by Robert McCabe

Elkhorn, WI — Racing concluded this past weekend in Elkhorn with a few ups and downs. Mother Nature tried her hardest to put a crimp into racing this year. Early morning rain Saturday made racing look doubtful. With the help of fair director Dave Adams, Mark Swinehart and Bill Mohr, the track was back in shape and ready for racing.

Then just as the first race hit the track the skies opened up again. With the help and co-operation of all the horsemen the first heats were able to be completed. For the safety of the horses and drivers it was decided the second heats would have to be canceled.

The winner of the feature race of the day, the Lord Steward Trot, was Windsong Erica in a sloppy 2:12.3 for driver Gabe Wand and Susan Schroeder.

Rains overnight caused more headache for the horsemen on Sunday. Again Swinehart and Mohr worked their magic and after a half-hour delay in post we were ready to race.

Western Deal with driver Rick Schultze won the Why Bill pace in 2:05.4. Arizona Gabe with the meet’s leading driver Jay Garrels won the Concret Ribbon in 2:05. Garrels won six races on the Sunday card.

The race everyone was waiting for was the Packer Pace which was won by Mr Creepy in the fastest mile of the meet, 2:04.3, with Jay Garrels. To present the trophy to the winner was legendary Packer great Leroy Butler, who was contacted by superintendent of speed, Dyan McCabe, to see if he’d be willing to present the trophy in honor of the Packers’ Super Bowl win and to also help raise funds for his foundation with an auction of Packer merchandise that was held between heats on Sunday.

The auction was a very big success for Wisconsin horsemen and Butler, who raised nearly $10,000 for his foundation. The Leroy Butler Foundation raises funds to support women going though breast cancer treatment. To see the support from the crowd that we had Sunday made all the hard work and effort put in by all worthwhile.