Clayton Braybrook loves harness racing
By Joan Janzen
joanjanzen@yahoo.com
Folks in Kindersley may know Clayton Braybrook for his involvement in the music festival and as a music teacher and choir director. However, his skills are not limited to musical exploits; Clayton has been involved in harness racing for as long as he can remember.
“My dad was one of the best trainers there was, and my mom was a trainer too and tried driving as well. I’ve been doing this all my life,” Clayton explained. “When I was 13 or 14, I did all the barn work for my dad.”
Clayton has been driving since 2006. He said obtaining a licence is more involved than getting your driver’s licence. The process begins by learning about safety, equipment and terminology. Next, the applicant does practice drives in a non-betting race, which Clayton said are hard to come by because nobody wants to waste a trip teaching someone how to drive. “I had two friends who let me drive when every horse had to qualify anyway,” he said. “You have to renew your licence every year.”
According to standardbred.canada.ca, in 2009, Clayton drove to the winner’s circle for the first time at Yorkton Exhibition. At that time, he said, “I’m completely amazed! I started driving on this track for the first time.”
His 2021 season of harness racing in Manitoba went out with a bang on a card full of stakes races and notable accomplishments. The website noted: “Saskatchewan-based horseman Clayton Braybrook sent out four winners on the day and guided each one to the winner’s circle. On the day, Braybrook sent out six horses and finished in the top three every time.”
On August 14, he earned three wins with his best performance of the day in the second race with Kernel Kelly, a four-year-old gelding. “I’ve had a spectacular year this year. It’s the best year I’ve ever had,” Clayton said. Horses may not race until they reach 2 years old and do not race beyond their 15th birthday. Horses are usually contested at speeds averaging 25-30 miles per hour for the mile distance.
Clayton is not only a driver, but he also trains his own horses and keeps his horses close to town. “We have a lovely place between Beadle and Netherhill. It’s a long way from the highway and not too far from town. I have six horses in training right now.”
Harness racing can go all year long, even during the winter. “One loop is a mile, and it’s a long way around when the wind is blowing on your neck,” Clayton said. “The only time they take a break is usually a six-week break in February or March when the most severe weather is expected. Last year we raced until December 13.”
Typically, Clayton races once a week. He races in Manitoba, Edmonton and Saskatoon. “There’s very few people around who are doing this in Saskatchewan. They’ve all moved on when Covid hit. Almost all the racers say they had a start in Saskatchewan, and some racers from down east come back to race in Saskatchewan.
There are 20 minutes between races, and it can be chilly in the winter for spectators sitting in the stands. “Before there were casinos, harness racing was the only legal gambling event,” Clayton said, explaining why it has lost its appeal as a gambler’s sport.
“There’s no more racing at Marquis Downs after Thanksgiving. They’re gutting it all. It’s very sad. I don’t think I’ve been on a better track. It’s very user-friendly; my horses love it there,” Clayton said. This was the case once again, as Clayton raced in Saskatoon on the weekend of Sept. 25th and 26th, gaining a fourth place, two thirds, two seconds and a win.
Horse racing has been running at Marquis Downs in Saskatoon for the past 50 years, but this will end in mid-October of this year. Currently, Prairieland is exploring how to turn Marquis Downs into a soccer stadium.
Although harness racing will no longer take place in Saskatoon, Clayton plans to continue racing indefinitely. “I plan to race until I can’t. They’ll have to drag me off kicking and screaming. There’s a fellow who won a race the other day, and he’s 86 years old. I want to be that guy,” he concluded.
