The final number of hopefuls eligible to start in the Eliminations on July 30 are:

$150,000 Battle Of the Belles – 162 fillies eligible
$300,000 Battle Of Waterloo – 153 colts eligible

The top 9 will advance to their respective big dance during our 22nd annual Industry Day Celebration on Monday, August 6, 2012 (Civic Holiday). Post time 1:30.

The connections of FBS Terror celebrate in the winners circle for the first-ever Battle Of The Belles (2009)

For complete staking details, visit the STAKING page on this site.

Go to the STAKING section of this site, or click the graphic below to get there.

Machapelo became the 14th victor in Grand River Raceway’s $300,000 Battle Of Waterloo and the biggest upset in the history of the race during the track’s Industry Day Celebration on August 1.

Machapelo & Scott Zeron - Battle Of Waterloo

Leaving from post four, driver Scott Zeron sent the Mach Three homebred first-over at the half-mile marker to score a three-length victory over Two Guys, driven by his father, Rick Zeron. Heavy favourite Warrawee Needy finished third with trainer Carl Jamieson in the bike. It was Warrawee Needy’s first defeat in six career starts.

This was Machapelo’s maiden win in five starts. He finished fourth in last week’s elimination division. Owned by Enviro Stables of South Hampton, NY, he’s trained by Mike Keeling of Cambridge, ON.

For Zeron, 22, this was the largest stakes win of his career. He won the inaugural Battle Of The Belles in 2009 with Fbs Terror. Machapelo returned $56.40 for the upset.

Local trainer Mark Austin won the $30,000 Battle Of Waterloo Consolation with Jettison in a mild 5-1 upset with driver Paul MacDonell in the bike. It was the colt’s second win from five starts, in a new career best of 1:57.1.

Your Beautiful & Stu Sowerby - Battle Of The Belles

Driver Stuart Sowerby of Guelph, ON guided the homebred filly Your Beautiful to victory in the $150,000 Battle Of The Belles. Her 1:56.1 victory was three lengths over the field of two-year-old pacing fillies. Eat Me Up, race favourite Mindsweeper, and Classy Lane Rose rounded out the top four.

Stephen Gillard trains and shares ownership of Your Beautiful with his wife Marilyn Gillard of Tavistock, ON.

Sauble Claire and driver Trevor Henry of Arthur, ON wired the field to win the $20,000 Battle Of The Belles Consolation. The L H Stryker filly is owned by breeder Sauble Hill Farms of Tara, ON and trained by Otis Hall. She’s a winner in two of seven this year.
On-track fans wagered $90,000 on the 11-dash card. The total wager was $225,000.

OTHER INDUSTRY DAY RESULTS
In other Industry Day happenings, the eighth annual Drivers’ Edition of the Bouncy Pony Stakes was won by James MacDonald, who held off Aaron Byron, Ryan Holliday, and Scott Young to secure his first title. Jonathan Drury drove the Casie Coleman Stable mascot, Jersey Boy, but was disqualified for starting with an actual steed.

Bouncy Pony Stakes

Donna Wood won the Battle Of The Belles Grand Prize Draw, and a receives a Weekend Getaway at the Breadalbane Inn & Spa in Fergus, which includes dinner, one night’s accommodations, breakfast and spa credit.

John McKenna was the big winner in the Battle Of Waterloo Grand Prize Draw. Machapelo’s win secured McKenna two seats in this weekend’s Bus Trip to the World Driving Championship and Hambletonian in New York and New Jersey.

Cheerleaders - Battle Of The Belles

Ken Koch won the Industry Day Handicapping Tournament with a bankroll of $92.00 from seven dashes. He wins the lion’s share of the $1,000 prize, plus a spot in the $25,000 TROT Canada National Handicapping Championship on Nov. 12 at Western Fair.

Clinton Raceway’s CR Trotter held off seven furry foes to win the Mascot Roadshow, presented by Racetrack Of Ontario Marketing & Promotions (ROMP). Mascots from Grand River, Standardbred Canada, Hanover, Flamboro, Western Fair,. Hiawatha and Georgian Downs took part.

