What a week
World Driving Championship, Gold Cup and Saucer highlight Old Home Week
Old Home Week is over for another year and it was one to remember.
James MacDonald was crowned the top driver in the world after his victory in the final leg of the World Driving Championship (WDC) last Friday at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park (CDP). The Kingston native had a solid showing in the first four legs of the competition at Century Downs in Calgary, Mohawk Raceway and Georgian Downs in Ontario and Trois-Rivieres in Quebec, then had some trouble with interference violations at the CDP with a second placed third finish and a second placed 10th finish.
MacDonald became the first Canadian driver to win the event on home soil and the third Canadian to win the competition. Jody Jamieson won the event in 2011 and 2001, while Sylvain Filion won the WDC in 1999 and Herve Filion won the first ever World Driving Championship in 1970.
The Sobeys Gold Cup and Saucer was an upset as Shadow Place overcame the odds to track down heavy favourite Always At My Place and land in the winner’s circle.
Gilles Barrieau had a 15-year hiatus from having his name on the Gold Cup and Saucer trophy as he captured his fourth title.
Shadow Place is an Ontario horse packed with East Coast flavour as he is co-owned in Newfoundland, bred by Nova Scotian Dan Belliveau, foaled at Charlotte Ranch in New Brunswick and groomed by Cornwall native Shane Baglole, who works for trainer Kyle Fellows. Not to mention Shadow Place is by Shadow Play, who was broke in Winsloe by Summerside native Dr. Ian Moore.
Maritime Scene
The Fredericton Raceway in New Brunswick is holding a special matinee card of racing on Saturday, Sept. 9.
The mainland track did not host any pari-mutuel racing this season after a dispute between the local exhibition association and Horse Racing New Brunswick.
The matinee program will have no betting with parimutuel driving licenses not required to drive in the events. A total of 10 races have been sponsored with purses ranging from $1,000 to $3,250 as the track celebrates its 130th anniversary.
The Atlantic Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacers is featured Saturday at Northside Downs in North Sydney, N.S. The card features two $10,340 A divisions for three-year-old pacing fillies and two $9,900 A divisions for three-year-old pacing colts.