Harness driver
Yannick Gingras celebrated at Binghamton Mets game on June 4
BINGHAMTON,
NY –
It was a home run for the sport of harness racing on Tuesday evening, June 4,
2013. Superstar driver Yannick Gingras has won many of the top races in his
sport, but now he can cross off an honor in another sport: throwing out the
ceremonial first pitch at a professional baseball game.
Gingras
was the honored guest Tuesday night as the Binghamton Mets took the field
against the Trenton Thunder at NYSEG Stadium in Binghamton, N.Y.
Gingras
walked to the pitcher’s mound and delivered an almost perfect strike, then
watched as the future stars of the New York Mets took the field, wearing a
replica version of Gingras’s recognizable green, yellow, and white driving
colors.
After
Tuesday night’s game, the special edition uniforms were autographed by the
baseball players and will be auctioned off during live racing at Tioga Downs on
Sunday afternoon. All proceeds will benefit pancreatic cancer research, a cause
which has personal significance to Gingras.
“I
don’t normally get nervous before a big race, but I have to admit, I was a
little nervous out there on the pitcher’s mound,” said Gingras, a Quebec,
Canada native and self-proclaimed baseball novice. “But I’m so honored to
be part of this great event and really hope a lot of the baseball fans will
come out to Tioga Downs and experience harness racing in person.”
On
Sunday, fans at Tioga Downs will receive a replica version of Gingras’s racing
colors for free while supplies last.
This
promotion is part of a series of events leading up to the $200,000 Roll With
Joe and $200,000 Artiscape, two of the premier races for pacers on Sunday, June
9.
Gingras
will drive top contenders in both races, Sweet Lou in the Roll With Joe and
Rocklamation in the Artiscape.
The
first race on Sunday at Tioga Downs begins at 1:30 p.m.
Video
of Gingras throwing out the first pitch is available by following this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=squrA8bcDRs.
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