Maiden-breaking colt kicks off 2025 in Canada

Spooky Lou (Dancin Lou) won Canada’s first harness racing contest of 2025 as the colt broke his maiden on New Year’s Day at The Raceway at the Western Fair District.

The colt was away third to the quarter in :29.4 but slid out passing the stands to race second-over to the half in 1:01.3. Samuel Fillion took him three-wide at three-quarters in 1:31.1, and he shot past Betterthanawesome (Garrett Rooney) and The Boogy Boo (Lorne House) on the final turn.

Spooky Lou straightened for home with a clear lead and cruised to victory. The four-high Ben Lookin (Andy Moore) chased him home, but Spooky Lou was two lengths the best in 2:01.4.

Ben Lookin was second, followed by The Boogy Boo.

SPOOKY LOU REPLAY

Spooky Lou, trained by Tom Riley, is now one-for-four lifetime. He debuted in August and raced three times without hitting the board before a layoff until qualifying in December. Riley co-owns the sophomore with Barry McClennan.

Trainer Gerard Demers, coming off a career year, started 2025 strongly with three wins on the card. His first victory came with Gascoigne Sundae (Hilarious Halo), who won his fourth straight by a quarter-length in 1:58. Hes Got Swagger (Vintage Master) dominated the seventh to make it a double for the trainer, and Fern Hill Breeze (Articulator) went wire-to-wire in the ninth to complete the triple.

Demers finished third in both the national and Western Fair standings last season. He amassed 151 total wins, more than 39 better than his previous best year, and broke the $1 million mark for the first time.

The Raceway at the Western Fair District will host its next card on Friday, Jan. 3, beginning at 5:50 p.m. EST.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink