Winner’s Circle shots, mares and foals, driver photos and funny poses in the barn were all a part of the I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club’s Memories Photo Contest this year. We received a ton of touching stories and photos, showcasing many of your 2017 harness racing memories.
After much deliberation the judges selected Dawn Moore from Westchester, Nova Scotia for her story and photo about her mare, Bettim Vicky and foal UBettimWatching.
Here is Dawn’s story and photo:
I own part of a mare named Bettim Vicky who sustained an injury during a training incident at two. We tried training her down again at three and her injury resurfaced so the decision was made to breed her to world champion Hes Watching. After being successfully bred she was moved to Double J Farms later in the year. In early April, 2017, we woke up to a text saying Vicky had a colt! As exhilarating as it was organizing for the mare to be bred and meeting the newborn foal, it was no comparison to when we turned him out in the round pen the first time. He was so full of life. He would pace a few strides, then gallop, rear up, and trot, all with his tail straight up in the air. I had seen newborn foals happily playing in the pasture before, but I never saw one with so much fire. UBettimWatching or “Jett” is now a healthy, energetic yearling and his dam is now a race winner at the Charlottetown Driving Park. I'll never forget my first colt's excitement to being turned out for the first time.
Dawn is a Registered Nurse in Nova Scotia and became involved with racing while attending the University of Prince Edward Island. Her love for equines started with Quarter Horses, until trainer Jeff Lilley taught her all about the Standardbred world. She quickly fell in love with some of his barn's personalities and some of her favourites include: Mattadors Rose, Kendal Python, and the then-weanling Bettim Vicky. After falling for the breed, she became part owner with Mattadors Rose, Bettim Vicky and her foal UBettimWatching. On her days off she likes to go to the island and take in the races and help out with daily chores.
The photo that comes with Dawn’s story was taken at Jamie MacKinley's Double J Farms where Bettim Vicky foaled. Since then the two were reunited at Dawn’s farm.
“We brought them [Bettim Vicky and Ubettimwatching] home around the beginning of June to meet the rest of the herd. When we brought them home, Vicky was so excited that she took off without "Jett" (UBettimWatching), so I walked him up the hill to get to the other horses. He was pacing the whole way up the hill, and his patience and manners were impeccable. When Vicky saw him at the top of the hill, she came over, reclaimed him, and they took off in the field together” explained Dawn.
For winning, Moore will take home a Fan Club prize package and a $50 gift card to Red Shores Racetrack.
Current photo of UBettimWatching (“Jett”) and Dawn
The Fan Club would like to thank Dawn and all of the other entrants who shared their most memorable moments and photos of 2017 with us. We would also like to wish all of our Fan Club members the best of luck with racing on and off track in 2018!