This time of year when the tracks go dark my first thought is, ‘what am I going to write about for the next couple of months? Usually I make a list of topics readers might enjoy. This time around they included: The formation of a ‘Horseman’s’ Association, the federal government’s assistance to harness racing in Atlantic Canada, the Prince County Horsemens Club and the PEI Standardbred Horse Owners Association’s annual awards nights in April. How are the winners of these things decided I wondered? Do association members actually vote on candidates? I also want to continue discussing the Prince Edward Island Harness Racing Industry Association and of course my bosom buddies in the ‘Family Compact’. You’ll note I no longer call them the North Wiltshire mafia. Someone pointed out, that might be a bit unjust to other residents of that fair community. The bet is also a topic folks have been discussing.

Well it wasn’t the outcome many had hoped for at the Standardbred Canada awards show named in honour of native Islander Joe O’Brien. Still, it was a pretty good night for Atlantic Canada connections. No, Marc Campbell didn’t win the O’Brien for Horsemanship Saturday evening in Mississauga, but I’m sure the loss was tempered by the great year the Orwell native had. It’s pretty hard to beat becoming Atlantic Canada’s leading driver at age 27, recording 174 driving wins, 54 as a trainer and setting a new all time record of 119 victories in the bike at the ‘Charlottetown Driving Park’. I’m sure Marc also appreciates that coming second to a veteran like Keith Clark is no bad thing. Other O’Brien moments with a regional flavour, included the Driver of the Year award to Jody Jamieson (of the Windsor, Nova Scotia Jamiesons) and the wins by his father Carl and partners of the 2 year old and 3-year-old colt pacer awards.

The folks at Reargear Productions have just released their great documentary on Old Home Week called Exhibition Drive. It’s simply a fantastic presentation of what harness racing means to the people of PEI and their participation in it. It may be the best depiction of what the sport is all about. I have ever seen and I’ve seen many. Set around Old Home Week 2011 and the Gold Cup & Saucer - once watched you’ll never wonder again why the Island is called the Kentucky of Canada. Jason Arsenault, Director/Producer and Jeremy Larter, Producer, have truly captured the essence of our love affair with horses and why we are so gripped by the traditions of Old Home Week. Watching it, you’re going to see lots of familiar faces and places. The guys have not only done harness racing a great service they’ve done the same for our history.

It’s not unfair to say Saturday’s card at the ‘Charlottetown Driving Park’ was a bit of an endurance test. The track was sloppy and in deteriorating condition because of the temperatures. Plus, if you’re like me, the number of inquiries and objections drove you crazy. It happens from time to time though and not much can be done about it. Jen Trainor’s Le Fugueur, which means fugitive or runaway in English, won the feature in 2:00.1. Gary Chappell had three wins on the program, including a 150 – 1 shot with Woodmere Quickpeek, that paid $301.50. Le Fugureur’s story is pretty neat. He was selling online a while back for $1,250. He’s had four wins in nine starts for Jen and earned almost $4K since coming to the Island last October. Most of those wins came since Mrs Trainor took over the training from Mr Trainor. Smart move girl, get the winner’s share of the purse and don’t pay hubby a training commission either.

You really have to give credit to the track maintenance guys at the ‘Charlottetown Driving Park’. Race Manager Brett Revington’s crew of Randy Doyle, Ronnie Judson, Jamie Smith and Ookie Poulton have been certainly doing yeoman’s service this winter. There were eight miles under 2:00 on Saturday’s race card and that’s in the month of January. The track looks like it’s in summer shape. Outstanding job! Some nice pays that day as well, particularly in the Triactas, many of which ranged between $200 and $600. The total bet in fact was almost $28,000, over 14 dashes. Not shabby at all. No winners from east of Charlottetown this week; in fact most were from within that famous 10-mile circle around the city. More on that in a bit. The NB invader Ultimate Yankee, owned by the Ultimate Stable and Dawn Hubbard was placed 1st in the $2,200 feature, after an interference call on Oak Rock Almighty.

You really have to give credit to the track maintenance guys at the ‘Charlottetown Driving Park’. Race Manager Brett Revington’s crew of Randy Doyle, Ronnie Judson, Jamie Smith and Ookie Poulton have been certainly doing yeoman’s service this winter. There were eight miles under 2:00 on Saturday’s race card and that’s in the month of January. The track looks like it’s in summer shape. Outstanding job! Some nice pays that day as well, particularly in the Triactas, many of which ranged between $200 and $600. The total bet in fact was almost $28,000, over 14 dashes. Not shabby at all. No winners from east of Charlottetown this week; in fact most were from within that famous 10-mile circle around the city. More on that in a bit. The NB invader Ultimate Yankee, owned by the Ultimate Stable and Dawn Hubbard was placed 1st in the $2,200 feature, after an interference call on Oak Rock Almighty.

As always in our first column of the New Year, we take a look at how the local dandy lions of harness racing have fared both home and away. Marc Campbell’s story, as I said last week, dominated. He’s now officially Atlantic Canada’s 2011 Driver of the Year and it only remains to be seen if he captures the O’Brien Award as well. In 848 starts he had 174 wins and posted a driving average of .333. Campbell was the top driver at both the ‘Charlottetown Driving Park’ and ‘Summerside Raceway'. At the capital city oval he posted 122 wins in 577 starts and set a new seasonal win record. His closest competitor was Kenny Arsenault followed by Walter Cheverie, Mark Bradley and Mike Stevenson. At Summerside Marc had 34 wins in 196 starts. Then came Corey MacPherson, Bradley, Cheverie and Norris Rogers. The leading trainer at the CDP was Jackie Matheson with 40 wins, followed by Campbell, Arsenault, Darren Trainor and Mitch Tierney.

Once again dear readers, here’s my annual highlight reel of PEI’s harness racing year. It’s somewhat down east oriented I admit and only one man’s opinion. Still I hope you enjoy.
Kings County native son Marc Campbell’s story is my top headline. At the relatively young age of 27, Campbell hit the Trifecta every Island horseman dreams of. He broke the seasonal win record at the ‘Charlottetown Driving Park’, will be Atlantic Canada’s leading driver in 2011 and Standardbred Canada has just announced he’s one of two finalists nationwide for The O’Brien Award of Horsemanship. Thus far, Campbell has 172 wins in 831 starts and a driving average of .336 for the year. He’s also collected $357,641 in purse money. Couldn’t happen to a better person. Marc is a class act, a credit to his family, his community and harness racing.

They raced 14 dashes at the ‘Charlottetown Driving Park’ last Saturday afternoon with fields of nine in each (1 trailer). Yet with 195 entered, 70 horses still did not race, counting the Also Eligibles. Had a good bet of $22,456 and some decent miles given the time of year. The folks east of Charlottetown fared out pretty well. Don MacRae’s Blue Star Outlaw, driven by Jason Hughes, had the fastest mile of the day – 1:57.4. Interestingly enough, the feature went a little slower. Jen Trainor’s Le Fugueur won it in 1:58.1. The race was a total Vernon River area affair, as Kevin MacLean’s Rebelryan was second and Ian Drakes Last Art On Deck third. The Doyles of Earnscliffe, Kevin, Barry & Trevor also had a win on the card with Black Terror in 2:01.2. Only 2 cards left to decide the Trot Challenge, which by my reckoning is tied at the moment. Unofficially Marc Campbell and Mark Cullen each have 167 points, while Willie Murphy has 155.