‘Look at these animals’
The first-ever Triple Crown Draft Classic horse show brought over 307 magnificent horses to Ancaster Fairgrounds over the weekend.
The show kept its promise of presenting an impressive array of horses with Clydesdale, Belgian and Percheron, majestically pulling hitched carts.
The three-day event showcased single-, four- and six-horse hitches - being driven around in freshly-painted carts from across Canada and the U.S. - competing for prizes and titles. The show's horses would remind you of the famous Budweiser Super Bowl commercials.
Sunday's two-hour finale wrapped up with a six-horse hitch competition at the indoor facility at the Ancaster Fairgrounds on Trinity Road South, gathering cheers and applause from the crowd.
Don Flemington, who organized the event with his partner, Andrea Thompson, said he was happy with the strong turnout at the first-ever event and hopes to go bigger next year.
It was three years ago that Flemington and Thompson, who own Trelane Farms with 19 Clydesdale horses in Holstein, Ontario, decided they wanted to launch their own horse show. On Oct. 28, their dream came true, with participants from all parts of the country and beyond invited to compete in 18 different categories for cash prizes and titles.
It's a great hobby. I mean look at those animals," Flemington said, pointing at an array of Belgian four-horse hitches, standing in line to assessed by the judges. Each of the categories had a judge specializing in the breed of the horse, while the finale was judged by a panel of three.
Triple Crown Draft Classic also hosted a hitch horse class of carts for McMaster Children's Hospital Foundation with teamsters dressed as superheroes and villains. All the proceeds from the show were donated to the hospital.
Flemington, who spent about two decades in the construction industry before owning a farm, told The Spectator that he and his partner have a big goal" to support the breeders and exhibitors through the events and competitions.
Our goal was to make this show one of the premier draft events for Canada and the U.S."
Triple Crown Draft Classic has already announced their second annual show is scheduled for Oct. 27, 28 and 29, 2023.
Ritika Dubey is a reporter at The Spectator. rdubey@thespec.com