Fabulous Phil
Phil Pinkney ‘a friend to everyone he meets’
When his father made the move to Truro to race horses in the early 1950s, a teenage Phil Pinkney went along and got his start in an illustrious harness racing career.
Phil Pinkney has been on an incredible standardbred journey for more than 65 years.
It began in South Ohio, Yarmouth County.
“We always had farm horses,” Pinkney, 81, of Lower Onslow, said. “My father got a race horse, Chief Grattan, some way or another. We used him on the hay rake and we raced him at the track in Yarmouth.”
When his father, Kirk Pinkney, made the move to Truro to race horses in the early 1950s, Phil followed.
“I was just a young teenager when I went to work for Bell Gould,” Pinkney said. “Bell had six to eight horses, that was my start around the race track.”
In 1953, Pinkney, a 16-year-old, took the reins.
“My rst drive was behind a little mare I owned, Jenny Belfast. Owning the mare was a way to learn, I guess. ere were some top drivers at the time — Johnny Conroy, who was kind of my hero, Clayton Macleod, Harley Harrison, Ed Haley and others.”
Phil, his older brother Dave and their father Kirk all raced at Truro during the late 1950s. In the years that followed, Phil’s reputation as an outstanding all-around horseman grew. Besides driving at Truro Raceway, Sackville Downs, Sydney, Charlottetown, Moncton and the top Maritime tracks, Pinkney campaigned in the
U.S. at Foxboro, Rockingham, Liberty Bell, Vernon Downs and Saratoga.
e record books have Pinkney winning 1,654 races and accumulating purse earnings of $2,314,189. As a trainer, his horses won 383 races and earned another $1,021,298.
A favourite personal memory would be watching Pinkney when he trained and drove horses for Frank and Beth Stan eld, horses such as Kinkora Girl, Campbell, Magna Wick, Maclullwater and Rose Charm. Pinkney would later win two Gold Cup & Saucer events at Charlottetown Driving Park.
“In 1978, I won with Nickname owned by the Whebby family. We went right to the front and won in 202. Today, the Gold Cup goes in 1.52. I won again with Rev Your Engine, a three-year-old, in 1986. at’s the biggest race in the Maritimes to win; it was kind of an honour to have won the Gold Cup & Saucer.”
e historic race referred to as ‘the long photo nish’ took place at Truro Raceway June 19, 1983. Free for all horses Winners Accolade (Doug Walsh) and Waveore (Phil Pinkney) dueled side-by-side most of the last quarter mile. At the nish, both horses had their nose on the wire. It was too close to call and for approximately 20 minutes, judges reviewed the photo nish.
Finally, an announcement, “Mr. Pinkney, parade back the winner Waveore.”
e Maritime free for all horse, Dunachton Gale, the track record holder at Truro (1:53.2) for several years, was handled brilliantly by Pinkney.
“Dunachton Gale was owned by the Filmore family in Berwick. What stands out are his gait, his heart and his gameness. He had a tremendous will to win. Racing here in the Maritimes, I think he earned around $200,000, which is pretty good.”
Pinkney trained and raced many champion colts and llies. Deep Finesse, purchased from Don Porter, exceeded $85,000 in purse earnings as a two-year-old — a Maritime record.
“Deep Finesse was one of the best two year olds I ever raced, he took a mark of 1:56.2 for me. I sold him as a three-year-old and he won in the United States in 149.2”
Brent Macgrath, who trained Somebeachsomewhere and was one of the owners of the world champion, commented.
“What kept Phil from being at the highest echelon in harness racing is that he didn’t leave Nova Scotia. I saw Phil do amazing things for more than 50 years, he had great ability. Phil was an exceptional driver and trainer of young horses, he was also a very good farrier.”
Barry Whidden, another horseman, remarked.
“Phil is the master of the sport of harness racing, he’s a friend to everyone he meets.”
e Pinkney stable has three year olds Howmac Diamond and Furnhill Cruise quali ed and racing; two two-year-olds are being trained. Talking to Pinkney and his companion Linda Hall at the raceway recently, Phil voiced optimism regarding Truro Raceway.
“ ese people running the track are really trying, they’re doing a pretty darn good job. Crowds are coming back some, Friday night racing is coming around, it may just work out. Kelly (Maceachen) the raceway manager has been on the radio getting the word out, that’s good promoting.”