by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink

Dundas, ON — This Sunday night (May 8), Mother’s Day at Flamboro Downs, is when Sydney “Pinky” Seelster’s newborn foal, a filly, will be officially named after a month long contest held by Harnesslink.com.

Pinky’s owner, 15-year-old Sydney Weaver of Acton, has narrowed the list of nearly 500 names submitted from around the world to just six finalists and after the eighth race on Sunday at Flamboro Downs, the official name will be announced.

The top prize winner will receive a breeding to two-time world champion pacer He’s Watching, who stands at both Tara Hills Farm in Port Perry and Alabar Bloodstock in New Zealand. He’s Watching’s stud fee for the 2016 season is $5,000.

The breeding was generously donated by Muscara Racing Trust, Menary Racing, Inc., Brad Gray and Michael Guerriero. There is also a second place prize of $500 in free wagers on WatchandWager.com. That prize winner will also be announced after the eighth race.

“This was so hard and also so much fun,” said Sydney Weaver. “There were too many great names that people came up with. I feel sad that only one of the names will be used.

“I want to thank everyone that took the time to enter a name, and especially say thank you to my friend and editor, Steve Wolf at Harnesslink, who set up the whole contest. Now I just have to be patient until Sunday night and then my little filly will have a name.”

Of the names submitted, 44.7 percent came from Canada, 39.9 percent from the USA, 7.8 percent from Australia and New Zealand and the remaining 7.6 percent from Ireland, UK and Europe.

After the eighth race Sunday, Flamboro Downs track announcer Gary Guy will be joined in the grandstand by Sydney Weaver and her parents, Lisa and Don, for the special live and unique naming ceremony.

“I also must say thank you again to Joe Bellino, who donated the breeding to Pet Rock for Pinky,” Sydney Weaver said, “and to the owners of He’s Watching for their generosity in offering the first place prize and to WatchandWager for the second place prize and to Flamboro Downs for allowing the naming to take place at the track on Sunday. Everyone has been so super throughout the contest.”

Sydney Weaver is 15 years old and resides in Acton, Ontario. She has been involved with harness racing for years, grooms horses, jogs them on the track, owns the Standardbred Sydney “Pinky” Seelster, a Thoroughbred racehorse, has already won major youth writing awards and does public speaking. Sydney also has Cerebral Palsy and spends most of her time in a wheelchair, but has never let her disability hold her back from achieving her goals.