Nick’s Picks

It looked like the Fredericton Raceway was ready to close its doors for good but a dedicated group of volunteers were not about to let that happen, organizing a special matinee racing card last Saturday.

The volunteer group canvassed local New Brunswick businesses and managed to get enough purse money together to have 11 races on the afternoon.

The program had no parimutuel wagering which allowed anyone with a valid Standardbred Canada license to compete, including a number of young horsemen who have yet to get their qualifying license. Winsloe resident Drew Neill had two drives on the matinee card as the New Brunswick oval celebrated 130 years of harness racing and the 17-year-old reinsman visited the winner’s circle in both events. Neill was a winner was Miramonttogo in 2:01 for his father Irwin Neill while Zingers Laugh was a 1:58 victor from the stable of Neal Moase of Warren Grove.

A sure fire rising star that we will be hearing more of in the years to come is Austin Sorrie as the 17-year-old is on the cusp of his next birthday and will be eligible to start his qualifying drives in November. The Montague resident had a number of drives on the program, including a victory aboard Articulate Barb in 1:59.3 for a $1,150 purse.

Island regular Brian Andrew was in Fredericton as Meridian Farms sponsored a race on the card and Blazing By was a winner in another event with Andrew at the reins in 2:01.

Young pilots Josh Sentner and Nick MacGillvray also made the trip to the mainland for the race card.

The matinee card also allowed the Jennie and Joe Chippin Memorial Invitational to stay alive and well with a $3,250 purse as His Boy Elroy was a winner in 1:57.3 for trainerdriver Bernard McCallum of Nova Scotia. Saturday at 1 p.m. at the CDP: Race 1 – Fool With Joe

Race 2 – Harbourlite Jerry Race 3 – Doublejacksandaces Race 4 – Maybeitsmaybelline Race 5 – Oceanview Magnum Race 6 – All Access

Race 7 – Sock It Away

Race 8 – Saulsbrook Coral Race 9 – All Turain

Race 10 – Half Cut

Race 11 – Chocolate Terror Race 12 – Zero Rate

Saturday at 7 p.m. at the CDP: Race 1 – Mick Dundee

Race 2 – Elektra Express Race 3 – Ramblinglily

Race 4 – Dial The Bossman Race 5 – West River Ambyr Race 6 – Simon Said

Race 7 – Traces Of Purple Race 8 – Ashes To Ashes Race 9 – Alberta Sky

Race 10 – Kinda Like Her Race 11 – Mighty Cowboy Race 12 – Rose Run Quest

A $2,250 Fillies and Mares Open pace was claimed by perennial top mare Ramblinglily in 2:00 with trainer Allan Jones doing the driving.