Top drivers race for kids at the Corner
Standardbred stars donating their fees
The toughest performers in town might be the athletes, both four- or two- legged, at Woodbine these refrigerated days and nights. The thoroughbred season creeps to its conclusion, suffering so many weather-related cancellations that there’s word of a 14- race season finale next Sunday. Plenty of chances to get even — or even worse, as the saying goes. The standardbreds, though, are almost too tough to miss a card. A little snow and cold doesn’t stop them. A lot might. Most of these horses grew up locally and know snow. They’ve all run around their paddocks in it as children.
Harness racing lacks either an opening day or end of season, but there’s talk, enthusiastically endorsed by all polled in the paddock, that Woodbine’s commanding officers are considering reinstituting a 10- day break around Christmas. They did it at Greenwood, back in the days, and started up again Boxing Day. Filled the joint. Maybe next year. In the meantime, it’s good for the Jim Proudfoot Corner that the trotters and pacers are hard at work because seven of this country’s best drivers — and there are flat- out no better drivers, in the world, than Canadians — are racing for kids at Christmas.
Tonight marks the third of four consecutive Mondays that the seven, in a plan initiated by Luc Ouellette, the Woodbine-Mohawk circuit’s main man statistically, are donating their driving fees — 5 per cent of their horse’s earnings — to the Corner. Ouellette, beginning his third season here after years of starring at The Meadowlands in New Jersey, started this particular ball rolling a year ago and Chris Christoforou, Rick Zeron and Paul Macdonell, next in order in races won on the 2005 circuit, jumped aboard. The 2004 take was about $ 14,000 for the Corner, which bought a ton of gift boxes. Some 45,000 will be distributed across the GTA this time, each containing a warm sweater, hat, mitts, socks, book, toy and candy. New this year, younger kids get a toothbrush and toothpaste and the older ones get a gift certificate for a night at the movies, popcorn included.
Three of the brightest young driving stars in the game have signed on for the Corner this year. Mark Macdonald, striding daily toward the record for most wins in a season in Canada, has joined in, along with Jody Jamieson and Phil Hudon. If you’re counting, the seven have won more than 2,000 races this year. That’s a lot of horsepower and in Macdonald’s case, especially, put fresh batteries in the calculator. He does double duty, Flamboro Downs in the afternoon and Woodbine at night, and is within a couple dozen wins of Christoforou’s record one-year target of 643. Cold weather? What cold weather? He’s loving every minute of it.
It was an old racing primer that anybody steering a horse needed to remember to turn left at every corner. Here are seven guys who know exactly what to do with another kind of Corner. The kids couldn’t have a better bunch on their side. Meanwhile, plenty of envelopes have appeared as we start nearing the homestretch for the $ 1.35 million required for the gifts. The Fielding name is significant in racing and $500 arrived as John, Jim and Bill Fielding made sure the Fielding grandchildren remember their Uncle Peter. Proudfoot’s great pal Donnie Graham, a former driver and NHL scout, added $100 and, as always, a warm note.
In this Year of the Veteran, Corner regulars Karen and Ross Mason of North York remembered their fathers, George A. Sayers and C. J. Mason, veterans both. Another $ 500, from Norman and Donna Smith of Toronto, honours the memory of Edythe Schofield, who passed away recently at 97. A handful of 50s arrive, from Stuart Evans of Uxbridge, J. Murray Henderson of North York, former Star man Peter Kitto of Oakville and, in memory of
Rick Fraser, from his pal Duke Johnson in Markham. A final $200 comes anonymously to honour Tom Pittman, Nels Brigden and Brian Farrell, coaches of the Toronto minor mosquito baseball champion North York Blues. To help out, send a cheque payable to Jim Proudfoot Corner c/ o Dave Perkins, Toronto Star Sports Dept., One Yonge St., Toronto M5E 1E6.