Friday triple for Schneider

Cassidy Schneider, the title-holding trainer at The Raceway at the Western Fair District, took a harness racing triple at the track on Friday (Jan. 5).

Seel The Dark (Shadow Play, Dan Clements) kicked off the trainer’s night with a dominant four-length win in 1:57.4. It was the seven-year-old’s third win since November 2022 and her eighth lifetime. The mare is owned by Cassidy’s father, Colonel Schneider, and has raced her entire career for the pair.

SEEL THE DARK REPLAY

Schneider’s second win came as a 24-1 upset with her new trainee Hally Road (Holiday Road, Clements). The mare, in her first start for the conditioner, slid out of third going to three-quarters with all four horses behind her out of contention. Hally Road trekked on the rim and fought down the lane to get up by a half-length in 2:01.1. She is now three-for-44 lifetime. Fred Freer owns and bred the seven-year-old mare and had trained her in every prior start.

HALLY ROAD REPLAY

Docs Rock (Control The Moment, Colin Kelly) made it three-for-three for Schneider in a wire-to-wire performance. The five-year-old stopped the clock in 1:57.3, a new career best in his ninth lifetime victory. Schneider has also trained the horse for his entire career. Colonel Schneider owns the stallion.

DOCS ROCK REPLAY

Schneider is now four-for-14 to begin her fifth season. She won 83 of 611 in 2023 to take The Raceway’s training title for the first time.

The track also held a retirement race for its longtime starter, Brad Pittock. Pittock retired from full-time service but plans to continue filling in as the starter occasionally. Enjoy Trotting (Muscle Mass) won the contest, inheriting the lead from a breaking foe and then going all the way for Lorne House in 2:03.4.

ENJOY TROTTING REPLAY

The Raceway at the Western Fair District will continue racing on Monday, Jan. 8 at 5:50 p.m. The finale of the 10-race card will be a Preferred Pace.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink