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A dream come true is taking place for 19-year-old Kiwon Waldron of Warwick, Bermuda.
Since he first became infatuated with horses as a young child on his tiny island home in Bermuda, Waldron’s dream of becoming a professional harness racing driver has happened.
He had already been working with horses as a child and is an award winning accomplished equestrian horseman. He first discovered harness racing at age 10.
And now, Waldron is applying to get a working visa in Canada and as soon as the paperwork is done, he will be off to Quebec to work, learn and drive for Team Allard. It was Rene Allard who “discovered Waldron” while in Bermuda last winter.
“I was on vacation,” Rene Allard explained. “And we heard there was harness racing with trotting ponies in Bermuda so we decided to check it out. I saw Kiwon drive in a few races and he caught my eye. We talked and I invited him to come to Quebec this summer.”
“I went home for a little while after the fairs were done,” Waldron said, “but it was always my intention to come back and drive in the Fair Finals. Would not miss this Sunday’s racing opportunities.
Waldron is back inCanada this week for the Quebec Regional Circuit Fair Finals taking place at Hippodrome 3R on Sunday. He has an amazing nine drives in the twelve races. Other trainers have seen his performance on the Fair Circuit and are willing to give him a chance.
“It’s an honour that other trainers are giving me a shot,” Waldron added. “They must see something in me and I’m going to try my best to give the horses a good trip so the trainers can make some money.”
This summer Waldron was sponsored by Rene Allard and his father, Michel Allard, to come to Quebec to work, learn and drive on the Quebec Regional Fair Circuit and the young man learned quickly. Enough so that Allard permitted him to drive their horses on the Fair Circuit.
And drive Waldron did, amassing an amazing record of 10 wins in just 17 starts with five second-place finishes. His Universal Driving Rating (batting average) is .751.
Waldron even set a track record, winning with Missionoftheheart at St-Aime-des-Lacs in 1:59.4.
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