By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
The Cal Expo meet concludes
Saturday evening with Hi Ho’s Little Rev and Ragin’s Flight among the major
players in the featured Connie Matlock Memorial Pace.
The headliner will go as the
third on a nine-race program presented by Watch and Wager LLC and first post
will be 6:40 p.m.
This being closing night,
there will be mandatory payouts in all wagers.
Hi H’s Little Rev is looking
to close out the stand with a hat trick for owners Vanessa Gilliam and Audrey
Clifton, trainer Bob Johnson and pilot Mooney Svendsen.
The 6-year-old son of Hi Ho
Silverheel’s set a new lifetime mark of 1:52 25/ when he got the job done two
weeks ago in a game performance, then made every pole a winning in his last
tour in coast-to-coast fashion as the 3-2 favorite last Friday evening.
Ragin’s Flight should hit
hard with this caliber after tackling tougher company of late. He was a 1:52
1/5 victor as the 2-5 choice back on March 30 and competes for Scott Ehrlich,
George McCrystal and Kathie Plested with Plested the conditioner and Steve
Wiseman in the sulky.
Completing the field are Fire
On The Water from the Steve Nichols barn; Fly Away, who gives the Plested
shedrow two looks at the outcome; the Robin Clements-trained Lincoln; and He
Grins Again, who takes his lessons from George Reider.
The trotters and pacers are
scheduled to return to Cal Expo in the fall and the CCHA and Watch and Wager
have agreed to an 8 percent purse increase and an enhanced horse incentive
program.
Race pays tribute to
Connie Matlock
Saturday night’s third race
is named in honor of Connie Matlock, a longtime fixture with the California
Harness Horse Breeders Association and CHHA who passed away on April 16 at the
age of 85.
Connie began working as
secretary for the CHHBA in 1994 and was a staunch supporter of the Breeders and
Sires Stakes. She then went to work for the CHHA in the early 90s, again as
secretary.
In 2005, Connie was awarded
the Presidents Award by the CHHA for her meritorious service to the horsemen
and the Sire Stakes program.
“She was loved by many
horsemen, who considered here a second mother,” said Robin Clements. “She was
warm, caring and a great lady.”
Said Vickie Desomer, “Connie
was always there for the horsemen, all of them. Her kindness was
boundless. Connie was beautiful inside and out. She has been greatly
missed since her illness took her from us.”
Connie and Donald Matlock had
five children and she is survived by son Charlie and daughters Kim and Cindy
and 10 grandchildren.
