Clinton bringing back Carnochan

Clinton Raceway will welcome back veteran marketing manager Jessica Carnochan to the popular summer harness racing destination when the 2023 season begins.

After two years removed from racing to focus on family and other business endeavours, Carnochan will be reprising her role as Marketing Manager and Race Day Host at the Clinton, Ont. racetrack.

“I am very much looking forward to returning to the track for the 2023 season,” Carnochan told Trot Insider. “They say that all roads lead to home, and well, I guess that Clinton Raceway is home for me. Not only is it located in the small town that I grew up in, and operate a business in, its employees and patrons are like family.”

Prior to her raceway retirement, Carnochan spent 17 seasons with Clinton promoting the track’s signature events, the biennial Legends Day and the annual Charity Driver’s Challenge, while building important relationships with the community through fundraising initiatives that have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for non-profits and local organizations. All of which helped create the energetic, family-friendly atmosphere the half-mile track is known for.

Change comes about in mysterious ways. Carnochan said when she was back at the track last summer for a couple Sundays, there was an overwhelming response to having someone back in her role, greeting customers, hosting the Super Sunday Show and being available for assistance of all kinds.

Those afternoons sparked conversations about her return and landed her in the race office earlier this year to take up a role that comes second nature to Carnochan with nearly two decades of industry experience and knowledge under her belt.

“We are quite pleased Jess is coming back this year,” Ian Fleming, Clinton Raceway’s Director of Racing, told Trot Insider. “In the last three years, all tracks shifted their focus to the online picture and wagering which, for the most part, was all that was available. Once things opened up last year, we didn’t have many groups or events lined up to bring people out. This is Jess’s strong suit, so the timing couldn’t be better for us.”

“I am excited to get back to working with the groups, doing the Day at the Races fundraiser,” said Carnochan. “They’ve had a rough couple of years [due to the pandemic], so it’s nice to be back assisting in that role. I also just love the atmosphere of Clinton on a Sunday afternoon in the summer.”

Clinton Raceway’s harness racing season opens on May 21, with 15 race dates on Sundays through Sept. 3. Post time is 1:30 p.m.

From Standardbred Canada