by Frank Salive, for Clinton Raceway

Clinton, ON — Though the day will be dedicated to charitable causes the spirit of competition will be front and center as the final live program for the 2008 season turns to the starting gate at Clinton Raceway on Sunday afternoon, September 21, at 1:30 p.m.

“I have a score to settle because I didn’t win the drivers’ charity challenge at Clinton last year,” says Canada’s leading reinsman this year, Jody Jamieson. “I’ll be really focused on Sunday to the point that it might not be fair to the other drivers. “I’ll be at the top of my game and they’ll all have to park me out and shut me out of all racing positions…that’s how much I think I’m the favorite going into this. Of course I’m expecting the other drivers to have their game faces on too. It should be a great day and we’re all really pleased with donating our fees to the Ontario Harness Horse Association (OHHA) Racetrack Chaplaincy.”

“I understand Jody’s talking a big game but he’s not the only one with a score to settle in Clinton’s annual drivers’ charity challenge,” says Mike Saftic. “I’m going up there on Sunday to win it after being so close last year. I know I speak for all the drivers when I say we really enjoy going to Clinton, they do such a great job up there, and when we’re called to the gate on Sunday it’s definitely ‘game on’ to do all I can to beat the other seven guys out there. Jody’s stirring the pot by calling me the ‘senior citizen’ of this drivers’ challenge. Fine. I guess we’ll just have to let our driving do the talking on Sunday in Clinton.”

Here is the drivers’ line-up for Clinton Raceway’s 27th Annual Charity Challenge:

Jody Jamieson, 31, over 4,100 lifetime wins and C$51 million in purse earnings;
Mike Saftic, 46, over 4,200 lifetime wins and C$75 million in purse earnings;
Mark MacDonald, 29, over 4,000 lifetime wins and C$46 million in purse earnings;
Jason Brewer, 30, over 2,000 lifetime wins and C$13 million in purse earnings;
Brad Forward, 37, over 2,900 lifetime wins and C$17 million in purse earnings;
Bruce Richardson, 37, over 1,700 lifetime wins and C$10 million in purse earnings;
Mike Horner, 40, over 1,900 lifetime wins and C$10 million in purse earnings;
Alfie Carroll, 23, over 200 lifetime wins and C$1.5 million in purse earnings.

Still another tradition to be continued on Sunday’s card in Clinton will be the Ray McLean Memorial Pace. This year’s Free For All Pace will again carry a purse of C$25,000.