Veteran horseman Rick White has been chosen as the first trainer for the Fraser Downs Horse Race Club.
The club is a new venture launching for the 2016-2017 season, allowing fans to harness their horse passion by owning a share of a race horse.
A membership of $250 a year will offer the fun and perks of owning a racehorse without the costs, which will be taken care of by Harness Racing B.C.
Those perks include seeing their friendly Standardbred horse in the barn, hanging out on race nights, and, of course, posing in the winners’ 
circle if their horse wins.
White, a Cloverdale resident, is one of the most respected horsemen at the newly-renamed Elements Casino, where harness racing is celebrating 40 years.
“He’s such a good horseman, respected by his peers, humble and a class act,” said Carla Robin, executive director of Harness Racing B.C. “We’re proud to have him represent the race club.”
White has an enthusiastic vision for the future of harness racing in B.C.
“I see the racing club as having great potential to get more people involved in the industry, and increase ownership in the future,” he said in a press release.
“I’m happy that we can foster the social aspect of being involved with horses in the Cloverdale community.”
As a driver, White has 13,966 lifetime starts, 2,166 wins, earning $7,991,984 in purse money.
His training stats are impressive, too, with 4,066 starts, and 1,092 wins, 644 seconds, 583 third place finishes, and $4,754,123 in lifetime purse money.
He’s a two-time driver of the year at 1970s Elmira Raceway in Ontario, where he won six races on one card.
More recently, he earned Driver of the Year in 2006 and 2011, and has twice been named Harness Racing B.C.’s horseperson of the year.
His horses include Hy Lucky Guy, Mooster Ed, Samantha Square, Gotta Have Nukes, T-Squared and Charabby.
Qualifying races get underway in August, in preparation for live racing this fall.
Contact HRBC for more details at harnessracingbc.com or call 604-574-5558 ext. 3.
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