Good Friday Three morning line fav

Three matinee fair finals will also be raced Sunday afternoon in Summerside

The weekly Sunday afternoon matinee of harness racing returns to Red Shores Summerside tomorrow. The starter will release the first of 11 races at one o’clock.

The feature race has a half dozen preferred noses lining up on the starting gate vying for a share of that $2,400 purse. Walter Simmons’ Good Friday Three has been selected as the morning line favorite. This horse has not paid a visit to the winner’s circle since Canada Day and that has been a concerning factor. He’s raced in the Governor’s Plate, The Exhibition Cup and The Gold Cup and Saucer trials and a return to Summerside maybe just what he needs.

Rash B Havior has back-toback 1:56 miles at Summerside as second choice on Sunday. The Mike Peters owned and trained bearcat will have the services of driver Kenny Murphy tomorrow.

The ageless wonder, Eagle Jolt, is third choice in the morning line, post position three on Sunday is the closest to the rail for this horse since June, that’s a mighty long time to be outside looking in. The 10-year-old is a 50-time winner and is my choice in the Sunday feature.

Double Header Saturday

The P.E.I. Colt Stakes continue today in Charlottetown, the two-year-old pacing colts and fillies are featured this afternoon at 1 p.m. The three-yearold pacing colts and fillies will strut their stuff on the second half of the Saturday double bill commencing at 7 p.m.

The P.E.I. Colt Stakes began on Thursday night with the young trotters invading the driving park. Buckaroo stole the spotlight after establishing a new track record for two-yearold trotters in 2:00 2/5.

Matinee Final

The three matinee fair finals will also be raced Sunday afternoon in Summerside. The top point horses from various matinee tracks will bring grassroots racing to Summerside. Young Janea Wallace at the ripe old age of 14 will be taking on the boys in one of the finals. This is a great way to watch the younger generation hone their skills for their next step into harness racing.

Flashback

It was early July 1987, and I was racing a little mare named Lady Dallas at Ontario’s Little Saratoga, Dresden Raceway. My wife Debbie, was heavy in foal (she won’t like that phrase) with our first child who would come along on July 26. During my Ontario days I became friends with a lot of talented horse people and one was Mark Williams. To say he was quite a character maybe putting it mildly? Mark was in the driver’s seat and the mare got a way fourth, just straightening up the back stretch Williams made his move and by the top of the stretch it was all over. So Mark Williams who was so unpredictable put both reins in the one hand and started waving his other hand at me in the announcer’s booth calling the race. The judges look at me, I look at them and thank goodness they were having one heck of a laugh! Lady Dallas only went in 2:07 3/5 but, it is one race I’ll never forget. Thanks for the memory Mark Williams.

Sunday’s Selections

Best Bets – Cyrax (Race 1) and Instant Shadow (Race 3)

Long Shot Possibilities – Double Decker (Race 2) and Livin The Moment (Race 9)