DUNDAS, ON — When the two-year-old trotting colts step onto the track at Flamboro Downs on Saturday for their $130,000 Gold Final Leonard Birch and his family will be front and centre, rooting for elimination winner Kingdom and trainer-driver Rick Zeron. In fact, Birch admits he may even be giving the pair a little encouragement long before post time for the ninth race rolls around.
“We’re looking forward to Saturday. You can bet we’ll be there with bells on, cheering Rick even when he comes around for his warm up,” says Birch, who shares ownership on Kingdom with his partner in The Camel Club Stable, David Bryans of Burlington, Oakville resident Zeron and Gestion Charest Ltee of Montreal, QC. “I like being down at the rail where you can cheer the horse on and cheer the driver on. Flamboro is a great track to watch races at, it’s a great atmosphere.”
Birch and his partners have had plenty to cheer about this season. In nine starts Kingdom has posted three wins, two seconds and one third for earnings of $128,611 and he has second-place in the division standings locked up with a total of 212 points. In last week’s Elimination the King Conch son romped to a seven-length victory in 2:03.3 and Birch thinks that effort, plus Post 2, put the colt in position to score his first Gold Final victory on Saturday.
“He ran a clean race (last week) and he wasn’t really pushed,” says the Hamilton resident. “So it looks like we’re in great shape for the Final. We face a challenge in Meadowview Sunny — I think that’s where the big challenge is going to come from — but we like our chances.”
Division leader Meadowview Sunny captured the other Gold Elimination with a 2:02.2 effort and will start from Post 5 with regular driver Doug Brown in the bike for trainer Paul Shakes of Stayner and owner-breeder Charles Reid of Orono. The Classic Adam son boasts a record of six wins, two seconds and one third in nine starts and has a pair of Gold Final titles to his credit.
“If it’s a close race you’ll hear me at the rail. If you hear a strong voice yelling, �Come on Kingdom!’ that’s me,” says Birch. “People tell me they go deaf standing beside me, but if you can’t cheer your horse on you might as well pack up.
“This (horse ownership) is something I can recommend to everyone if they can afford it. Do what we did, we formed a group and got together and shared the expenses and shared the winnings. And so far it’s been more of the later,” he adds.
Birch and Bryans formed The Camel Club in 1990 and have enjoyed successes with a variety of horses and trainers over the years, but Kingdom is their first trotter. Zeron acquired the colt at last fall’s Canadian Classic Yearling Sale for $30,000 and invited the pair to try their hand at the diagonally gaited game.
“Rick and his wife Joyce called us up and said, �Look we’ve got a nice horse and we’d like you to be part of him,’ so my partner David Bryans and I jumped right in,” recalls Birch. “Working with Rick has been just super. He’s a real gentleman and he brings a horse along very carefully. He has a way with trotters and his record speaks to his success.”
Few things would make Birch happier than if Zeron’s next success was with Kingdom in Saturday’s Gold Final. While the enthusiastic owner is the consummate sportsman, he would love to add a photo of Kingdom standing alongside a Gold Final trophy to his extensive collection.
“I wish all the fellow competitors a good race. I hope nobody breaks and I hope it’s a thrilling race for the fans,” he says. “But I hope when it’s all said and done Kingdom is in the winner’s circle.”
Kingdom and his peers go postward in the ninth race on the 3 pm program at Flamboro Downs this Saturday and then the top 10 point earners from five regular season Gold Series’ will begin preparations for the $300,000 Super Final at Mohawk Racetrack on Nov. 16.