Overnight horses back on centre stage
Summerside hosts 11-dash matinee card Sunday
After a thrilling Stakespacked card last week, the overnight horses are on centre stage at Red Shores at Summerside Raceway on Sunday.
The first of 11 races go to the starting gate at 1 p.m.
Last week
Last week’s program in Summerside was one of the most amazing afternoons of racing in recent history. I can’t recall so many horses going such huge trips in one day.
I’m not only talking about the winners, because there were horses that even finished out of the money that went monster miles. If this is what’s in store for the 2017 racing season, bring it on!
Impressive
The “Blue Knight” Jason Hughes has a special trotting mare for Foxy Hall Racing as Morosita Bi debuted in Charlottetown on Thursday.
The seven-year-old daughter of Equinox Bi just “jiggy jogged” in 1:58.1. What’s going to happen when it warms up?
Saint John
Our good friends at Horse Racing New Brunswick overcame an ultimatum this week. The Atlantic Provinces Harness Racing Commission told them that 25 horses would be needed to form a program.
So they used that device known as the telephone, and rounded up 28 entries to make a six-race presentation. Congratulations!
Atlantic Sires
The first 2017 Atlantic Sire Stakes of the young season goes Sunday in Truro, N.S.
The three-year-old pacing
fillies take their show to the mainland after last week’s Ruby Chappell Memorial Stakes turned out to be the ‘Marc Campbell Show.’
A repeat on Sunday is highly possible.
Flashback
My first Gold Cup and Saucer came in August 1979. The skies opened up and we were racing in the mud.
Nervous, I guess I was nervous. I remember getting through the traditional arrival of the Gold Cup girls and the post parade. There was about five minutes to post, and calling races in the rain is a complete different ball game than calling in ideal conditions.
The drivers are covered in mud, so their colors are not the standout bright, red white and blue, or whatever colors they may be.
Boyd MacDonald’s Down Under pacer Mastering was gathering the most attention. However, an upset was in the making. Kaweco and Henry Smallwood would capture the prestigious race in 2:02. Even after 22 Gold Cup and Saucers, I still get a little nervous.
Get well soon
Fifteen years ago Bob Gordon sent me a horse and a business/ friendship began. That first horse was Elm Grove Cam, and he was the fastest horse I’ve ever sat behind. The problem wasn’t speed, he had big-time soundness issues.
I can remember qualifying him and saying to Kenny Arsenault that this horse can go a quarter in 27 seconds, but he might finish up in 37 seconds. Anyway, Kenny put him on front, won and while handing me the reins said, “What did you think of that closing quarter?”
It was in 28.1, and he looked like a champion. The next and only start for me he broke down.
Bob’s reply, “Well, that’s the way she goes in this business.” We continued to race many more horses over the next 15 years, and never once did this man ever hit the “whine” button. He was the perfect partner, and took the good with the bad in the same demeanor.
Mr. Gordon has been hospitalized, and after a brief visit from the Cameron clan, I would say he continues to take what life hands him without a fuss. As solid as a rock and a true friend, may you “sound up” real soon and continue your passion as the master of Elm Grove Farms.