Mascot Roadshow with Paula Seelster

The Ontario Harness Horse Association presented its annual Best Of Show Competition and awarded $500 in the following categories to the caretakers of horses racing on Industry Day:

Category: Best of Show Head-To-Toe:
Natasha Stein – $100
Keith Devitt – $50
Downey Stable – $25

Category: Horse & Groom:
Natalie Baumlisberger – $100
Nicole Henry – $50
Shawna Henderson – $25

Category: Harness Shine
James Proctor – $75

Category: Above & Beyond (braids, sparkles, etc.)
Lori Jennex – $75

OHHA Best Of Show Contest - Natasha Stein

An 11-race card boasting $583,000 in purses headlines the 21st annual celebration of the harness racing industry on Monday, August 1. Festivities kick off at noon. The broadcast begins at 12:30, and post time for the first dash is 1:30.

Grand River Raceway’s signature dash, the $300,000 Battle Of Waterloo is slated for race nine (post time 4:45). Warrawee Needy headlines the field of Ontario-sired freshmen pacing colts. Undefeated in six career starts, he won his elimination division by 13 lengths in a new North American season’s record of 1:53.4. The E Dees Cam colt is trained and co-owned by five-time Battle Of Waterloo winner Carl Jamieson. With Jody Jamieson in the U.S. representing Canada in the World Driving Championship, Carl Jamieson will take on driving duties from post five in the big dance.

Mindsweeper is the one to beat in the $150,000 Battle Of The Belles (race seven, post time 3:45). The Mach Three miss set a new track and stakes record in her elimination division, and matched the North American season’s record, with an eight length score in 1:55.  She starts from the outside (post eight) with Sylvain Filion for trainer Eric Adams and Millar Farms.

The afternoon includes a complete roster of side attractions, including:

• The eighth annual Drivers’ Edition of the Bouncy Pony Stakes (after race 10).

• Facepainting, balloon artists, bouncy castles, horse crafts, colouring contest, and pony rides (1:00 – 4:30).

• Mascot Race: Grandy The Grey looks to reclaim the ROMP Mascot Roadshow title against seven furry foes (after race 3).

• Meet & Have Your Photo Taken With Doug McNair & Scott Zeron (12:00 – 1:00)
Compliments of Standardbred Canada’s I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club.

• Ontario Sires Stakes Celebrity Horse Tour:
Free photos with Paula Seelster (1:00 – 3:00). Compliments of Grand River Raceway and the Ontario Sires Stakes.

• Battle Of The Belles Prize Draw (for the ladies):
Weekend Getaway For Two at the award-winning Breadalbane Inn & Spa in Fergus, ON (includes dinner, one night’s accommodations, breakfast and a spa credit).

• Battle Of Waterloo Prize Draw (for the gents):
2 spots on the Bus Tour to the World Driving Championship/Hambletonian to NY/NJ (Aug. 4 – 7) plus $250 spending money.

• OHHA’s Best Of Show Competition:
$500 in prize money to be won by the caretakers of horses racing on Industry Day, as judged in the following categories:
1.    Best Of Show Head-To-Toe — 1st: $100 • 2nd: $50 • 3rd: $25
2.    Horse & Groom — 1st: $100 • 2nd: $50 • 3rd: $25
3.    Harness Shine — 1st: $75
4.     Above & Beyond (braids, sparkles, etc.) — 1st: $75
For complete OHHA Best Of Show details (in PDF) click HERE.

• Free Industry Day Handicapping Tournament:
Free entry forms are inside Industry Day race programs for patrons 18+. Handicap Win and Place selections for races three though nine. The top five bankrolls share in cash prizes of $1,000. The winner also secures a spot in the $25,000 TROT Canada National Handicapping Championship on Nov. 12 at Western Fair.

The Industry Day program (in PDF) is available HERE.

• Special guests joining the Industry Day festivities include:
Post parade leaders Stocrest Percherons, Joanne Colville with Rosie and the Fergus Pipe Band. The broadcast team includes Ken Middleton (WEG), Greg Blanchard (Western Fair) and Darryl MacArthur of Grand River’s Paddock Report.

Battle Of Waterloo Ambassadors Napoleon & The Duke Of Wellington will also be on-hand for winners circle presentations, doling out trophies, trophy coolers, flowers, goodie-bags and packages of Grand River’s exclusive Victory Ale and matching beer mugs to the connections of each Industry Day race winner.

For complete event details, see our DETAILS page.

ELORA, ON — Undefeated freshman Warrawee Needy cruised to his sixth career victory during the Battle Of Waterloo eliminations at Grand River Raceway on July 25.

Campaigned and co-owned by five-time Battle Of Waterloo winning trainer Carl Jamieson, the son of E Dees Cam moved three-wide at the half to grab the lead for driver Jody Jamieson. He won easily in 1:53.4 — just two-fifths of a second shy of the track, stake and Canadian record set by last year’s Battle Of Waterloo champ, Prodigal Seelster.

