Remarkable season
Magical Mistress’ undefeated rookie campaign was one to remember
Our look back at the 2018 harness racing season comes to a close today with the top-10 stories of the past year.
10. The King
Marc Campbell being the leading driver Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park (CDP) may seem like a foregone conclusion, but he still has to put in the legwork to continue his reign as ‘King’ of Island racing. He finished the year with 130 victories and $266,090 in earnings to trump all other drivers.
9. A Memorable Question
Dale Spence undoubtedly puts on the most miles of any driver in Atlantic Canadian harness racing, competing in all three Maritime provinces during the season. On Dec. 15, the ‘Maritime Travelling Man’ took a break on one knee and asked longtime girlfriend MacKenzie MacInnis to be his wife in the winner’s circle of the CDP. She said yes.
8. Barrieau Stable Red Hot
When Gilles Barrieau put a horse on the track from his own barn in 2018 he was incredibly hard to beat. With 34 wins from just 78 starts, Barrieau compiled a mind-boggling $135,000 in earnings and a .579 training average.
7. Seven Winning Miles
Mile Hill Willie proved invincible in the stable of Gilles Barrieau as the two-year-old trotting son of Armbro Barrister reeled off seven straight wins from as many starts, including the three championship finals. Those wins make him the Maritime triple crown winner in his division for owner Paul Morrison of Cardigan.
6. The Dowling Factor
Warren Grove reinsman Dave Dowling clawed his way to the top of Island racing in 2018, finishing the year with 100 wins and his first ever Red Shores at Summerside Raceway dash win title. To add to the rise, Dowling had no drives on opening day in Charlottetown then scored his first win of 2018 on May 10 with Celebrate Your Bet. Fleurje supplied him with his first Summerside Raceway win on opening day of the Prince County oval when he had just four mounts. Expect to see an even stronger season from Dowling, one of the top drivers in Atlantic racing, in 2019.
5. The ‘Czar’
Trainer Todd Weatherbee and owner Tammy Johnston of Stratford put together a lucrative campaign with Czar Seelster in 2018, as the Stonebridge Regal pacer won the Governor’s Plate final at the Summerside Raceway in 1:53.2 as well as the Roach MacGregor Gold Cup and Saucer consolation to give him more than $42,000 in Maritime earnings.
4. Boots To The Sky
Feet were in the air for Simon Allard’s celebration after winning The Guardian Gold Cup and Saucer in 1:50.4 for trainer Rene Allard and owner John Mehlenbacher of Ontario. Rain has been a factor in past editions of this race and 2018 was the same story as a wet forecast led officials to move both Saturday programs at the end of Old Home Week to Sunday, giving way to a rare Sunday night edition of the famous race.
3. History For ‘Jackie’
Bettim Jackie went down in the history books in 2018 as the first Maritime-bred to earn more than $100,000 in her three-year-old season. Rising to the top of a very tough division, Bettim Jackie won the Atlantic Breeder’s Crown and the Island Breeder’s final with Barrieau driving for trainer Jeff Lilley. The daughter of Andreoli Hanover recently went through a mixed sale in New Jersey, garnering $34,000 US for Lilley and his ownership group.
2. Knocked Out Of The Park
Sock It Away was superb all season, winning 20 of his 21 starts, including his first 18 races of the year while be victorious every stakes race on the East Coast. He set a 1:54.2 track record for three-year-old geldings in July in Summerside for driver Corey MacPherson. Kevin MacLean trained the son of Pang Shui, who is now in the U.S. under the care of trainer Andrew Harris for owner Reg MacPherson of Stratford.
1. ‘A Magical Year’
Driver Adam Merner was adamant there was something special about Magical Mistress from the second he sat behind her and the 2018 season proved him right. The two-year-old daughter of Camystic was undefeated in her rookie campaign with 12 wins and $71,280 in earnings while setting a new track record of 1:57 at Northside Downs in Nova Scotia. Interestingly, her mother, Meridian Magic, was also a Maritime champion in her day with 25 straight wins in in 200910. Magical Mistress was sold at the end of her record season and is now owned by Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge and Allard Racing Inc., of Quebec, but will stay in the care of the Gass family in Cornwall.