Win the Thrill Winner Beth Wallace receives a commemorative cheque from SBOA President Anna Meyers.(New Image Media Photo)
For Beth Wallace it had been an uphill climb even to be on hand for the Win the Thrill Contest Final on Saturday, Oct. 1st at Mohawk Racetrack.
But the Dundas, ON resident was clearly on the top of the mountain emotionally when her name was drawn for the Grand Prize, a share in this year’s SBOA New Owner Mentoring program. SBOA donated the prize, worth some $4500, to the contest organized by the Ontario Sires Stakes.
The night’s contestants had all qualified as Win the Thrill finalists at OSS events this season at Clinton Raceway, Flamboro Downs, Georgian Downs and Grand River Raceway and Hiawatha Horse Park. But the ultimate winner was required to be at Mohawk on OSS Grassroots Finals Night for the Draw.
“I was determined I was going to put my hat in the ring,” said Wallace, a recent kidney transplant recipient. Three years ago health issues forced her retirement from work as an accountant. The miseries of dialysis, surgery and complications have made life an up-and-down affair ever since.
Finalists were required to pick the winner of the night’s $100,000 OSS three-year-old pace. Selecting Musselsfrmbrussels and driver Lyle MacArthur sent Wallace’s ballot into the barrel for the Grand Prize.
But the one-time manager of Hamilton’s Better Business Bureau had already declared her evening a success when she won one of the night’s many door prizes donated by racetracks and industry organizations.
“I was sitting there before the Tenth Race thinking to myself. You know I’ve won dinner for two at Flamboro Downs. We like to go there. I’m happy with that.”
But euphoria quickly replaced contentment upon hearing her name announced by MC Adam Mauntah as the Grand Prize winner.
“I can’t tell you how absolutely thrilled we are,” said Wallace who has been attending the races with her husband Mark for over 30 years now. He was the catalyst for her entering the contest, she said.
“It’s always been a dream of ours to own a couple of racehorses when we retired.”
Brian Webster, the Mentor for this year’s New Owner group, was on hand to meet and congratulate Wallace and tell her all about her new acquisition. He’s a Badlands Hanover colt called Bad Boy Matt, purchased at auction for $22,000 to be trained by Tony O’Sullivan.
DREAM TEAM STABLE
Three other members of the SBOA group were on hand to meet their new partner as well. Among them was John Kirk, already sporting a fleece jacket with the newly-registered “Dream Team Stable” insignia. A member of the WEG mutuels staff for 35 years, Kirk is now retired and lives in Rockwood, ON.
The Wallaces were accompanied by Mark’s brother Pete and his wife Barb, both of whom were delighted to be sharing in the excitement. “When you’re married into the Wallace family, it’s never a problem to go to the racetrack,” said Barb Wallace.
Pete Wallace, it turns out, had celebrated his 65th birthday party at Flamboro Downs, along with some 50 guests.
And Beth Wallace feels a further connection with Flamboro in that she underwent her surgery and treatments at the Juravinski Tower in Hamilton.
Charles Juravinski is the former owner of Flamboro Downs. Following the sale of the Dundas track, Juravinski and his wife Margaret pledged millions to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton for cancer research and treatment.
Despite some setbacks along the way, Wallace says she’s now in remission and is well on the road to recovery.
A long-time horse lover who rode when she was younger, Wallace is anxious to see Bad Boy Matt and to meet the rest of her partners in the syndicate.
RUNNERS-UP PRIZES
Win the Thrill’s First runner-up was Corry Price from Centralia, ON. She won dinner for four at the OSS Gold Super Finals at Woodbine on Nov. 12th and one night’s hotel accommodation.
Second runner-up, Jack Kearney of Scarborough, ON, took home the much-admired framed print by photographer Matt Waples.
Almost two thirds of the finalists who qualified showed up at Mohawk, many accompanied by friends and family. A special section of the lower level grandstand was allocated to the group which received OSS merchandise, food vouchers, programs and numerous draw prizes.
Contest finalists and their guests also had a chance to talk personally to some of the night’s participating drivers early in the night. Scott Coulter, Sylvain Filion and Mark MacDonald, as well as Hall of Famers Bill O’Donnell and Ron Waples, mingled with the crowd and signed autographs.
Many volunteers helped OSS Administration Co-ordinator Karen Hauver steer the Win the Thrill night to the overall success it was. From SBOA these included: President Anna Meyers, Director Sanford Zimmerman and his wife Jan, and the Co-ordinator of the New Owner Mentoring Program, Director Liz Waples.
Mentor for this year's SBOA New Owner program, Brian Webster reviews the finer points of Bad Boy Matt's pedigree with Beth Wallace.
