by Frank Salive, for Western Fair Raceway

London, ON — She’s been tabbed as the morning line 5-2 favorite in Monday evening’s (Feb. 5) Mares Preferred Pace at Western Fair Raceway. Another extremely profitable outing should come as little surprise for one of racing’s current overachievers.

The Albert Albert-E V Amanda miss, now 7, was a private acquisition by Windsor based veteran Donnie Rankin, Jr. from breeder Jim Napper of Thamesville, Ontario in March of 2006. She’s put C$84,000 on her card in the ensuing ten months and with post two on Monday evening many will believe she’ll return with her 30th career victory.

All of this is from extremely humble beginnings for Chyna Dee, who seemed shuffled and blocked in her January 29 outing in London when finishing fourth.

Her history shows she was offered for a claiming price of $4,500 at Grand River Raceway in October of 2004. As recently as April of 2005 former owner Napper and former trainer Catherine Gaudreau had her winning for a claiming price of $6,000 at Windsor Raceway.

Rankin is also expected to figure prominently in the outcome of the C$18,400 Preferred Pace in the 11th race Monday evening. His stable’s foundation horse in the new millennium, Savor The Memory, has drawn post six. The Camluck-Save The Memories gelding, now 9, has simply had a new lease on life in the past eight weeks since starting on the lasix program and is adding steadily to his life’s bankroll of C$547,000 and 47 career win total.

A win by Savor The Memory on Monday in London would be an upset, however, since Grand Bend Turbo returns home to start in this event from the trailing post eight after a pair of spins at Woodbine. Grand Bend Turbo scored open lengths wins for trainer Jim Ainsworth and driver Dave Wall in London’s top class as recently as New Year’s Day and January 8.

Gale, McLean Jr. return to work

Since he returned from the long term rehabilitation to recover from the long list from injuries suffered in an automobile accident, 34 year old trainer-driver Jason Gale is making his presence felt when competing in London.

After a January 8 life’s mark win of 1:57.2 at Western Fair, Jason’s mother Janice and Pam Curtis of Windsor made a private purchase of the 5-year-old Spy Hard-Windy Killean pacer Lucky B from Paul Mairs of Chatham, Ontario to help get Jason re-established.

In his first start from Jason’s care the pacer impressed with a vigorous two move outing to finish third by just a length. Lucky B is back in the same class (NW $35,000 lifetime) in Monday evening’s 10th race at Western Fair and is assigned 5-2 early line favorite status. A smoother trip looks very probable since Lucky B has drawn post one.

Also back from the injury list is driver Ray McLean, Jr. He made his 2007 debut on the February 2 card. He’d been sidelined for over a month from the multiple injuries he received in a racing accident before Christmas. McLean was unseated in the late strides of a race and was dragged behind the sulky for several yards before rolling into the infield after the wire.

Chase McEachern Act a step closer To Ontario law

Last Monday evening’s (January 29) emotional program at Western Fair for the Chase McEachern Tribute Fund of the Heart and Stroke Foundation didn’t go unnoticed by those influencing law making in Ontario. The evening’s fundraiser brought a new life saving heart defibrillator to Western Fair to serve horsepeople and grandstand building guests. The night’s target goal of $4,000 was almost tripled. John McEachern, the father of Chase and an ORC employee based in Barrie, Ontario broke a further bit of news.

“Ontario MPP Bruce Crozier from the riding of Essex introduced the Chase McEachern Act a few weeks ago,” John explained. “When passed it will replace the heart defibrillator use civil liability act and ensures that individuals and businesses should not fear installing a defibrillator because they might get sued when trying to save a life. As I understand it, it’s a matter of common sense where someone trying to save a life is a ‘Good Samaritan’ and should be able to react without the fear of being sued for using a defibrillator. Bruce Crozier says this government bill should now be positioned for swift passage at Queen’s Park in Toronto. They seem to be taking notice of the statistic that over 6,500 people die in Ontario each year of a sudden cardiac arrest in places where there was no defibrillator to re-start the heart and save lives.”

At www.brucecrozier.com there’s further background and updates on when The Chase McEachern Act is expected to be sworn into Ontario law.

Molson Pace nomination time

The February 15 deadline is fast approaching for nominations to Western Fair’s signature annual race, the 2007 Molson Pace. Last year, Our Lucky Killean edged Dr No in the final stride in the C$250,000 event.

At www.westernfair.com, the nomination form is found in the raceway & slots section in horsemen’s information and upcoming stakes.

Through June 29, the Western Fair schedule is Monday and Friday evening post time at 7:35 p.m. with Tuesday afternoon cards turning to the gate at 4:05 p.m.