Oak Grove, KY — Amateur driver Dein Spriggs swept the two USHDC amateur events at Oak Grove Racing and Gaming on Sunday and came within one victory of reaching a milestone 500 lifetime wins in North America. He also has several wins overseas.

The 65-year-old Spriggs piloted the Australian bred Gunrneedabgrboat A (Sportswriter) in the first of two events and came back to close out the Sunday program in Kentucky with the Great Britain bred Ayr Pioneer GB (Soulofthematter).

Gunrneedabgrboat A didn’t have the easiest of journeys as he was sent off the wings in a hurry but found himself third and double bubbled through an opening panel in a sizzling 26.3 before finding a spot and getting a bit of a breather until the backside after a :55.2 half. Gunrneedabgrboat A took up the chase again, grinding to the front turning for home and after three quarters in 1:24.3, widened his lead to 2-3/4 lengths at the wire in 1:54. Pike Rock, with Adarryl Gates in the bike, finished second after a heady, patient drive while Rollinroz, handled by Jafari Frazier, was next after threatening in the late stages.

The win was the third of the year for the 9-year-old gelding Gunrneedabgeboat A in 17 starts, good for $22,505, pushing his lifetime bankroll to $187,882 — $159,248 earned on North American soil. The winner is trained by Jim “Trey” Brinson for owner Steve McDaniel Jr. Second choice in the betting, Gunrneedabgrboat A returned $8.20 to win.

In the finale, Ayr Pioneer GB also left the gate with alacrity in his event and led at every pole for Spriggs, carving out panels of :27, :56.1 and 1:25.2 before the gelded 8-year-old used a :28.1 finale to seal the deal by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:53.3 over a lightning fast oval. Once again, driver Adarryl Gates finished second with the 44-1 Meant Tobe Shooter with Border Control A third for Travis Williams Jr.

The win was number six in 16 season’s starts for Ayr Pioneer GB with his earnings vaulting to $29,315 in the USA — more than his international total in five seasons before heading across the Atlantic Ocean. The mile time was a new lifetime mark with the winner off at 3-5 and paying $3.18 to his multitude of faithful. Ayr Pioneer GB is trained by Tony Dinges for Spriggs, who co-owns with Harmon Racing Stable.

In a post race interview, Spriggs related, “Both of my horses were really sharp today with the first one (Gunrneedabgrboat A) really overcoming a tough trip. He really impressed me today.

“The Great Britain horse (Ayr Pioneer GB) showed me something today with his speed and staying power, especially with the fast fractions.

“The track is really in great shape here and the times are proof of that!”

But the big winner of the afternoon was Volunteer Equine Associates (VEA) after receiving a $1,000 donation from the amateur club to continue their most worthy cause of aiding neglected, malnourished or abused horses. Now in their 20th year, they have rescued over 1,200 horses.

Over 20 members of VEA were on hand for the Sunday festivities, which included rides in the starting gate and visits to the announcer’s booth with the famed Robin Burns. As one person in the group related, “Now that was something special.”

In response, Spriggs said, “Now that is what harness racing and our amateur clubs can do for the sport. You can’t put a price tag of worth on that!”