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. Kenny Arsenault was in the bike for the mile in 1:57.2.

Other winners and their owners included:
Intrepid Breeze – Mike Peters
Ideal Bid – Anthony Stymest
Dunmore Alpha – Teddy Smallwood
Captain And Wine – Cindy Coady
Glencove Victor – Carl Bagnall
Sweet Calypso – Kyle Wilkie &
David MacLeod
Doll R General – Ronnie Gass
Woodmere Fools Son – Eric Johnston
Road Hammer – Wade Peconi
Casual Motion – Joey Pineau
PH Bestman – Dr. Jim Shive
Huronexpress – Bloyce Ramsay &
Terry Gallant
JK Special – Joey Smallwood

Next card at the CDP is this Saturday – Post Time1pm.
Only three dates left in the month of January and then it’s all over but the crying – and the bill paying, until April.
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Now, I hate to say I told you so – but I did. You’ll remember when I discussed the ‘Summerside Raceway’ dates recently and the closing of the track. You’ll also recall I said it was not only unfair to the horsepeople up west, but as well to all those in the rural areas. I pointed out in fact, that the end result would be to discourage many outside horses from trucking to Charlottetown this time of year. Thus the bulk of the remaining purse pool would go to those stabled at or close to the CDP. That’s exactly what has happened. And I believe this is deliberately planned every year, by the tight little Family Compact that runs the Prince Edward Island Harness Racing Association. Yet they’ll tell PEI horsemen/women they are working for everybody. Yeah right. When SRW first shut down, nearly 100 horses were left out of the weekly draw at the CDP. Thus most horsemen only got a start every two weeks. So a lot of folks in the country quit for the year. The result? The majority of the winners, as well as most of the top three finishers on Saturday’s card at the CDP came from Queens County, primarily within that famous 10-mile circle around Charlottetown. Q.E.D.
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Lots of folks were surprised recently, when Ron MacKinley, the Ghiz government’s Rural Development Minister, seemingly moved Charlottetown to the country. In fact, judging by the heated discussions over the deal, which gave the capital city $1 million from the Community Development Fund, outrage might be a more suitable word. That money it seems was set aside for projects in rural PEI, not a festival site in Charlottetown. Also, because it’s close to the race track and Exhibition Grounds, MacKinley used them as part of the justification for the funding – they’re supposedly rural you see? The decision has engendered a lot of criticism of the Harness Racing Industry. I have no doubt that for their own reasons, some of the usual suspects of racing’s Family Compact were lobbying for this. Even so, it would be unfair to blame the entire Standardbred industry. Most horsepeople wouldn’t have even been aware of what was going on, nor approved it. This kind of poor PR pisses people in the country off. That’s not helpful when the industry is trying to attract more fans and build the bet. My only question now is, since they already have rural Islanders’ money, will the city also be charging them for parking on the site during Old Home Week? Wanna make a bet?
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You may have heard back in mid-December that there was planned for PEI, what is known as a Calcutta Auction. On offer were well-bred New York state broodmares, some in foal to top North American studs. chairperson of the event was Norman Hall, Manager of the PEI Colt Stakes. It was being promoted under the auspices of the PEI Harness Racing Industry Association and might have become an annual event. Mr Hall now tells me the auction is off - due to lack of interest. What makes the story interesting is that the broodmares were from the Brooks brothers’ holdings, known as Bulletproof Enterprises. You’ll recall they dominated racing back in 2009, owned many prominent horses throughout North America, won nearly $10 million and their trainer Tracy Brainard was nominated for an O’Brien. Then the head honcho David Brooks was indicted for cheating his body armor company out of $200 million and subsequently was convicted. M Hall became involved when he was hired to assist in evaluating some Bulletproof mares for sale and subsequently asked to arrange the auction if there was interest. He tells me individual buyers can still bid on them, but won’t be able to take advantage of financial assistance for transportation costs. This was only available under a federal program by purchasing through a non-profit group like the PEIHRIA.
Horses For Courses:

Couple here that I’ve been watching – mostly because the knockers were on the case and now have been proven wrong. I really liked Meadowagogo, who was brought to the PEI stud ranks by Fay Webster. Mostly because he carried the Meadow Road trotting bloodlines through his dam. He’s now gone, but left some good ones, including Ralph Annear and Stephen Sorrie’s former star Maple Leaf Spirit. Last week she won at Woodbine in 1:56.2 for her new owners. Another winner on the card was Professordapapers in 1:52. He’s by Full Scholarship and was once owned by Walter Simmons. I always liked Full Scholarship, who stood at John Clarey’s Whim Farm. Despite the critic’s yapping, the horse certainly has produced some decent off-spring over the years. I wasn’t so pleased though, to see what’s been happening to Clare MacDonald’s former champion stake filly Honey do Jigtime up country. Looks like they may have gutted her. Two starts ago, highly touted rising star Scott Zeron roughed her up pretty good. Had her on the outside from the quarter in a mile that went in 1:51. Last start she finished 8th for Jody Jamieson in 56.3. Not good.
On the other hand, Unstoppable Speed, owned by the Tierney and Buchanan partnership, was a winner last week at Western Fair n 1:58.4. And Back From The Past, owned by the Ladner Family and Keith Pigot opened his 2012 campaign at Rideau with a win in 1:58.3.
Questions/comments?
hal.al@sympatico.ca

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