Randy Waples wins HPIbet Legends Trot, event raises over $61,000

CLINTON, ON — “I just didn’t want to fall off the bike, and anything beyond that is a success,” said a
jovial Randy Waples following his first pari-mutuel harness racing drive in almost two years.

The occasion was today’s HPIBet Legends Trot — the highlight of Clinton Raceway’s 12th edition of its
biennial Legends Day event which drew a large, enthusiastic crowd and saw over $100,000 wagered.
Showcasing harness drivers from the Canadian Horse Racing Hall Of Fame, it also serves as a major
fundraiser for the track’s community. Waples was one of eight distinguished Hall Of Famers competing in
the $10,000 race. His competitors were Wally Hennessey, Doug Brown, Steve Condren, Chris Christoforou,
Sylvain Filion, Paul MacDonell, and Carl Jamieson.

Hometown race winner Heavy Dude E was a 6-1 victor, wiring the field under Waples’ command, and
holding on to finish a neck the best over Cool Clifford (with Steve Condren) in 2:01.1. Charmbro Prince
(with Wally Hennessey) was third. It was the fifth win of the season for Heavy Dude E — a six-year-old
gelding owned by breeder Natalie Elliott of Clinton, ON. She also trains the career winner of 25 races
and $184,000.

Hall Of Fame announcer Frank Salive stepped out of retirement to call the HPIBet Legends Day Trot.
“There are so many great stories in harness racing traced to these grounds, these few hallowed acres of
property right here at Clinton Raceway,” said Salive. “I really love this place and I’m saying that from the
heart.

Through several Legends Day initiatives, this year’s fundraising efforts raised more than $61,000 for the
Clinton Public Hospital Foundation, bringing the total to $391,000 since the event’s inception in 2001.
Today’s fundraising included a BBQ for which 900 tickets were sold, and a $500 silent auction score for
the Canadian Horse Racing Hall Of Fame resulting from Sylvain Filion’s donation of the helmet he wore
during today’s HPIBet Legends Trot.

During a reunion for the Canadian Horse Racing Hall Of Fame, fans mingled with the guest drivers and
other featured guests of the event who have previously driven in its signature race: John Campbell,
Trevor Ritchie, Dave Wall, Ron Waples and Bill O'Donnell. The distinguished roster has combined
statistics of 92,450 winning drives and purse earnings of $1.4 billion.

The race card also featured three elimination rounds for next week’s $50,000 Kin Pace Final. Today’s
division winners were Wicked Leader in 1:58 (with Trevor Henry for trainer Tom Gallant), Greatest
Pleasure in 1:58 (Louis-Philippe Roy for Luc Blais) and How Much in 1:55 (Doug McNair for Dave
Menary).

by Jessica Carnochan, for Clinton Raceway