Never a dull moment on the racing scene
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. It’s mostly about the pros and cons of the online wager. Plus the question arises, does the convenience of wagering from home, hurt food and beverage profits as well? I want to give some space to the excellent Matinee Tracks program on PEI and perhaps discuss the ‘B’ Stakes proposal. Then there’s the ongoing Summerside Raceway dates issue and the silence of both the City and the PCHC’s new executive on that topic. And on and on and on it goes. Good plan right? But then, as usual, events got in the way. Read on.
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I don’t know if you caught the episode Sunday AM of the CBC’s Land and Sea TV show. It featured PEI harness racing and you can view it at www.cbc.ca/landandsea
Only fault I found was they promoted it in a rather negative way, by wondering if the industry could survive on the Island. However, provincial treasurer Wes Sheridan, driver/trainer Kenny Arsenault and Atlantic Lotto’s COO Tom Mullally quickly corrected that view. They explained once again, how the trickle down economic benefits more than justify the province’s investment in harness racing. We’ve written about this many times, quoting the MSRB consulting firm’s report on the industry. Minister Sheridan rightly pointed out, that PEI gets a $10 return on every dollar it has invested in racing. You’ll also see lots of familiar faces during the show and the segments on the MacPhee Family involvement and history are great. Who knew Brian could be such a TV star? Bottom line? An entertaining half hour and all due credit to the minister (yes really!), Kenny and Tom for making the case for Island racing. BTW, I do have a copy of that MSRB report. If you’d like to read it email me.
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There was also positive news out of NS last week. The oh so secret Truro project involving the Millbrook First Nation, we’ve been telling you about, actually went public with some details. Spokespeople told the press that they are planning a five-eighths track, gambling complex and parking for 1,300 cars. Preliminary drawings have been prepared, but there has been no government approval as yet. Some think this may be tied in to the recent announcement that 145 VLTs have been allocated to the Indian Brook first nation in Hammonds Plain. The speculation is that a deal might see some of those machines go to Truro. Nothing solid I’m afraid, but still it’s positive.
For awhile now folks have also been telling me some kind of change could happen with Harness Racing NB, once the current deal with the province ends. Now owner/breeder and former provincial Liberal cabinet minister Mike Murphy is running for that party’s leadership. He recently said a government led by him would work to enhance racing’s opportunities in the province. One option he pointed to was the 175 VLTs that harness racing now controls. He suggested a deal could be made partnering with the tracks and Casino New Brunswick for the benefit of both. One can only hope.
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Apparently there’s a quiet little private meeting on classification this coming Thursday in Charlottetown. Horsemen not invited, say this should be an open affair for all interested stake holders. Won’t happen. Some of the Poobahs involved are very sensitive to criticism and thus avoid public meetings. Besides, do you really think these guys want to consult rank and file horsemen? In the past their main concern has been stake racing and making sure claimers don’t cheapen their colts. They don’t seem to care much about fans or the bet. If they did, there would be competitive racing, proper classification and claiming horses priced right. Instead PEI has continued with the Non-winners system, which is long gone everywhere else. I was always surprised that Atlantic Lotto and the government let the Poobahs set public policy for the tracks anyway. The government after all owns the CDP and has a lease deal at SRW. ALC runs racing for them. Thus it is owned and operated by the taxpayers of PEI. Yet folks with a vested interest in the industry, are excluded from meetings by an unelected group of insiders. Strange.
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Preliminary indications are that the Gilles Barrieau auction in Saint John raised over $16,000. Wayne MacRae had the high bid of the day, $2,700 for a breeding to the stallion Village Master. The autographed Tyler Seguin hockey stick went for $375 and Neil MacFadyen and Tammy Brown won a new race bike in the raffle. Good job by all.
Sugar Doyle hosted the Alberta Standardbred Horse Association awards last Saturday. He tells me that the Meridian Farms stud Brandons Cowboy, now standing on PEI, sired both the 3-year-old top filly winner Minetta Nightstar and 3-year-old colt Silver Eagle. Eagle was named Horse of the Year as well. Meridian also received the Breeder of the Year nod. Claimer of the Year Greek Ruler is owned by Joe Ratchford and was driven by John Chappell. And the Ron MacLeod Achievement Award went to Norm Kennedy.
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Horses for Courses:
Winners last week included the Robert Shepherd trained and driven Leading Camidate at Western Fair. Mile was in 1:59 - he’s owned by Don MacRae. Then there was Milliondollardad in 1:55.1. He was owned by Jen Trainer and Shirley and Kerry House. The Revington Brothers Brett and Gary also had a win with Woodmere Ultimate in 1:53.2 at Woodbine.
Darren Trainor, acting as agent, sold the Revington’s horse to Ron Burke for $35,000 after the win. Trainer also sold wife Jen’s and Paul Week’s Thistricksforyou and his in-laws’ Black Terror to folks in Delaware last week. He says a deal has almost been completed that will see Milliondollardad and Tobin’s Fortune go to the US as well. See? Told you Trainer wasn’t just another pretty face.
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Want to congratulate Jack Panting on getting his driver’s license. Hughie Graham says now grampa Ralph Annear can sit on his butt and direct traffic. Now? Didn’t he always do that?
Best wishes as well to Wayne Bell, who had a pacemaker installed last week. Billy says he’s doing well and is on the road to recovery.
Questions/Comments? hal.al@sympatico.ca
Photos-Kenny Arsenault. Photo courtesy of Standardbred Canada.
Well known horseman Ralph Annear is the grandfather of Jack Panting of Montague who now has his driver’s license. Ann MacNeill photo
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