Battle Of Waterloo elim winner Warrawee Needy

Warrawee Needy’s 1:53.4 score sets a new Canadian season record (formerly 1:57.3 set by Catch That Angel at Flamboro on July 17) and North American season record (formerly 1:56, set most recently on July 8 at Yonkers) for two-year-old pacing colts over a half-mile track.

Secretsoftheknight finished second by 13 lengths with Doug McNair. Red Carpet Ride rounded out the top three with Scott Zeron.

Jamieson co-owns Warrawee Needy with Tom Kyron, breeder Dr. Michael Wilson and Floyd Marshall. He was a $20,000 yearling purchase and has banked $195,000 to date.
In a post-race interview, Carl Jamieson indicated he would drive the pacer in the $300,000 final while son Jody represents Canada in the World Driving Championship in the U.S. next week. (Carl Jamieson drove the first two of his five Battle Of Waterloo winners – Distinctiv Skeeter in the inaugural edition of 1998, and C T Rocket in 2000.)

Jamieson has another contender in the final as Czar Seelster was a 9-1 winner in the first elimination to score his maiden win. The Stonebridge Regal son was bred by the Seelster Farms, breeder of the 2010 winner Prodigal Seelster.

The top four finishers from each elimination and one of the fifth-place finishers drawn by lot advance to the final on Industry Day (August 1).

$300,000 Battle of Waterloo Final
1. Two Guys
2. Red Carpet Dude
3. Machal Angelo
4. Machapelo
5. Warrawee Needy
6. Winbak Warrior
7. Czar Seelster
8. Coach Cal
9. Secretsoftheknight

BATTLE OF THE BELLES
Three divisions of two-year-old pacing fillies were contested for top billing in the $150,000 final on Industry Day.

Sylvain Filion drove two of the three winners, starting with Mindsweeper in the first elimination division. One of five Mach Three fillies in the final, she finished eight lengths over Your Beautiful and Tymal Trilogy.

Battle Of The Belles elim winner Mindsweeper

The 1:55 mile bested the former track record of 1:55.1 set by Village Janus in the final of last year’s Battle of Belles. It also ties the current Canadian and North American season records over a half-mile track set by Class Of O Nine at Flamboro on July 3.
Filion was back in the winner’s circle in the next division with Eat Me Up. She remains unbeaten in four races with a 1:57.1 clocking for trainer Gord Remmen and owner David Ratchford of North Sydney, NS.

Regal Attitude and Cooking The Books rounded out the top three.

The homebred Jeremes Jet lass Classy Lane Rose marked her first career win in the third division. A winner in 1:57.3 for driver Paul MacDonell, she’s owned by trainer Ben Wallace and Jamie Millier.

Almost Midnight was the runner-up for Stephen Gillard who bred, trains and owns the filly. He has two players in the final (stablemate Your Beautiful), both by Your Nemesis — winner of the 1999 Battle Of Waterloo. Palm Patrol rounded out the top three for trainer Rene Laarman and driver Scott Zeron for Glenview Livestock Ltd.

The top three finishers from each division advance to the $150,000 final.

$150,000 Battle of the Belles Final
1. Almost Midnight
2. Tymal Trilogy
3. Regal Attitude
4. Your Beautiful
5. Cooking The Books
6. Palm Patrol
7. Eat Me Up
8. Mindsweeper
9. Classy Lane Rose

* * * Videos of all of the eliminations are posted here. * * *

The 14th annual Battle Of Waterloo and third annual Battle Of The Belles will go postward as races seven and nine respectively during Industry Day at Grand River Raceway on August 1. Post time for race one on Industry Day is 1:30 p.m.

Jamieson will be wearing his official Canadian driving colours and will be available for complimentary photos at the Fan Club booth from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Grand River. Here’s the perfect opportunity for you to wish Jody good luck in the WDC and have that special Kodak moment!

Photos will be posted online for fans to download the next day (July 26).

The 2001 World Driving Champion will also be autographing Faces of Racing postcards for fans and making draws for Fan Club Swag prior to his drives on the evening’s race card.

Jamieson is a three-time winner in the Battle Of Waterloo (2002, 2004, 2006).

Jamieson will leave for the 2011 WDC which is hosted in the United States, on Saturday, July 30. The 20 race tournament, featuring 10 of the world’s finest harness drivers, kicks off on Sunday, July 31 at Harrah’s Chester Casino and Racetrack.

