by Susan Schroeder, executive director, Minnesota Harness Racing Inc.

Janesville, MN — Jenni King won her 100th career race at the Cannon Valley (MN) Fair on July 4.

Minnesota Harness Racing photo

Jenni King won her 100th career race at the Cannon Valley (MN) Fair on July 4.

King, who is a Wisconsin native, started her career in harness racing 10 years ago on the Wisconsin fair circuit. Since then she has raced all over the Midwest and beginning in 2008 made her home in Minnesota every summer racing at Running Aces.

This talented horsewoman not only drives and trains but does her own shoeing and shipping and owns most of the horses that she conditions. Her specialty seems to be young trotters and she has had much success in that area.

Her 100th win was with a 2-year-old Minnesota bred trotting colt that was making his first lifetime start.

King’s victory took place at the first county fair of the season, which attracted the biggest crowd in recent memory to the Cannon Valley Fair in Cannon Falls, Minn.

The big draw on the day was for the first 50 entrants into the grandstand when each received either a Nick Roland or Rick Magee drivers button to wear for the afternoon. By picking one of those buttons, those fans were now members of the 4th of July Fan Club. Points were kept during the 14-race card for the afternoon based on how those two drivers fared (six points for win, five for second, four for third, three for fourth, two for fifth and one point for a start); whichever driver had the most points at the end of the day, their fan club members received a personal meet and greet session with that driver and a harness racing t-shirt.

The leader changed many times throughout the day, giving Fan Club members a real rooting interest for the entire card. At the end of the card, Rick Magee prevailed, winning by only a few points and came to the grandstand to meet the members of his Fan Club.

The Minnesota bred fair racing program continues with a one-day program at the Barron County Fair, just over the state line in Rice Lake, Wis., on July 17 and at the Nicollet County Fair, where the Fan Club will re-surface, in St Peter, Minn. on August 6.

There will also be five additional race dates held at county fairgrounds this summer/fall as well as racing held until Labor Day at Running Aces Harness Park, just north of the Twin Cities.

For more information about Minnesota Harness Racing, visit www.mnharness.com.