Phil Pinkney connected with thousands during his career
It was nice to recently reminisce with the former horseman
As people close to harness racing are aware, Phil Pinkney is no longer breaking, schooling and training young harness racing prospects.
The highly thought of horseman was forced to step back in 2020 because of a health issue. During a racecard at Truro Raceway on Dec. 13, he was paid a nice tribute.
I recently visited with Pinkney at his Lower Onslow home (we followed all COVID-19 mask and distancing protocols) and for approximately an hour, we took “a wee glance back.”
Pinkney, who grew up in South Ohio, near Yarmouth, came to Truro in 1951.
“My father (Kirk Pinkney) came to Truro and was racing a couple horses. My brother Dave came before me, he worked at the creosote plant and with the horses,” Pinkney said. “I was 14 when I went to work with Belbo Gould at the raceway.”
Pinkney recalled top horsemen Johnny Conroy, Harley Harrison, Ed Haley and Clayton Macleod being stabled in Truro at the time. The dedicated, hard-working Pinkney began driving horses in 1953 at age 16.
I first watched harness racing in 1956 as a 12-year-old. A big crowd was on hand at Truro Raceway on a Saturday night. I recall beautiful horses being reined by drivers in bright-coloured silks. One of the drivers who grabbed my attention wore green colours.
Looking very professional, it was 19-year-old Phil Pinkney.
Continuing to watch racing, I later followed Pinkney when he trained and drove horses for the Stanfield Stable of Frank and Beth Stanfield.
The stable included such horses as Kinkora Girl, Magna Wick, Rose Charm, Campbell and Mclulliwater.
During the summer of 1963 or 1964 I got to meet Pinkney.
Riley Marshall, then superintendent of Stanfield’s Ltd., had given Darrell Maxwell, another young man and myself summer jobs working in the stock room. One day, during noon hour, Pinkney came out of the mill following what I would guess was a horsemeeting with Mr. Stanfield. He took time to stop and talk to three or four of us employees.
On that occasion Pinkney invited me to drop over to the stable. This was possibly the stepping stone to me becoming a big Phil Pinkney fan.
Part of this horsemen’s career included journeying stateside and being stabled at Rockingham, Foxboro, Liberty Bell, Vernon Downs and Saratoga Raceway.
In 1969, while playing hockey in the United States, I visited Pinkney a few times at Vernon Downs. Later, I spent time with him at Saratoga.
Returning to Nova Scotia, Pinkney raced at all the major tracks while being stabled at Truro, Sackville Downs, a horse farm in Middle Musquodoboit and then back in Truro.
His stellar career included winning the prestigious Gold Cup & Saucer race at Charlottetown on two occasions.
“In 1978, I won with Nickname, we went right to the front and won in 2.02,” Pinkney recalled.
It was a much tougher task in 1986.
“I was driving a three-yearold, Rev Your Engine, it was a bad, muddy track. We didn’t get away all that good, we had left in the second tier and were sitting sixth or seventh going up the backstretch the second time around.
“My horse went by a lot of horses in a hurry. We had a real battle though with Angel’s Shadow and Marcel Barrieau all the way through the homestretch.
“I guess we won by a head. It was unbelievably exciting, there were fans everywhere, thousands watched the race, hundreds were in the centre field. The Gold Cup & Saucer is the biggest race in the Maritimes, it was kind of an honour to have won it.”
Career highlights saw Pinkney develop four Maritime champions. He trained and drove Deep Finesse, Absolom, Force Ore Finesse and Dunachton Gale.
“I was lucky over the years to have some great owners,” Pinkney said. “I want to give them credit. I’d have to rate Dunachton Gale one of the best horses I had over the years. He paced in 153.2 and earned around $200,000 racing here in the Maritimes. That’s not bad for a Maritimebred horse.”
Pinkney also developed an outstanding American-bred colt, Mark Jonathan, who went on to earn $687,997 while taking a mark of 151.3. And, there were others ... Standardbred Canada statistics tell the story of Pinkney’s outstanding success as a driver: lifetime earnings: $2,314,189; drives: 5,506; wins: 1,654; second-place finishes: 802 and 624 thirds.
His training record (horses he trained but did not drive) lists another $1,092,781 in earnings.
Besides Pinkney’s major accomplishments on the track, he was one-of-a-kind as a spokesperson for harness racing.
I recall being in Summerside close to 15 years ago when Pinkney won the big Governor’s Cup race with Dunachton Gale. Following winner’s circle ceremonies, it was incredible as Pinkney slowly walked his horse along the rail, talking with numerous friends, fans and strangers.
The upcoming race was no doubt delayed slightly that day but race fans (including myself) loved it, as did the Summerside race officials.
Pinkney was doing a great job promoting harness racing.
And I can still picture the winner’s circle scene around Maritime tracks over the years. On a regular basis when Pinkney won, there always seemed to be 30, 40 or more race fans surrounding the winning horse and driver.
Perhaps horseman Barry Whidden said it best when interviewed a few years back: “Phil is the master of the sport of harness racing,” Whidden said. “And, he’s a friend to everyone he meets.”
Worth Repeating is a weekly column touching on stories from the past, life experiences and events from the present day. If you have a column idea, contact Lyle Carter at 902 673-2857.