Harness racing is definitely an action-packed spectator sport that keeps attention locked into the product. That focus was never more important than Saturday (Jan. 25) at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
In the afternoon's sixth race, reports indicate that a shoe worn by Melanies Magic came loose during the race and was thrown. That sort of event is not all that uncommon. What's startling about this incident is that the shoe reportedly made its way from the track, across the tarmac and struck a window at the Red Shores trackside restaurant, causing it to shatter.
Sources indicate that no one was hurt by the errant shoe or the broken glass.
Hes Marvalous Tracks To Feature Win
With some all-star calibre stickhandling in the final quarter, Hes Marvalous snuck through to knock off the Saturday afternoon preferred pace at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The $2,950 featured pace saw Winter Blast (Adam Merner) set the tempo through splits of :29, :59.1 and 1:29.4 over an off-track while eventual winner Hes Marvalous (Myles Heffernan Sr.) was locked in third on the rail. Heffernan found himself with a fresh horse in the final panel of the race and guided his charge to the outside off the final turn then elected to duck back down the inside in the stretch drive to win in 2:00.1. Winter Blast finished second while Pictonian Storm (Corey MacPherson) was third.
Jackie Heffernan of Summerville owns the seven-year-old son of Delmarvalous while Myles Heffernan Jr., handles the training duties.
Private Di supplied a colossal upset in the afternoon closer as Kenny Arsenault rallied his trainee from the back of the field to win by half-a-length in 2:01.4 while ending Killean Finale’s (Ken Murphy) undefeated streak. Paying $54.40 to win while on top of an $862.80 triactor, Private Di is owned by Wade Peconi of Stanchel.
The Jackie Matheson stable had a training triple on the 12-dash card as Daut Not had a maiden-breaking score in 2:03.3 with Marc Campbell picking up the last-minute catch drive in the opener. Campbell and Matheson teamed up again in Race 5 to deliver with The Time To Win in 2:04.3 then Woodmere Soul was a 2:04.1 victor in Race 6 from the Matheson stable with Merner in the bike.
Live harness racing continues next Saturday, Feb. 1, with the final card of the winter meet. For more information go to Redshores.ca. To view the results for the Saturday card, click the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(with files from Red Shores)