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I -i Racing action sweeps province on weekend Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Ready to represent Milton Springers (from left) Julie Gagnon, Jaimi Fellows, Eleanor Pineau-Levman, Stephanie Deumer and Christina Chimonides will represent the local club this weekend at the provincial gymnastics championships in Sudbury. By BRUCE MURRAY Special to The Champion Ontario Sires Stakes excite- ment sweeps across the province this weekend as the top three- year-old trotters and pacers return from their winter sabbati- cals to compete in Gold Series action. Mohawk Racetrack welcomes the three-year-old trotting fillies on Monday in the first of 15 Ontario Sires Stakes events the Campbellville oval will host this season - culminating in the season- ending Super Finals, worth a total of $2.4 million this year. Among the fillies attempting to get an early start in the Super Final points race are a pair conditioned by 2001 Canadian Trainer of the Year John Bax. Bax's filly stars topped the Ontario Sires Stakes earnings list last season with Pepi Lavec banking $189,418 and Natashas Kiss stashing away $182,223. Both fillies prepped for the 2002 season with qualifiers last Friday at Mohawk. Mr. Lavec daughter Pepi Lavec fin- ished second in her sophomore debut, trotting under the wire in 2:03.4 for Peterborough native Bax and Campbellville's Glengate Farms. Natashas Kiss was hot on her stable- mate's heels, finishing third in the same qualifier in a time of 2:04.1. Breeder AI Libfeld of Pickering, Marvin Katz of Toronto and Sam Goldband of Toronto share ownership on the Balanced Image filly, who captured last year's freshman trotting filly Super Final. Among the competitors the Bax duo will face is Crown Lavec, who has a pair of qualifiers and one pari-mutuel start under her belt. The Mr. Lavec filly - trained by Bob McIntosh for Martin Sternberg of Brookville, NY and Alvin Katz of Roslyn Heights, NY - posted solid efforts in her April qualifiers and finished third in a May 1 non-winners of three races contest at Windsor Raceway. Competing against older horses Crown Lavec stopped the clock at 2:00.4. The top 10 finishers from Monday's Gold Series Eliminations will retum to Mohawk Racetrack on May 20 for their first $130,000 Gold Final. Gold Finals in each division will be worth $130,000 this season as part of a $2.5 million purse increase to the Ontario Sires Stakes program. In addition the Super Finals were increased by $50,000 and the Gold Eliminations and Grass Roots events will see increases amounting to approximate- ly 7 per cent. Following the Gold Series for the sophomore trotting fillies the Ontario Sires Stakes will move to Woodbine Racetrack for the summer, retuming to Mohawk September 26. I Enjoying Summer Activities w ith Allergies Halton Healthcare Members of the public are invited to attend a seminar entitled "Enjoying Summer Activities with Allergies" presented by Halton Healthcare - Milton District Hospital site which will take place Tuesday, May 14th at 7:00 p.m. There is no cost involved to attend this event due to the generous educational grant from GlaxoSmithKline. Allergies have many causes and come in many forms. Symptoms include Allergic Rhinitis - sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, itchy, watery eyes; Eczema - itchy skin, red rash, small, raised blisters; Asthma - breathing difficulties, coughing wheezing, chest tightness; as well as tem- porary loss of smell, headache; and fatigue. Allergy symptoms are often like cold symptoms, but usually last longer. The most common causes of allergies are particles in the air, such as pollen, house dust mites, mold or mildew, and animal dander. To reduce symptoms, allergic people can take steps to make their homes as allergen-proof as possible. This seminar will be of interest to people who have personal experience with allergies. Dr. Eric Leith, a local Internist, Allergist & Clinical Immunologist will provide the following information on allergies: types of allergies, causes, details of reactions, prevention strategies and treatment options. Dr. Leith is currently president of the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and also is on the Executive of the Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Society of Ontario. The evening will begin with displays at 6:30 p.m. with a number of organizations, such as GlaxoSmithKline, the Asthma Education Centre and the Lung Association, that will offer information on how to reduce causes of allergies and strategies to reduce allergy reactions. Please call 905-338-4379 to reserve a seat for this free seminar to be held on Tuesday, May 14th in the Milton District Hospital Classroom, located at 30 Derry Road East in Milton (west on Derry Road off of Highway #25). Displays and light refreshments will be available from 6:30 p.m. with the presentation beginning at 7:00 p.m. If you are unable to attend this event, but would like more information on allergies, speak with your physician, the Allergy Asthma Information Association at 416-679-9521, the Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Society of Ontario at 416-633-2215, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation at 416-218-3342, or the Halton Healthcare Asthma Education Centre at 905-338-4691. You may access information by visiting web sites, www.allergyasth- ma.on.ca, www.cmhc.ca or www.cadvision.com/allergy.