The fugitive runs away with CDP’s Saturday feature
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. Other winners from east of Charlottetown included Gerald Dunn’s Summerville Jim and Judy MacLeod’s Incredible Mike.
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Trot Magazine has a good article this month about PEI veterinarian Dr Bob Webster and his wife Nina. Bob’s 78 now and despite having had a heart attack a few years ago, is still going strong. He hails from the same neck of the woods as my wife does (he from Marie, she from Morell). I got a kick out of the fact that as the story says, he and Nina started dating at the same place we did, the old Rollaway Club in Charlottetown. The Webster’s Hollylaine Farm has downsized these days, but still breed a few mares each year. The article mentions that they hold a Canadian record as having bred and registered a foal every year for 40 years. That’s quite a feat, when you look at the number of large breeding operations across the country. Congrats to the Websters. You can read the full article at: http://standardbredcanada.ca/trot/january-2012/record-worth-holding.html
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It’s no wonder folks have so little faith in racing commissions. Back in September of 2010 driving star Brad Forward was suspended in Ontario, along with well-known reinsmen Kevin Wallis and Gene Piroski. They were accused of conspiring to fix races at Windsor Raceway. Forward, a Newfoundland native who has also represented Canada internationally, got the lightest of the penalties - $5,000 and a five year suspension. Piroski got 10 years and $100K, Wallis the same fine and 12 years. All filed appeals with the Ontario Racing Commission. In August of this past year, Piroski and Wallis due to lack of evidence had their penalties lifted by the ORC. Last week the ORC’s Executive Director John Blakney released a statement saying the commission would not proceed against Forward and he was eligible to re-apply for his license. Blakney also said that it would be inappropriate to comment further. Really? This reminds me of a situation on PEI not that long ago. To my mind this is not about these individuals. This is more about the competence of the people involved. They messed up and harness racing’s image has suffered. Heads should roll at both commissions. As to whose, I’ll leave that up to you dear reader. However, if someone were to allege political game-playing had gone on in these cases, I wouldn’t disagree.
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In a nice honour for himself and a tribute as well to PEI harness racing, Bill Andrew was recently named to the Island’s Business Hall of Fame. In the announcement by the Junior Achievers, Andrew, who is also Chancellor of UPEI, was cited for his efforts, along with brother Brian, to make their Meridian Farms a North American center of excellence on Prince Edward Island. Very nice indeed. Congrats to Bill, Brian and Meridian Farms.
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I keep getting messages that a couple of government ministers are none too happy with me. You realize I’m sure this deeply concerns me, but I’m trying to contain my grief. The following is not likely to endear me to them either. I’m told the recent allocation of one million dollars from the Community Development Fund for the Charlottetown Festival site, might have had more to do with the Exhibition Grounds than I first thought. Folks are wondering if this is about moving the OHW Midway and more parking for the casino? My personal pet theory is that they want to build more permanent ship-in stalls at the track and thus be able to race later in the year at the CDP. The extra dates could come from ‘Summerside Raceway’, which might then be reduced to Lobster Carnival Week racing only. Will SRW’s future be as a multi-million dollar training center, casino and simulcast betting parlour? Could happen.
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The Maritime harness racing community will have another representative at the Standardbred Canada O’Brien Awards. The extravaganza is slated for the 28th of this month in Toronto. Haley MacDonald, daughter of Clare and Kenny MacDonald, of the West River Stock Farm in Antigonish, has been selected to sing the National Anthem at the event. Haley is a fourth year student in Human Kinetics At St. FX and works with her mom and dad, training their racing stock in the summer. Mom, Clare of course is well-known as a leading driver in Canada on the distaff side of the ledger and had a .355 average this past year at Truro.
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No wonder folks think the PooBahs running racing are out of control. Get this; the annual Atlantic Canada Harness Racing Symposium was apparently held last weekend in Truro. Normally it’s one of those ‘state of the industry’ type of meeting, guest speakers, reports etc. Attendees supposedly included representatives from each province, the tracks, the Maritime Provinces Harness Racing Commission, Standardbred Canada (including CEO John Gallinger). Yet there was not one press release issued to inform folks. Thus few if any rank and file horsemen knew of the gathering, or were given the opportunity to attend. Unreal.
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Horses for Courses:
Winners of interest last week included Milliondollardad at Western Fair. He’s owned by Jen Trainor and the Houses (Shirley & Kerry). Thursday at Flamboro Downs Bill Andrew’s Victory Creed was a winner in :57.3. He was in rein to Brandon Campbell, who had three wins and two seconds on the card. Young Campbell appears to be coming into his own on the Ontario Circuit. Sean MacSwain’s Serious Camotion was also a winner on the card in 2:00.4. Robert Shepherd drove. On Sunday the duo combined again on a win with Skippy in 1:59.4. Saturday at Flammy Anthony MacDonald continued his winning ways and reined horses to four victories on the card. As well Ken Wood’s In Bed was a winner there for Garry MacDonald in 2:00. Also on Saturday GC&S winner Silent Swing captured the Open again at Yonkers, this time in 1:52.3. Now 10 years old, he’s a millionaire and these days is owned by Mark Ford & David Shea.
Questions/Comments? hal.al@sympatico.ca
Photos Dr. Robert and Nina Webster of Hollylaine Farm. Photo courtesy of Standardbred Canada
Ontario Racing Commission clears Brad Forward for license.
Photo courtesy of Standardbred Canada
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