Sunday there will be five quarter horse trial races for the big-money NCQHRA Futurity on Aug. 7. All of the meet’s top trainers will be represented in those trials as 46 two-year-olds compete for 10 spots in the rich 350 yard final.
Quarter horse trainer Ed Ross Hardy surpassed the $3 million mark in lifetime earnings at Canterbury recently. Hardy horses have earned more than twice as much as the closest competitor Bob Johnson, who has earnings of $1.27 million. The Canterbury Park Hall of Fame trainer, who won the training title 11 times, is also the leader in all-time wins with 309. Jerry Livingston is approaching the 150 mark and is second in track history.
Jockey Nik Goodwin, who also rides thoroughbreds, is one of Canterbury’s best quarter horse riders. He swept a pair of Q races Saturday and is leading the current meet with 13 victories. With today’s two wins he surpassed Hall of Famer Tad Leggett and is now third in all-time wins with 95. Goodwin is just one victory from Scot Schindler, and 12 from all-time leader Ry Eikleberry.
Goodwin tied for leading jockey with Jennifer Schmidt in 2007 and won the title outright in 2012. His mounts have earned more than $145,000 this season and nearly $1 million lifetime at Canterbury, second only to Eikleberry.
“That’s pretty cool,” said Goodwin who consistently rides winners and makes money for his connections.
Hardy has three horses entered Sunday and Goodwin has three mounts in the five trials.
Chris Rosier makes a rare quarter horse appearance when he rides Ada Lida in Sunday’s second race for trainer Jason Olmstead.
Rosier last rode a quarter horse “about four year ago I think. It was in Oklahoma.”
Ada Lida is 10 to 1 on the morning line and enters the race off a ninth-place finish May 21 at Remington Park. She worked a bullet July 14 over this surface.
“I’ll ride anything,” Rosier said. “I’ve been getting on a few for Jason. I worked her the other day.”
Racing begins Sunday at 12:15 p.m.
