The 2018 season of harness racing at Northside Downs kicked off on Saturday (May 12) with a familiar face claiming top honours in the feature race of the afternoon.
Northside carded seven races on Saturday for the first of 30 cards to be conducted this year. The season starts with renewed optimism as the Cape Breton Federation of Agriculture signed a 10-year contract with Harness Racing Cape Breton in April that will see live harness racing continue at Northside Downs for the next 10 years.
Local standout Nameisonthehalter made his four-year-old debut in grand fashion for owner-trainer-driver Larry Snow, emerging victorious in the $1,250 Winners Over Pace. Snow positioned his stable star in the pocket behind Burn Em Up Burr (Gerard Kennedy) through an opening panel of :29.1 before right-lining to challenge just before the :59.1 half. The tempo picked up down the backstretch, with Nameisonthehalter tucking back down to the rail before resuming the overland bid as the third quarter was reached in 1:28.4. Nameisonthehalter continued to pressure the pacesetter around the final turn before taking the lead in the stretch and opening up to hit the wire nearly four lengths to the good in 1:59.4. Burn Em Up Burr held second over a closing Medoland Bobcat (Brett Leblanc).
The win for Nameisonthehalter (Brandons Cowboy-Keltic Sarah) is his 17th lifetime in 41 career starts. The Atlantic Sires Stakes graduate boasts earnings of $77,732.
Racing continues on Saturdays at Northside Downs -- along with three added holiday Monday cards -- through to November 10. This July will mark the 120th anniversary of the first ever races at Northside.
For the results from Saturday's card, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.