Coca-cola Challenge of the Titans

Western Fair Raceway will stage the 2002 edition of the Coca-cola Challenge of the Titans on Saturday, May 11. Four of the industry's veterans will take on four up-and-coming stars in a battle of epic equestrian proportions. There will be special programs printed for the event and race fans will have the opportunity to meet this amazing group of eight and get their
autographs. Heading the field is:Don McElroy who held the driving title at Western Fair Raceway from 1994 to '99. Don had a remarkable 2001 campaign. On June 1, he set a new Western
Fair Raceway track record of 1:53.3 while steering Intrepid Seelster to victory in the $100,000 Molson Export Invitational Pace. As a driver contending in the Ontario Sires Stakes Don held a solid spot in the driver's standings and on November 1 stole the show at Hiawatha Horse Park with three victories in the Grassroots Championships. In January of this year Don was
awarded the Lampman Cup, an award given to the leading driver in the Ontario Sires Stakes based on a point system.

Don wrapped up the 2001 season with 239 - 211 - 218 - $2,034,533. in 1593 starts.

Ron Waples is one of the most talented drivers in the history of harness racing. He is a member of both the Canadian and United States Hall of Fame. Ron has won virtually every major stake on the continent including the '89 Hambeltonian with Park Avenue Joe, the ' 83 Little Brown Jug with Ralph Hanover and again in '92 with Fake Left, nine Breeder Crown events and the 1993 North American Cup with Presidential Ball.

Currently Waples has 6715 races won and well more than $71 million in purse's lifetime to his credit.

Greg Dustin began driving horses in 1982 and on May 10 of that year he made his first trip to the winners circle. Greg is enjoying what could be his best year yet. On March 8, 2002, he was awarded Western Fair Raceway's top honour, "Horseperson of the Year for 2001" at the annual awards banquet. In the early stages of Western Fair's 2001/02 meet, Greg scored six wins on a single race card and he has recently celebrated his 1000th career victory. Greg currently has 47 - 42 - 40 in 306 starts for 2002 and is well on his way to surpassing the million-dollar mark in purse earning this year.

Doug Brown has been one of harness racing's best drivers for the past two decades. He is an eight-time O'Brien Award winner as Canada's Driver of the Year. In 1995 Doug became the first driver to top the $5 million mark in one year. That same year he also set an OJC circuit single season record for wins with 417 trips to the winner's circle. Doug won the prestigious Messenger Award in 1997 for his outstanding accomplishment and meritorious
service to the sport.

During his 2001 campaign he surpassed the $78 million plateau in career purses which ranks him 7th of all time and he currently has 7711 races won lifetime.

Jody Jamieson began driving horses on the South Western Ontario Fair Circuit at 17-years-of -age. Since then he has accomplished numerous feats that many young up-starts dream about.

Jody's driving career has been on a consistant upward trend since 1999. He won 183 races and more than $800,000 in purse money that year which was more than he had scored in the previous five years combined. It was his banner 2000 season of 372 trips to the winner's circle and purse winnings of more than $2.3 million that earned him a spot in the 2001 World Driving
Championship. His array of self-confidence and desire to be champion assisted him in bringing home the WDC title.

Jody is currently ranked Canada's fourth winning driver with the 111 victories he has attained so far this year.

Greg Wright Jr. returned to Ontario on June 28, 2001 after spending five years rounding the Pennsylvania track, The Meadows. Greg's first five months in the Trillium Province were quite successful. He scored four new track records and attained purse earnings totaling more than $1.1 million. The hi-light of his return came on August 18th when he set a new track and
Canadian record of 1:49.4 with Royalflush Hanover during Hiawatha Horse Park's Slot Cup Invitation Pace. 1996 remains Greg's most winning year with 196 trips to the winner's circle but 2001 fared to be his most lucrative with $1,420,196 in purse earnings. In Western Fair's driver's standings for the 2001/02 race meet Greg is currently tied in second place for wins with
85. Greg is well on his way to setting a new personal high in both wins and money for 2002. He has scored 47 wins and $381,798. in purse earnings thus
far.

Yannick Gingras is the youngest titan in this challenge. He began piloting horses at the age of 18 in the regularly carded races for amateur drivers at tracks in Quebec, Montreal and Trois Rivières. By October of 2000 this now 22-year-old made the decision to drive horses professionally. His 2001 campaign was his first full year of driving and he scored 79 wins and $387,575. in 605 starts. Yannick is now a regular at Yonkers and he found
the transition from Quebec to the United States a challenging one. It wasn't until he guided a pacer named Panscendental to victory in a $18,000 series final that people began to take notice. In early January Yannick acclaimed his first hat trick and is currently 57 - 86 - 67 - $347,296. in 532 starts for 2002.

Stephane Brosseau is a regular on the Montreal circuit of, Quebec, Trois Rivières and Hippodrome de Montreal. On April 25 Stephane had six drives at the Quebec track and made a trip to the winner's circle after each. He had only one drive in the first five races. When he won that, who would have thought he'd go out and win the last five consecutively. Stephane is riding on a two year high. In 2001 he finished fifth with Curitiba in a $500,000
Breeders Crown event for two-year-old pacing fillies. He steered
two-year-old pacing filly, Armbro Wallflower to purse earnings of $105,280. in 12 starts and three-year-old trotting filly Moonbow to earnings just under the $120,000 mark. He completed his 2001 campaign with 258 wins and purse earnings totaling $1,994,547 in 1783 starts. Stephane is currently ranked as Canada's 10th winning driver with 86 victories in the first quarter of 2002.

Saturday May 11, is also the opening night of the Ontario Sires Stakes season. Going to post are three-year-old trotting colts in the Gold Series eliminations.