Demers seals career year with triple

Harness racing trainer Gerard Demers officially has a career-best season in wins after a triple on the Friday (Nov. 1) card at The Raceway at the Western Fair District.

The horseman, who made his debut in 2002, needed a single win entering the card, and The Heart Valley (State Treasurer) ensured he wouldn’t have to sweat as the filly dominated the opener. She wired the field, separating on the backstretch and cruising to a four-and-a-half-length victory with Travis Henry at the lines. The sophomore has won four races in 31 career tries and has earned $29,072 lifetime. She earned a new mark of 1:57.4 with the win.

THE HEART VALLEY REPLAY

Demers’s other winners were Wicked Discovery (Mcwicked) and Southwind Bayou (Sportswriter). Wicked Discovery, driven by Henry, went wire-to-wire again and was in control throughout as she paced to a 1:58 win by a length-and-three-quarters. After a winless rookie season, she is now seven-for-34 lifetime with $32,845 in earnings for Demers, who co-owns her with Jean Roch Marois.

Southwind Bayou (Henry), who made a three-wide charge on the backstretch and battled three-across down the lane to a half-length victory in 1:59. It was the seven-year-old mare’s 25th lifetime score in 113 starts.

Demers has broken every personal record this season with new bests in starts, wins, and earnings. The triple brought him to 115 tallies in 2024, eclipsing his 112 mark from 2010. His trainees have pulled in earnings of $889,255 in 661 starts this year and are clicking at a 17.4 per cent rate.

Henry added a victory behind Kyle Bossence’s Willyorwonthe (Angus Hall) to complete a grand slam on the night.

The Raceway at the Western Fair District is scheduled to host its next card on Monday, Nov. 4 at 5:50 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink