Oct. 17—CORBIN — On a sunny Sunday at Cumberland Run, horse racing fans witnessed some of the finest harness racing as the track kicked off its second live standardbred season.
The opening weekend included carnival rides and a stick horse race for children, enticing families to watch the real races.
Kentucky’s inaugural Sires Stakes event for 2-year-old trotters and pacers attracted star riders Yannick Gingras, Dexter Dunn and Todd McCarthy, each competing in the competition.
Yannick Gingras, 2022 Harness Racing Hall of Fame inductee, rode 2-year-old trainer Accede to victory in the 11th race, giving Gingras his third win on the card and trainer Ron Burke a hat trick of wins for the day.
This was Gingras’ first appearance at Cumberland Run, and he praised the event, saying, “It’s Kentucky.” It’s crazy the work they’ve done with the Sires Stakes program. It’s second to none.
Competition runs Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays through Nov. 5, with the Kentucky Sires Stakes for 2- and 3-year-olds featuring a series of races with substantial prize money, including a $100,000 final for the top qualifiers.
Other prominent drivers, including Scott Zeron and Tim Tetrick, also made their debut at the Cumberland Run, adding excitement to the proceedings.
In a memorable 12th race, local favorite Verlin Yoder stole the show, winning with his trotting filly, Yo Tillie. Not only does Yoder train and own the horse, but he also rode Yo Tillie to his sixth victory in 10 starts.
Yoder’s story isn’t just about winning: his journey into harness racing in Kentucky has been a family affair.
After moving from Florida to Columbia, Kentucky, Yoder and his family established themselves as key players, with Yo Tillie leading the way.
Yoder, who trained horses at Hoosier Park before moving, reflected on his path to success, saying, “It took me a year to get my feet under me, and I still don’t have them completely under me.” me, but we “I win.”
His decision to move to Kentucky was encouraged by fellow competitor Steve Stewart of Hunterton Farm, who believed in the future of Kentucky’s harness racing program.
Yo Tillie, who previously won the $100,000 Sires Stakes final for 2-year-old trotting fillies at Oak Grove and finished third in the $400,000 final at the Red Mile at Lexington, continues to impress, with six victories and more than $235,000 in winnings.
Ted Nicholson, vice president of racing for Cumberland Run, expressed excitement over the turnout and growth of Kentucky’s harness racing program.
“The Cavaliers here are some of the best players in the country, right here in their backyard,” Nicholson said. “It’s great to see the local community come out and enjoy this great day of racing.”
As the second year of racing unfolds, drivers like Todd McCarthy and Dexter Dunn are optimistic about participating.
With more races on the horizon and a dedicated community of trainers and drivers, Cumberland Run is positioning itself as a key venue on the national harness racing calendar.
With the state’s investment in harness racing and growing attention from top drivers and trainers, the future looks bright for Cumberland Run and Kentucky harness racing.