RUS Fair Final To Be Held Before Harness Races

Horses are seen four across the track at Tioga County Fair in Owego. 

Saratoga To Be Site For This Year’s Championship

With the county fair racing now wrapped up, the top point-getters of the 2017 RUS New York Fair Series will converge at Saratoga Casino and Hotel to compete for a championship title. 

The non-wagering exhibition will be held at 6:15 p.m., Friday, Sept. 15 before the New York Sire Stake’s County Fair Finals and regular racing card. A promotional table will be set up after the race to provide racing fans a chance to meet the riders, purchase RUS NY merchandise and learn more about the unique sport and the versatility of the Standardbred breed. 

All participants will receive $600 for earning their way into the final race. The Saratoga Harness Horseperson’s Association is donating $200 per horse entered. The winner will also receive a championship cooler.

A High Point Rider Award will once again be presented at the final to the rider who has earned the most points, regardless of horse(s) ridden throughout the series. This year’s prize has been donated by Carhart’s Harness Shop and the newly added Feed and Pet Supply in Vernon. To be eligible for the award, riders must participate in at least three races. 

The series was made possible thanks to the $5,000 grant provided by the NYSS as initial purse money. This marks the fourth year of the series, which included nine races at fairs across the state. Horses are required to compete in at least three races throughout the series to be allowed entry into the championship race.

Horses Eligible For The Final: 

Railroad Lane- leads the group going into the final with 175 points. The 4-year-old gelding (CHIP CHIP HOORAY - KATIE'S GOLD CARD - STRIKING SAHBRA) has raced in five fair races with Michelle Miller aboard. The duo finished the fair series strong with three victories in a row. Their first outing resulted in a DNF, but besides that, the pair hasn't been worse than second. Railroad Lane is owned by Miller and Lance Diehl and trained by Michael Miller. 

Admirable Hanover-  (CANTAB HALL - ALMOST AN ANGEL - CROWNING POINT) will be defending his title, as he was named the winner of last year’s fair final at Batavia Downs. The 10-year-old’s owner and trainer, Vanessa Karlewicz, has ridden the gelding to two victories and a second place finish in three fair races this season earning him 125 points. 

Iron Will - is no stranger to the fair circuit having been ridden the past few years by Heather Reese. He did not participate in the finals last year, but was a contender the year before. The 11-year-old (CREDIT WINNER - ARMBRO ARCHER - S J'S PHOTO) raced in three races earning 112 points with two victories and a third place finish.  The gelding is owned by the J Sansone Stables and trained by Jen Sansone. 

R George - is probably the longest shot on the board so to speak (as there is no betting on RUS). This horse is retired and no longer races in harness. However, the 12-year-old gelding has competed in more series’ races than any other horse earning 107 points at six fairs. R George (R BLAKE - MEGHAN LANE - LINDY LANE) has been ridden by less experienced riders Codie Smith and Kara Duh as well as by owner Michelle Miller. The chestnut, trained by Michael Miller, never earned a victory, but placed second three times and third twice.

One True Friend- earned her way into the finals with 100 points. The 10-year-old mare has been ridden to one fair race victory by partial owner Hillary Hartnett this season. The duo has participated in four races including two second-place finishes and a DNF. While the fairs have not proved to be a strong suit for this pair, do not count them out as they have shown to be a threat on bigger tracks with a victory at Tioga Downs and a strong second place at Vernon Downs. One True Friend (DREAM VACATION - ELOUERA - WESGATE CROWN) is trained by Wesley Miller who also has part ownership. 

Boy Can She Fly- is being leased by Vanessa Karlewicz to be used specifically for RUS as

she was no longer competing in harness. The 6-year-old mare has only been getting stronger under saddle throughout the season. She has had a few passengers aboard her this year including Karlewicz, Codie Smith and Michelle Miller. Having participated in three races, Boy Can She Fly (INCREDIBLE ABE - LADY ISABELLA - SIR TAURUS) was able to compile a first, second and third place finish accumulating 87 points. 

The current standings of qualified riders for the Rider Award are as follows:

Michelle Miller (258), Vanessa Karlewicz (187), Heather Reese (112) Hillary Hartnett (100), Kara Duh (62). No matter the outcome of the final, Michelle Miller has earned enough points to take on the honor this year. 

What is Racing Under Saddle: 

Also known as Monte Racing, RUS, is a hybrid between harness racing and thoroughbred racing. The sport consists of a rider atop a Standardbred (generally a trotter) in a saddle instead of pulling a sulky.  RUS is an exciting part of international standardbred racing and is conducted daily at most european tracks as part of their regular pari-mutuel wagering programs. 

The Fair Series is organized by RUS NY, an organization that helps coordinate and promote under saddle races across the state. The main goal is to promote the unique sport,  educate about the versatility of the Standardbred breed as both a racing and a riding horse and to help Standardbreds find great homes after they finish their days on the track.

To keep up on RUS NY happenings follow the group on  Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr. 

• Facebook.com/RUSNYSeries
• Twitter.com/RUS_NewYork
• http://rus-newyork.blogspot.com
• Rus-newyork.com