Conrad, Dinges win amateur events at Oak Grove

Oak Grove, KY – Monday, June 12, 2023 – Carson Conrad and Tony Dinges were the harness racing “stars” under the sun on Sunday, June 11, each capturing their respective events in USHDC Amateur competition at Oak Grove Racing and Gaming.

Dinges kicked off the festivities by guiding the nine-year-old Reggie Raider (McAdrle) to his third win of the year—32nd lifetime—in a never-in-doubt 1:56.2 gate-to-wire score, defeating Fusion Five, handled by Travis Williams, Jr., by 1 1/2 lengths. Meant Tobe Shooter, with Adarryl Gates handling the lines, next.

Darting off the wings, Reggie Raider led at every pole, carving out panels of :27, :56.4and 1:25.4 along the way—those quick fractions deterring any serious threats throughout.

Also trained by Dinges, Reggie Raider is owned by Dawnelle Mock.

Off as the favorite at 85 cents to a dollar, Reggie Raider returned $3.70 to win.

For Dinges, it was his fifth win in USHDC competition while maintaining a UDRS of over .500—.504—during this Oak Grove season.

In response, Dinges remarked, “My stats don’t matter. What really matters is that our club can continue our work benefiting so many of the great organizations rescuing horses, rehabilitating horses and having them then become useful to help children and adults with their much-needed therapy. THAT’S what really matters and we use our horses as a vehicle to do that!”

Carson Conrad, too, had an easy time with Shakeanera (JK Endofanera) driving that four-year-old mare to a 3 1/2 length score over Ayr Pioneer GB, with Roy Dinges in the bike, with Roy’s brother, Tony, finishing third with Sports Teller.

Shakeanera battled briefly early with Ayr Pioneer GB but, once on top, had daylight the rest of the journey when tripping the final timer in 1:56.4.

The lightly raced winner earned her second win of the season in eight starts, good for $19,000, more than her entire 2022 season with 14 starts. She’s banked $80,215 lifetime.

For 18-year-old Carson Conrad, who started driving at age 16, it was his 10th success of the year

The winner is trained by Robert Laffoon, who co-owns with Myron Gerth and Vickie Owens.

Sent off as the chalk at $1.13 to 1, Shakeanera paid $4.28 to her many faithful.

The USHDC had donated well over $300,000 to worthwhile charitable organizations benefiting the equine industry and related therapeutic causes with their next contribution scheduled for next week with the named beneficiary being the Redemption Ranch, a place for healing and empowering for people of “all ages” with guidance through difficult times when paired with horses.

Thus far at Oak Grove Racing and Gaming, the USHDC has donated to these worthy causes to the tune approaching $7,000 from the generosity of club members donating all driver’s fees to the organization of distribution.

by John Berry, for the USHDC