Grand River Raceway (GRR) is thrilled to welcome guests for the 36th annual Industry Day, happening on Civic Holiday Monday, August 4, with a 12:30 p.m. (EDT) post time. It's an exciting afternoon packed with top-tier harness racing and fun for the entire family!
GRR is honored to have Winbak Farm return as Battle of Waterloo presenting sponsor for the fourth year in-a-row. The marquee attractions of Industry Day include the C$227,100 Battle of Waterloo, presented by Winbak Farm, and its companion race, the C$153,000 Battle of the Belles, both spotlighting Ontario-sired 2-year-old pacers. The Battle of Waterloo continues to stand as GRR’s signature event and a key early highlight in the Ontario stakes season. The undercard will feature thrilling matchups, including Ontario's top 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings competing in an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series division.
In a significant show of support for the sport, the Grand River Agricultural Society (GRAS) has boosted the purses for several undercard races, including the Preferred events, which will now each offer a purse of C$20,000. This investment reflects GRAS's understanding of the critical role horse racing plays, not only for the horsepeople directly involved, but also for the broader agricultural sector and rural communities across Ontario.
"Industry Day is all about celebrating Ontario harness racing, and we're proud to take it to the next level this year with increase in purse money for this special day," said Jenna MacDonell, Raceway Manager at Grand River Raceway. "We're grateful to the Grand River Agricultural Society for their continued support, and to Winbak Farm for once again joining us as the title sponsor of the Battle of Waterloo."
While no eliminations were required for the 2025 Battle of Waterloo at Grand River Raceway, the Elora, Ontario, track held two eliminations for the filly companion race, the Battle of the Belles, on Monday, July 28. Both finals are slated during the Industry Day festivities.
The post position draw for both finals took place Monday night, with the C$227,100 Battle of Waterloo final for Ontario-sired 2-year-old open pacers drawn before the Grand River simulcast.
The field for the 2025 Battle of Waterloo:
1. Borderline Mobby
2. Ryder Ross
3. Beau Jangles
4. Tilthecowscomehome
5. Speaksoftlytome
6. No Waitlist
7. D A Lets Dance
8. Dax Seelster
The likely favorite is Beau Jangles (p,2,1:50 1/5s; C$140,000), the undefeated Cattlewash-Mrs Major Hill colt trained by Dr. Ian Moore. The $65,000 (U.S.) Harrisburg yearling has two Ontario Sires Stakes Gold victories at Woodbine Mohawk Park so far this year for driver Bob McClure and owners Graham Grace Stables, Kiwi Stables LLC. and Bolton Stables. Bred by Tara Hills Stud Ltd., Beau Jangles is the fastest 2-year-old pacer so far this season in North America.
Borderline Mobby (p,2,1:54s; C$28,160) drew the coveted rail for the Battle of Waterloo. The Dave Menary trainee broke his maiden in his first career start, June 28 at Mohawk, before a pair of fourth-place finishes in OSS Gold legs for driver James MacDonald. Borderline Mobby, a Cattlewash-Hot Gossip colt who sold for $25,000 (U.S.) as a yearling at Harrisburg, was bred by Nicholas Malcolm. The colt is owned by Menary Racing Inc., Larry Menary, Ryan Morefield and Pit Bull Stable LLC.
Tilthecowscomehome (p,2,1:52 4/5s; $94,975), a Cattlewash-Dance Until Dawn colt, is another Battle of Waterloo headliner. Trained by Carl Jameson and driven by Jody Jamieson, the $70,000 (U.S.) Lexington yearling was bred by Stephanie Smith-Rothaug. Tilthecowscomehome won the Tompkins-Geers 2-year-old colt and gelding pace at Mohawk June 27 over 1/5 favorite Dad, then finished a fast-closing second to Beau Jangles July 5 and 19 from tough outside posts. Joanne Morrison and Blair Corbeil share ownership with Carl and Jody Jamieson.
► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter
In the first of two C$10,000 Battle of the Belles eliminations Monday night, 4-5 favorite Daya (p,2,1:52s; C$51,100) emerged the 1:53 3/5 winner over T H Check Me Out in race two. Trainer Jack Darling told interviewer Greg Blanchard about Daya's preparation for the elim, "I didn't change anything. [It was] just a very mild week. This track is noted for being easy to get around, so I wasn't worried about anything."
Daya is a homebred Bulldog Hanover-Beach Of A Time daughter owned by Jack Darling Stables Ltd. Darling told Blanchard that she was, "really good from day one, very honest. She's a filly that likes her work and that really helps." Darling trained world champion Bulldog Hanover, and Daya is from the stallion's first crop. "It's really exciting. I watch all of them and I cheer for all of them," said Darling. "They're just outstanding-looking horses. The ones that I'm training are very smart and have speed. They seem to have everything going for them."
Prior to Daya's elimination win, she broke her maiden in going-away style July 7, capturing OSS Grassroots leg #1 at Mohawk, then finished second to A Clean Deal in the July 17 OSS Gold leg #2 at Mohawk. "I was happy with her effort," said Darling. "[She] looked honest on the top. Jody [Jamieson] said she was really good, seemed to win in hand, so she's a little bit like the old man Bulldog; she doesn't really get tired coming to the wire. After the wire, she keeps going."
The second elimination saw Romantic Beauty overtake 3-5 favorite Jen Tilly late, holding her off down the stretch for a 7-1 victory in her first lifetime start. Driven by Doug McNair and trained by Gregg McNair, the new divisional track record holder is a homebred Bettor's Delight-Precious Beauty filly, owned by James Avritt Sr.
"Time-wise, I'm pretty surprised. She's had three qualifiers, and Doug [McNair] liked her pretty good all along...It's tough to get him to like one," said Gregg McNair, speaking with Greg Blanchard in the winner's circle. "She had a virus and a bit of a high temperature; she was up around 103-104 [degrees], so we had to take her out [of OSS Grassroots leg #1 July 7 at Mohawk] and wait on her, that's all. She had a sister [Precocious Beauty] one time who started out the same way [in the 2013 New York Sire Stakes]."
Romantic Beauty established a new Grand River Raceway record for 2-year-old filly pacers in her 1:52 2/5 debut. It is also currently the fastest mile by any freshman pacer over a Canadian five-eighths-mile track this year.
McNair said that Romantic Beauty didn't show much physical similarity to a half-sister he once trained, the 2013 Dan Patch and O'Brien 2-year-old pacing filly of the year. "Her sister Precocious Beauty was a big mare," he said. "This mare here is more like the sire, I guess, Bettor's Delight. She's trained pretty good all winter. I wasn't looking for that tonight, though."
The top four fillies from each elimination and one other drawn by lot (Talbot Kristen) moved on to next Monday's C$153,000 Battle of the Belles final. The post position draw was conducted after race four Monday night:
1. TH Check Me Out
2. Malicia Speed
3. Romantic Beauty
4. Lavender Seelster
5. Daya
6. Talbot Kristen
7. Horse With A Plan
8. Jen Tilly
9. P N G Shadow
--press release (Grand River)--