by Kawartha Downs

Fraserville, ON — It was the Bax brothers show following tonight’s Goodtimes Invitational at Kawartha Downs while Reg Gassien captured the Shorelines Drivers’ Championship thanks to two victories in the five-race competition.

John Bax trained and co-owned the incomparable trotter Goodtimes who is now 25 and a member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. He was on hand tonight to autograph posters of his famous horse and make the trophy presentation to the winner of the Goodtimes Invitational, Kawartha’s signature race.

racehorsephoto.com photo

John and Russell Bax and their families pose with Ramas Last Son after his victory in tonight’s Goodtimes Invitational.

It proved a very exciting race with Covert Operative and Ramas Last Son battling down the stretch. Ramas Last Son prevailed by a head in 1:57 for Gord Brown, while Covert Operative, with Gord Brown up had to settle for second. KD regular Chuckalo Caden finished third.

The winner is trained and owned by John’s brother Russell Bax so it was Bax presenting to Bax in the winner’s circle. Ramas Last Son, a five-year-old son of Majestic Son, finished third in last year’s inaugural Goodtimes Invitational. This was his fourth win of the 2016 season and put his earnings over C$54,000 for the year.

“We’re really grateful to Kawartha for honouring Goodtimes each year. This is where he started his career and where he ended it so it’s always fun to come back. With Russell winning it just makes it that much more special,” noted John.

The Shorelines Drivers’ Championship proved a very exciting six race contest among Kawartha’s top nine drivers this year: Gord Brown, Reg Gassien, Tony Kerwood, Nick Boyd, Justin Turcotte, Murray Brethour, Pat Rouleau, Doug Hie and Rick Webb.

Gassien captured the first race, Kerwood the second, Boyd the next and Turcotte the following. Heading into the last race it was anyone’s to win but Gassien sealed it up with a victory aboard Royal Machery. Tony Kerwood ended up second while Nick Boyd was third.

It was a hat trick on the card for Gassien who also won the first race, the OLG Trot, with Early Hit. Gassien also trains the winner who was scoring his third win in 10 tries this year.

Racing returns to the Fraserville oval next Saturday night (Sept. 10) at 7 p.m. It is our second of two Memorial Nights.