by Kelly Spencer, marketing and communications manager, Grand River Raceway

Elora, ON — Following three hotly contested elimination rounds on July 28, the field is set for Grand River Raceway’s signature event, the 11th annual Battle of Waterloo. The top three finishers from each elimination advance to the C$300,000 final during the track’s marquee event, Industry Day, on August 4.

Guelph trainer Gregg McNair enters the final with two hopefuls. Daylon Artist traveled gate-to-wire with driver Trevor Henry in the first elimination to record his first career win. McNair co-owns the Modern Art-Ara Newton colt with Leonard Gamble. Josh Seelster and driver Mark MacDonald finished second for trainer Casie Coleman with a three-wide move at the last quarter marker. Garrick Seelster rounded out the top three for trainer and co-owner Ben Wallace.

Go West Lucky Cam (Camluck-Our May West) recorded the quickest finish of the night with a 1:56.4 score in the second elimination for trainer Robert McIntosh. Trail Boss was a fast-closing second for McNair, followed by the betting favorite Riopelle with Jody Jamieson.

Jamieson secured a second spot in the final with a winning effort aboard Western Heart in the final elimination dash. The Western Terror-Heart Ofthe Matter colt won by a quarter-length over Rescue Plan, who made a huge recovery following an early miscue for driver Mike Langdon and trainer Kevin O’Reilly. Silver Sunset and Mike Saftic rounded out the top three for trainer John Pentland.

Battle Trainers: Trainer Carl Jamieson has won the Battle of Waterloo every other year since the race’s inception in 1998. If the pattern holds true, 2008 is his year to conquer once more. Trainer John Pentland finished second to Somebeachsomewhere in last year’s edition. Gregg McNair has finished in the runner-up spot in the Battle of Waterloo final on two occasions (1999 and 2001), but has yet to win it. Ben Wallace and Robert McIntosh have had a handful of starters in past editions, but are still looking for their first victory. Casie Coleman and Kevin O’Reilly are making their Battle Of Waterloo debuts this year.

Post positions for the C$300,000 Battle Of Waterloo final were drawn following the last elimination round on July 28. The field is as follows:

$300,000 Battle of Waterloo
1. Western Heart
2. Trail Boss
3. Garrick Seelster
4. Silver Sunset
5. Daylon Artist
6. Rescue Plan
7. Go West Lucky Cam
8. Josh Seelster
9. Riopelle

Post time for Grand River Raceway’s Industry Day event on August 4 is 2:00 p.m. For complete event info, visit www.grandriverraceway.com.