Jody will drive in both Battle of Waterloo elimination races on Monday night and one of the Battle of the Belles’ eliminations. First race post time is 7:10 p.m.

Click here to view the race program for Monday night’s card.

Featuring:
• Two elim divisions for the Battle Of Waterloo
• Three elim divisions for the Battle Of The Belles
• Early Bird Leg of the Industry Day Handicapping Tournament
• Free photos with Jody Jamieson, Canada’s rep at the upcoming World Driving Championship – 6:30 – 7:30

The stage is set for the elimination rounds of Grand River Raceway’s signature race, the 14th annual $300,000 Battle of Waterloo, and its companion race, the third annual $150,000 Battle of the Belles.

A total of 18 freshmen Ontario-sired pacing colts and 24 fillies will face off in three respective divisions on Monday, July 25. The top nine finishers for each Battle will advance to their finals on Industry Day, the track’s annual horse racing celebration, on Monday, August 1.

Headlining the field of colts in the Battle Of Waterloo is Warrawee Needy. Trained by five-time Battle Of Waterloo winner Carl Jamieson, the E Dees Cam colt is undefeated in five career starts and has a Canadian season’s record, track record and Ontario Sires Stakes record to his credit.

A $20,000 purchase at last year’s Canadian Yearling Sale, Warrawee Needy has banked $178,500 for Jamieson and co-owners Tom Kyron, Dr. Michael Wilson and Floyd Marshall. He enters his first race over a half-mile track with a mark of 1:51.4, taken in his first OSS Gold Elimination win at Mohawk Racetrack on June 27. He will be driven by three-time Battle Of Waterloo winner Jody Jamieson. Warrawee Needy will start from the trailing position (post nine) in the final division (race nine).

Gregg and Doug McNair — winners in the 2008 Battle Of Waterloo with Trail Boss — have two hopefuls in OSS Grass Roots winners Aviator Seelster (race four) and Secretsoftheknight (race nine).

Last year’s Battle Of Waterloo winner with Prodigal Seelster, Dave Menary campaigns 2011 hopeful North Shore Boy. Four-time Battle Of Waterloo winner Randy Waples will steer the Jeremes Jet son from the rail in the first division.

Machapelo finished third to Warrawee Needy in their latest OSS Gold Final at Rideau Carleton Raceway on July 18. The Mach Three colt avoids the confrontation in Monday’s eliminations, but lands the outside post (eight) in the first division. He is a winner of $26,450 and will be driven for the first time by Scott Zeron for trainer Mike Keeling.

Your Nemesis and trainer Stephen Gillard won the second edition of the Battle Of Waterloo in 1999, and now the pair are looking for a shot at the Battle Of The Belles with Your Beautiful. She set a Canadian season’s record in her first of two career wins with an impressive 1:55.4 finish in an OSS Grass Roots event at Hiawatha Horse Park on June 30. Stuart Sowerby will drive the winner of $38,500 from post seven in the first division.

Jason Libby trained the 2001 Battle Of Waterloo winner Dreamfair Vogel who retained sole ownership of the 1:55.4 stakes record for five years. His hopeful in this year’s Battle Of The Belles is Fine Art Mindale — the quickest of the bunch with a 1:54.1 score in her latest overnight race at Mohawk Racetrack on July 18. The Modern Art miss is a winner of two from three for earnings of $14,600. She will start from post six in race seven with Phil Hudon.

Ben Wallace also has a contender in race seven with Classy Lane Rose. Paul MacDonell will pilot the Jeremes Jet filly from post three. She rallied hard in her last start from post seven to come from the back of the pack to finish two lengths in the runner-up spot in her own time of 1:53. The homebred miss is co-owned by James Millier.

Post positions for both finals will be drawn on the Tarmac Show at Grand River Raceway on Monday evening. In the Battle Of The Belles eliminations, the top three finishers from each division will advance to the final. The top four finishers in each of the Battle Of Waterloo divisions, plus one of the two fifth-place finishers (as drawn by lot), will advance.

The Battle Of The Belles will be drawn following race eight. The draw for the Battle Of Waterloo will follow race ten. Both draws will be broadcast as part of the track’s simulcast show.

Post time for race one on Monday, July 25 is 7:10 p.m. Both finals will be featured during Grand River Raceway’s marquee event, Industry Day, on Monday August 1, with a special afternoon post of 1:30.