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Ol? Bucky and reporter turn in solid performance

BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW [email protected] The roar of the crowd was difficult to hear as the ground beneath animal and driver was trembling from 1000-plus pound equines storming around the track.
BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
The roar of the crowd was difficult to hear as the ground beneath animal and driver was trembling from 1000-plus pound equines storming around the track.

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Northern Life reporter Scott Hunter Haddow couldn?t take the smile off his face riding Almahurst Bucky during a media race Saturday night. Ol? Bucky went from almost being asleep before the race to turning it up to finish second. The race was Ol? Bucky?s final trip. Haddow, who hates to lose, is considering retiring as a driver.
The action was thick and heavy at Sudbury Downs this past weekend and I was proud to be involved in the Sudbury Downs Media Race. I raced against local radio men John Kennedy from Z103, Brett Collins from Q92 and Rich Griffen from EZRock, who was the defending champion from last year.

About two weeks ago, I did a practice run at the track to get my feet wet and get comfortable in the sulky. I grew up on a farm in St. Charles and my stepdad, Mack, was in the harness racing business. He owned several horses over the years. I had no problems being around these powerful, energized animals. I also have done my fair share of mucking out stalls.

Before the actual race, I was dressed in a white and red racing suit and had a chance to ?bond? with my horse.
I was given a horse by the name of Almahurst Bucky. He was 13 years old and one of the oldest horses at the
track. This was to be Ol? Bucky?s last race.

I asked Bucky if he had enough left in him for one last good show. He obviously didn?t answer back. Bucky was quite relaxed. Maybe a little too relaxed, as it looked like he was going to fall asleep. Nonetheless, he snapped out it when the cart was attached. Ol? Bucky came alive and started to bounce around. He was ready and so was I. Kennedy was on a horse called Ironstone Bingo, Collins was driving Terrific Rain and Griffen was riding Pressy Boy.

The four of us got our horses lined up with the starter truck and we all got off to a clean start.

Griffen and Pressy Boy blasted out to a fast lead. I looked for a hole, but quickly found myself in third place. This
was only a one-lap race, so I had to let it all hang out.

At the first corner, Griffen was pulling away. His experience was coming in handy. Collins was firmly holding second, while Kennedy and I battled it out for third and fourth.

As we stampeded down the backstretch the race opened up just a bit. Griffen was leaving us in his dust, Collins was tight against the rail and Kennedy was making his move on the outside. I let the reins loose on Ol? Bucky and let out a few boisterous YEEHAS! He responded by kicking it up a few gears.

Bucky and I thundered by Collins on the rail and pulled away from Kennedy. As we rounded into the final corner, Griffen, the champ was in my sights, but would Bucky have the gas to continue his sudden torrid pace?

Stones from Griffen?s horse pelted my face. Two or three smacked off my teeth because I had a smile from ear to ear the whole time. It was thrilling.

As we hit the home stretch, Ol? Bucky and I were closing the gap on Griffen and Pressy Boy.

I urged Bucky to give it everything he had, but we came up short. Griffen and Pressy Boy crossed the finish line first, about a horse length in front of Bucky and me.

We gave the defending champ a solid race. I was ecstatic about the second place finish. Collins finished third and Kennedy finished fourth.

It was in fact Bucky?s last race as he?s now retired and will go into a life of being a stud. Take it easy Bucky, you?ve earned it.



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