Monticello Raceway To Host RUS Fair Series Final

Sophie Engerran and Funny Photo lead during a race at 'Little World's Fair' in Hemlock.

Field Of Seven Qualify For Championship

Fair racing may be over, but the racing action is not. The biggest race is yet to come.

Now it all comes down to naming a winner. The top point-getters of the 2018 RUS New York Fair Series will converge at Monticello Raceway to compete for a championship title. The non-wagering exhibition will be held Thursday, Sept. 6 along with the New York Sire Stake’s County Fair Finals and regular racing card. Post time is set for 12:50 p.m. with no set race number or time set for RUS yet.

All participants will receive $500 for earning their way into the final race. Host track Monticello Raceway is putting up $2,500 toward the purse and covering insurance expenses. The winner will also receive a championship cooler.

A High Point Rider Award will be presented at the final to Vanessa Karlewicz for earning the most points throughout the series. This year’s prize has been donated by Carhart’s Harness Shop and the 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 fifth year of the series, which included eight races at seven fairs across the state. A rainout prevented racing action at Oneida County fair this year but all horses that showed to race earned a point toward the final. 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:

Vanessa Karlewicz brings Flowing James to get a 

winning picture at Tioga County Fair.

Flowing James- leads the group going into the final with 200 points. The 13-year-old bay gelding is undefeated on the fair circuit having raced at four fairs with Vanessa Karlewicz aboard. The duo finished the fair series strong and look to be the ones to beat in the final. Look for this horse to leave hard and try to maintain strong to the finish.

Cathy Gearwar and Armbro Hall edge out Vanessa 

Karlewicz and Flowing James at Goshen Historical Track. 

Armbro Hall - has only lost one race in the fair series and that was to Flowing James at Afton fair. The 5-year-old bay gelding and rider Cathy Gearwar are new to the under saddle scene, but have proven to be strong contenders winning two of three races. The pair were also victorious in their first race together in a racing under saddle event at Goshen Historical Track right before the fair series kicked off. They go into the final with 126 points.

Funny Photo getting a victory 

at Wayne County in Palmyra.

Funny Photo - is nipping at the heels of Armbro Hall with 125 points. This 9-year-old chestnut and rider Sophie Engerran have a couple years racing under saddle under their belts and hold a track record at Vernon Downs. The duo has won two out of three races only losing out to Flowing James in Morris. Engerran may be the most experienced rider in the race having ridden in France before continuing her passion of RUS in the states.

Fox Valley Photog and rider
Michelle Miller before a race.

Fox Valley Photog- is another chestnut earning his way into the final with 63 points having participated in three races. The 12-year-old made his racing under saddle debut in Hemlock after qualifying in 2:05.0 at Vernon Downs. Michelle Miller has been riding for trainer Dave Dewhurst. The pair have yet to see the winner’s circle, but if the horse stays flat he shows speed. Don’t count him out.

Codie Smith and My Man Ben at
Otsego County Fair in Morris.

My Man Ben- is the oldest in the field to qualify for the final. The 16-year-old bay gelding shows a lot of speed off the gate but has been defeated at the end so he has yet to see the winner’s circle. He and rider Codie Smith have participated in three races having earned two second place finishes and a third earning 63 points toward the final.

Michelle Miller & Railroad Lane.

Railroad Lane- is not having the year he had last year as he earned high point horse last season. The 5-year-old has earned 62 points having raced in four races for co-owner and rider Michelle Miller. The brown gelding has been getting stronger as the season continues and is one that does not leave the gate  hard but could make up ground toward the end of the race. This duo has proven they could capture victories in the past, the pair just need to make it click at the right time.

Hillary Hartnett riding 

Caroline's Angel.

Caroline’s Angel- has not proven to stay flat at the fairs but had an impressive 2:03.3 outing her first time under saddle during a qualifier at Vernon Downs. The 4-year-old black mare earned her way into the final with 17 points by participating in two races and earning a point for a rainout at Oneida County Fair. She will be ridden by Hillary Hartnett, who rode One True Friend to victory in last year’s fair final.  

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

  
  
  

  

  Fox Valley Photog and Flowing James behind the gate at Tompkins County in Trumansburg.