Ron Waples can’t possibly be 82 years old.
But so he is, and as he does every time Clinton Raceway stages its Legends’ Day, he made his way back to the country track that always outdoes itself. On July 26, he celebrated with a host of Hall of Famers and harness racing luminaries on a bright summer day.
Waples won the second Legends Day Trot in 2003, but sat it out this year as seven other Hall of Fames (and in the case of Mike Saftic, soon to be inducted), thundered behind the gate on a dusty half-mile track.
This time, Steve Condren went to the front early in the $20,000 event, with 7 to 5 favourite My Buddy Sam and led every step to win in in 1:57.2 for trainer Jennifer Pinkerton, who owns the 6-year-old gelding along with Patricia Bailey of St. Mary’s. It was My Buddy Sam’s first win of the year 16 starts.
Condren had won the Legends Trot in 2017 with Lady Caterina.
P.C. Peterbilt finished second, 1¼ lengths back after an outside rally, with Saftic in the bike, and Tymal Riggs was third for Chris Christoforou, who challenged for the lead early. Christoforou was the youngest driver in the field at age 54.
Wally Hennessey, the 69 -year-old dash winning star from Prince Edward Island, sat out this year’s Trot, with some tender ribs from a recent wreck. He watched from the sidelines.
Carl Jamieson, whose son Jody won the National Driving Championship contest on the card and will represent Canada at the 2027 world event, finished seventh at age 75, still swinging for the fences.
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