Enberg takes narrow lead in OWDC first leg

Harness racing driver Marielle Enberg edged reigning title holder Natasha Day by one point in the opening leg of the 2022 OLG Ontario Women’s Driving Championship (OWDC) at Hanover Raceway on Saturday (Jul. 16).

The competition features women drivers competing in five rounds at tracks across Ontario. It event also raises money for Harness The Hope, a charity focusing on breast cancer. The reinswomen clash in five races on each card with points awarded for finishing position.

Julie Walker kicked off the series with a first-up win. She pulled Ardyne Graysee (Betterthancheddar) out of the three-hole at the half and kept the mare to task all the way home to score by a neck in 1:59.3 over Dirty Lil Piglet (Day). Maggie Jones and E L Lonely Charlie finished third.

Enberg made up for missing the first race with a clinical steer in the second. She popped the pocket in the third quarter with Azucar (Crazed), and the 10-year-old gelding opened up by three-and-a-half lengths en route to a 2:02.4 victory. Addycor Royal (Pam Forgie) was second over Jones’s Movin To The Top.

Day struck in the third in wire-to-wire fashion aboard Poplar Luke (Sunshine Beach), timed in 1:59.4. Royal Ship’s charge for Marie-Claude Auger picked up the place spot. Bette Mittler (Enberg) got show.

Pam Forgie secured her first OWDC win in the fourth race as she unleashed a crushing third-quarter move with Diamonds Or Twine (Betterthancheddar), who streaked away by double-digit lengths in a 2:00.1 victory. Three Gems (Walker) went from eighth-to-second for Walker after an early break. Watch Me Dance recovered from her own miscue to take show.

Day doubled in the finale with another coast-to-coast score, this time behind Miramichi David (Articluator) in 2:00.4. Prince Adrian (Enberg) rallied for place. Samara Johnson, after finishing last in her other three drives, gave Podium Seelster a pocket trip and took third.

Enberg did not miss the board in four drives and ended the day with 15 points, one better than Day’s total.

The standings after round one of the OWDC are below:

1. Marielle Enberg – 15
2. Natasha Day – 14
3. Julie Walker – 12
4. Pam Forgie – 11
5. Maggie Jones – 8
T6. Debi O’Brien-Moran – 5
T6. Marie Claude Auger – 5
T8. Britt Kennedy – 3
T8. Samara Johnson – 3

The drivers will head to Dresden Raceway for the second half of a weekend OWDC double-header on Sunday, Jul. 17. The third leg will be contested at Grand River Raceway on Friday, Aug. 12, followed by Leamington Raceway on Sunday, Sep. 25 and the finale at The Raceway at Western Fair District on Friday, Oct. 14.

After the races, Johnson, who doubles as a musician, held a concert at the racetrack. Fans were able to buy food for the show for a donation to Harness The Hope. Hanover also held a 50/50 draw and sold merchandise with proceeds benefiting the charity.

Day won the inaugural championship in 2021, which was contested over two legs at Hanover and Dresden.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink