Ppk5/8 - Ontario's Doug McNair Wins Pompano Debut

One of Ontario's top young driving talents, Doug McNair, acknowledges that things couldn't possibly have been any better in his first working visit to the Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.

"I drove at Woodbine in Toronto last Saturday and this has been a great trip though a little too short" McNair said. "I'm visiting my dad, Gregg, who is among the many Canadians that come down here to train horses over the winter months. He's bought a farm about 60 miles from West Palm Beach and has over 30 horses there. The weather has been terrific, nearly 80 degrees (26C.) every day, and I'm extremely thankful to get listed for five drives on short notice for my first time at Pompano Park. To win my first drive here is just the icing on the cake" he added.

In the Tuesday evening, January 31 program's 3rd race, the accomplished 22 year old reinsman was at his crafty best. In a field of $8,000 claiming pacers contesting a $4,700 purse, McNair piloted Final Flash from post one and patiently sat third until the final turn. He then guided his charge to the outside to edge past the pacesetting Prime Time Talent in rein to Fern Paquet Jr. By mid-stretch, Final Flash was clear of the field and drawing away to handily hold off Soaring Viking driven by Dan Clements while Prime Time Talent held third. Peter Pellegrino trains Final Flash, an 8 year old Cambest-Peas Of Work gelding, for Baron Racing Stable of Horsham, PA.

One of Canada's top young driving talents, 22 year old Doug McNair, won his first lifetime start in Florida as he piloted Final Flash to a handy 1:52.3 score in the 3rd race on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park. (Skip Smith Photo)

The win in his first start at Pompano continues a succession of firsts that Doug McNair has accomplished in the early years of his career. In 2010, he earned the distinction of becoming the sport's first driver to win more than 500 races in a single year which also helped him supplant Matt Kakaley as the youngest driver in history to surpass 1,000 lifetime winning drives. His first winner was less than four years ago, in February of 2008 at London's Western Fair (Eagle Kay) and his purse earnings total is already quickly closing in on $13 million.

"I really like it here at Pompano and it was good to see for myself how fast they go here because of the warm weather all year round. This visit was a little too short and I'm heading back to Ontario on Thursday. It's so competitive on the Woodbine and Mohawk circuit that you can't stay out of the line-up for very long. But I'll be back to Florida as often as possible for sure."