from Western Fair Media Relations

London, ON — The first stakes of the Fall Meet at The Raceway at Western Fair District get underway on Friday night (Oct. 21) with the opening legs of the Middlesex County Series which will see every one of the 14 races that night a stakes event. The evening also features a $1,064 carryover for the Pick-5.

There are four divisions for the male trotters (races two, six, 10 and 11), mare pacers (races three, five, nine and 13) and male pacers (races four, eight, 12 and 14). Rounding out the card are two divisions for the mare trotters (races one and seven). The Middlesex is for 4-year-old and under Ontario-sired performers which were non-winners of $10,000 lifetime as of September 1 of this year.

Some of the horses to watch on Friday include Indian Lake, a 3-year-old trotting gelding who has post six in the second race with Trevor Henry down to drive for trainer and co-owner Graham Burgess. Indian Lake, a son of the unraced Hes In The Shower, comes into the first Middlesex leg with six wins in nine lifetime starts.

In race 11 Maritime invader Zip The Lip will attempt his third straight win for driver Paul MacKenzie, trainer Jen Rankin and owner Mel Willis. A sophomore gelding by Ken Warkentin, Zip The Lip began this year racing in Prince Edward Island before shipping to Ontario in September. He’s made three starts since then, winning two and finishing second in the other.

Another colt riding a winning streak coming into Friday’s program is the Mach Three son Razor Sharp who has post five in race 12 for Aaron Byron, trainer Ryan Maxwell and owners Doug Millard, Scott Maracle and David Knapp. To date this year Razor Sharp has been just that, starting six times and winning four and finishing second in the other two.

That evening also marks the first of four qualifying contests for the Trot National handicapping championships at the London track on November 12. The four qualifiers will be held Friday and Saturday night as well as on October 28 and 29. The final contest will take place on November 4 with the top three finishers receiving a spot in the national championship.

Friday’s program gets underway at 7:05 p.m. Program pages and live video are available as always at www.westernfairdistrict.com/gaming/raceway. Note that the second leg of the Middlesex Series will be October 28 while the finals will be contested on November 5.