Clow receives top honours for matinee racing
Big weekend of harness racing coming up in Charlottetown
The 2022 matinee racing dinner was kind to up-andcoming driver Brett Clow as he received some of the top honours of the evening at Red Shores Charlottetown.
The dinner honoured the 2022 Matinee Racing Series held across the province at matinee tracks in Pinette, Kensington, Tyne Valley, O’leary and Alberton.
The races have no purses at stake but have proven to be a bedrock for developing young talent in the province with storied reinsmen like Mark Macdonald, Paul Mackenzie and Marc Campbell all cutting their teeth at the rural tracks.
Campbell was the guest speaker on the evening while Finance Ministermark Mclane also spoke.
Clow, 17, took some serious hardware back to his New Haven homestead after the awards as he was named the top amateur driver of the season with the award named in honour of longtime matinee program administrator Susan Whelan. Clow also received the Foiled Again Youth Achievement Award.
The Byron Gamester Memorial Dedication Award for outstanding commitment to matinee racing was given to Brett Clow’s parents, Les and Deanna Clow.
The award for sportsman of the year was awarded to a couple that always has a smile on their face – the Summerville duo of Myles Sr. and Jackie Heffernan.
The Matinee Challenge Series opened in Pinette on June 26. Youngster Zac Noye made his matinee debut driving Thats Mia Bad, finishing a bang-up second to trot mare Defriended’s 1:59.4 track record.
Another newcomer to the circuit, Carson Wilkie, also scored a driving win in his debut behind Catchafewrays in 2:01.4.
Reece Williams drove her own Adventure Luck to a 2:01 win during the Aug. 3 program over their home track of Tyne Valley.
A staple of matinee racing is the rivalry young Lucas Bailey has with his grandfather, Myles Heffernan Sr.
Bailey drives miniature pony, Turbo, and the tiny pair are usually dead game to win as they were in Pinette in a halfmile racetrack record of 1:35 in August.
Corey Johnson also won the traditional Kilted Pace that day with Lorne Valley Julian.
Sept. 5 was the final card of the Pinette season as Landon Campbell looked to follow in his father Marc’s footsteps, driving Filly Forty Seven to victory in 2:01.
The matinee finals were won by Dumas Walker (driven by Myles Heffernan Jr.), R Es Nancy (Dana Sweet), That’s Mia Bad (Zac Noye) and Bold N Bad (Brett Clow).
The top point-earning horses for the challenge series were Maple Grove Seph, owned by Cy Poirier, and The Gormanizor, owned by Heather Gamester.
Wilkie received the Thestable.ca Participation Award for his driving and announcing exploits while Zac Noye was the recipient of the Greenhark VIP Award and the Bill and Denise Andrew Youth Participation Award.
Reece Williams also garnered the Andrew Award and was named female driver of the year.
Rising Star Awards were given to Landon Campbell, Jessica Noye and Tyler and Christopher Neill.
DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIP
The P.E.I. Standardbred Horse Owners driving championship spotlights horse persons day on Nov. 19 at Red Shores Charlottetown with a 12:30 p.m. opening post time.
The capital oval also races Nov. 20 at 12:30 p.m., with full programs on each day.
The national driving championship is fast approaching on Nov. 24 at Century Mile in Edmonton, Alta.
Marc Campbell and Gilles Barrieau will represent Atlantic Canada at the event against Pascal Berube and Samuel Fillion of Quebec, Mike Hennessy and Dave Kelly Jr., of Western Canada and Doug Mcnair and Louisphilippe Roy of Ontario.
The top driver on the program will represent Canada in the world driving championship in August 2023 in The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.