Oak Grove, KY – The United States Harness Driving Club honored the Christian County Cattlemen’s Association as Oak Grove Racing & Gaming concludes its highly successful 2026 season this week.
Beaumont Hanover, driven by Adarryl Gates Jr., took top honors on this day, completing USHDC’s seventh charitable contribution, and Gates aspired to put the Club’s “gifts of giving” in the limelight this day.
Gates said, “Our entire Club is so focused on surrounding communities, counties and beyond and that’s what we’ve been about for the past (30) years as we donate all of our earnings for charitable causes.”
USHDC President Dein Springs echoed Gates’ thoughts and added, “None of this would have been possible without the backing of this racing association and their outstanding Director of Racing Cara Collins and Race Secretary Mike Hollenbeck.
“They are the ones that, even with their incredibly crowded stakes events, made sure that our USHDC events were scheduled and raced, week-after-week, providing the opportunity to fund our events from the generosity of our members.
“Cara and Mike go beyond the norm to make sure that we are squeezed in and that brings out new fans every week for our charitable presentations, along with backstretch tours, trips to the announcer’s booth and rides in the starting gate to get the exuberant feeling of the races.”
USHDC Treasurer Tom Eichas added, “Without Cara and Mike, these contributions would not be possible and there are no words in any thesaurus sufficient to show our thanks to them.
“We were able to able to provide much needed assistance to seven different worthy charitable organizations from sanctuaries for our horses and further training for therapeutic purposes to community 4-H clubs and we look forward to partnering with Cara, Mike and the Oak Grove Racing & Gaming team for many years.”
As for the USHDC race itself, Gates gives Beaumont Hanover a rousing drive start-to-finish as the 9-year-old gelded son of Sportswriter survived an outer post (6), a :26.4 opening panel vying for the lead and several assaults throughout the journey to score a photo-finish win in 1:54.4.
Trained by Matt Rodriguez for Garcia Power Inc., Beaumont Hanover won by a head over Anns Marina Delray, driven by Cassidy Whitton, with Caviart Stoney third, three lengths away for Danarius Dortch.
The favored Gazoo, with Peter Kleinhans in the sulky, was next after being outside every step of the mile and threatening the leader until the field tuned for the money.
Whelk Blue Chip, with OD Johnson driving, far back early after beginning from post 9, managed to pick up the nickel.
Gates had Beaumont Hanover flying off the wings and took charge from the quick leaving Caviart Stoney at that :26.4 opener with Gazoo third outside and grinding forward as that one moved into a challenging second past the half in :55.1.
Beaumont Hanover and Gaza raced as a team past the third station in 1:24.4 with Anns Marina Delray on a double-bubble binge and gaining.
In the lane, Beaumont clung to a diminishing advantage as Anns Marina Delray kept churning away, but the photo-finish camera proved Beaumont Hanover the narrow winner.
The win, his third of the year in 14 starts, was a milestone one for Beaumont Hanover, as he vaulted over the $500,000 mark in career earnings—$500,575—and he rewarded his faithful with a $2 win payoff of $17.72 as fifth choice in the betting.
For Gates Jr. it was also a milestone as USHDC President Dein Spriggs advised Gates that he has been chosen to represent the Club in the amateur event in Delaware, Ohio, during the week of the Little Brown Jug.
The racing season at Oak Grove Racing & Gaming concludes on Wednesday (July 15) with a robust, stakes-filled program.