An elite stablemate rivalry settled for the final time

MILTON, December 21, 2024 – Award-winning mares Silver Label (Bettors Delight) and Prohibition Legal (Big Jim) put a bow on their harness racing careers during a night of celebrations on Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Both five-year-old mares made their final start in the $36,000 Mares Preferred with Silver Label getting one final victory in 1:51.2 to go out in style for owner/breeder Millar Farms, trainer Nick Gallucci and driver James MacDonald.

SILVER LABEL REPLAY

The victory was another cherry on top of already planned celebrations, as both Millar Farms and MacDonald were recognized for their outstanding 2024 seasons.

With just five cards remaining in the year following Saturday, George Millar’s Millar Farms has secured their second Leading Owner Award, while MacDonald has wrapped up his fourth consecutive Leading Driver Award.

Silver Label’s win gave Millar Farms their 51^st win of the season at Woodbine Mohawk Park to go along with $1.6 million in earnings. The victory was also MacDonald’s 397^th of the campaign, which continued to increase throughout Saturday’s program.

Silver Label finishes her career with 26 wins, $1.6 million in earnings and a mark of 1:47.3. The 2022 O’Brien Award 3-Year-Old Filly Pacer of the Year most notable wins were the 2022 OSS Super Final, 2023 Lady Liberty, 2023 Perfect Sting and 2021 Champlain.

Prohibition Legal’s racing career concludes with 13 wins, $1.1 million earned and a mark of 1:50. She was the 2021 O’Brien Award 2-Year-Old Filly Pacer of the Year and notably won the 2021 OSS Super Final, 2021 Eternal Camnation and was second in the 2021 Shes A Great Lady and 2023 Dayton Distaff.

“There was so many (highlights) with these two mares,” said George Millar. “To be as fortunate as I was to have two such great mares in the same year and it was hard to watch them race against each other. I was a little bit emotional watching them go to the post and when they both turned for home, I was ready to cry.”

Silver Label will be bred to Always B Miki, while Prohibition Legal is lined up for a date with Sweet Lou.

A retirement ceremony for both mares and the leading owner and driver presentations all took place following the Mares Preferred.

Also on Saturday’s program, fan favourite pacing mare So Much More (Big Jim) scored her 75^th career victory. The eight-year-old was a coast-to-coast winner in 1:53.2 for MacDonald and trainer Don Beatson. The victory takes her over $1.7 million in career earnings for Don Beatson, Kenn Beatson and Cole England.

Several upset winners on Saturday’s program led to no winning tickets on the Middle Pick-5, creating a carryover for Monday’s Early Pick-5.

Monday’s Early Pick-5 will have a carryover of $52,708.31.

Post time for Monday is 7:10 p.m.

For complete race results, click here.

by Mark McKelvie, for Woodbine Entertainment