wings from post five to post opening fractions of :26.1 and :54.2 with horses second and third gapped and struggling to keep up.
As the hot pace began to take its toll on the leader, Kleinhans had Paperback Thriller rolling and, page-by-page in this paperback thriller, swept up into contention and, shortly after the 1:23.4 three-quarter time, had the leader collared and went on to a easy win measuring 1 3/4 lengths in 1:54.1.
Little Addie, some 16 lengths out of it halfway through the mile, finished with a flurry to finish second for Carson Conrad while Stun Gun, with Shae Vandervort in the bike, third, two lengths away.
Captain Mckee paced an “even-steven” mile to finish fourth with White Belly a clear fifth after the exhaustive first half.
Paperback Thriller earned her second win of the year in 12 starts—34th lifetime—and now sports career earnings of $275,870.
For Peter Kleinhans, who drives sparingly in amateur events, it was his 69th career driving success.
Trained by Randy Crisler for owner Their Hensley, Paperback Thriller was off as the fourth choice in the betting and paid $17.58 to win.
would like to help in the heroic efforts by Volunteer Equine Associates, their information is as follows:
Volunteer Equine Associates
P.O. Box 112
Gallatin, TN 37066
For further Information, call 1-615-845-4979
by John Berry, for the USHDC