The tiny Ontario track opens its 54th season today and will play host to the 12th edition of Legends Day on June 30 – complete with a new twist.

by Matthew Lomon

Every racetrack around Ontario has its signature event. What makes each one unique, however, is not purse size or television ratings, but rather the infusion of a town’s identity that cannot be imitated or reproduced elsewhere.

Today (May 19) is opening day at Clinton Raceway, home of one of harness racing’s greatest events and charitable efforts over the last 25 years.

Ian Fleming, Clinton Raceway’s general manager and 2019 Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee, came up with the idea for a Legends Day in the early 2000s.

The vibrant program featuring and feting Hall of Fame drivers Keith and Ron Waples, John Campbell, Bill O’Donnell, Buddy Gilmour, Clint Galbraith, Mike Lachance and Ray Remmen – all Canadian natives -allowed the half-mile track to showcase that immense driving talent, while also supporting community members.

“Every track has an event,” Fleming said. “We’re just trying to come up with one that would be unique, and not only draw some interest to our track but raise money for local initiatives. That’s something we’ve always tried to do.

“We’ve always dedicated that day to a cause, whether it be to the hospital or the local school. At the end of the day, we’re trying to showcase racing and raise some money for local causes at the same time.”

Since debuting in 2001, the biennial event has raised more than $330,000 for local organizations.

That number is set to rise, once more, with the 12th edition of Clinton’s signature meet making its highly anticipated return on Sunday (June 30).

“It’s by far our biggest day,” Fleming said. “Once we have Legends Day, two years later is our next biggest day.”

Fleming says the once-every-two-years model works well for Legends Day. That way, the event doesn’t risk going stale and Clinton’s team has more time to plan the one-of-a-kind experience that the town of 3,200 has come to love.

“For people in racing, it’s a chance to come out and see people that they wouldn’t normally see,” he said. “A lot of the drivers that come out on Legends Day are the ones that are actively seen on TV, but even the ones that aren’t active still come back to it.

“It’s a chance for people to come and see them when they wouldn’t get to otherwise, which is something really unique.”

The lineup has changed slightly each time Legends Day is held, but recent participants include harness racing royalty in the form of Hall of Famers Campbell, Ron Waples, Trevor Ritchie, Dave Wall, Doug Brown, Steve Condren and Paul MacDonell.

Together, they account for nearly 50,000 career wins and purse earnings exceeding $806 million. They are all returning for this year’s Legends Day.

As far as what else fans can expect this go around, Fleming says all the on- and off-track cornerstones, including the Kin Pace eliminations and crowd favorite post-race barbecue chicken dinner, will remain in place.

The hometown horseman also noted that all funds received from ticket purchases will go directly to the Clinton Public Hospital Foundation.

This year’s Legends Day, however, is set to feature something a little different than past iterations.

The added flare comes as a result of Clinton’s collaboration with The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, designed to bring a new element to the track’s timeless celebration.

Officially branded as ‘The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Reunion at Legends Day,’ Fleming has high hopes heading into the big day.

“This year, we’re going to be inviting all the members that are in the Hall of Fame and the families of people that are in the Hall of Fame,” Fleming said. “That’s something we’ve never done before. We’re going to try and get some more people out that day, and when people see some of the families that are going to be there it might encourage them to come and see everyone.

“We hope it’ll be a reunion of sorts.”

Having played an integral role in driving the evolution of Legends Day, the selfless Fleming took pause to recognize the drivers for their unwavering commitment to Clinton’s title event.

“You have to remember, these people are coming up for free, so we appreciate them taking a day to be here,” he said. “Sometimes, they could have other places they have to be. They may come up and have a good day once they’re here, but it’s quite a commitment during a busy time of year to take a day out of their schedules and come to Clinton, and that means a lot to us.”

Legends Day also means a lot to the little town with a long tradition of supporting horse racing; even if the event is held just once every 730 days.

“We get horsepeople that maybe just come once a year and we get people in the local community that want to support the track, they want the track to stay, and they want the hospital to do well, too,” Fleming said. “Legends Day gives people a chance to support two things at the same time.”

Clinton regulars, on the other hand, won’t have to wait until June 30 to satisfy either their harness racing or philanthropic itch. In true Clinton fashion, community is at the core of all of its race cards this summer.

“We have 15 Sundays and 15 different groups that we’ll be highlighting throughout the year,” Fleming said. “We’re doing a fundraiser every day we race and that helps get the local people out knowing they’re supporting something local.”

Central Huron High School in East Clinton will be the first local institution to benefit from the return of racing.

Meanwhile, Fleming also provided an update on the Raceway’s grandstand improvement project. Although it won’t be ready in time for opening day, Clinton’s GM said his team should have a better timeline very soon.

“We’re hopeful, of course,” he said. “We ran into some cost issues two years ago when we were trying to get it done. We’ve reworked some of it and we’re hopeful we’ll get something going this fall. We should know in another month or so.”

Fleming cited the renovation as a key cog in his team’s mission to introduce more people in that part of Ontario to harness racing.

“It would be nice to make it more accessible to the new patio area, which would be good for bringing out new people,” he said. “The entertainment business, of course, is trying to attract new people, and a fresher facility will certainly help in that regard.”

Clinton’s gates will open at noon on Legends Day, with live racing starting at 1:30 p.m., and the HPIBet Legends Day Trot set for 4:30 p.m.