On Saturday, June 18, seven starters will battle for the right to be a Walter Dale Memorial champion at Exhibition Park Raceway. Made famous in New Brunswick's capital city of Fredericton, the $6,000 invitational has attracted a stellar field.
Horse Racing New Brunswick is pleased to host the annual event that is known as one of the most sought after wins on the Maritime invitational circuit. Leading the way is no stranger to the circuit as Time To Dance and trainer/driver Marc Campbell bring their impressive credentials to Saint John on Saturday.
Owned by Brent Campbell and Matthew McDonald, the pacer was the undisputed champion of the free-for-all ranks in 2021 in the Maritimes and was a finalist in the Gold Cup & Saucer for Marc Campbell. He is two for three on the young season, including a win in 1:55.1 over his home track at Red Shores. He will bust the gate from post five.
Time To Dance has won many races in the Maritimes but has never competed in the Walter Dale and will be looking to add that to his impressive resume. He made over $48,000 in the Maritimes last year with his fastest mile in the Lindsay Cup at Truro in 1:51.3, a track record.
Blood Money, owned by Dr. Mitchell Downey and now under the watchful eye of Campbell, will leave from post two on Saturday. He will be looking to improve his performance in last year's Walter Dale where he was fifth to National Debt. He is coming off an ultra-impressive win at Red Shores, blasting a final quarter of :27.2 at his rivals and under wraps doing it.
George Rennison, one of the leading trainers in the Maritimes this season will harness up two starters in this year's event, Bettim Again and American Risk. Bettim Again is a four-year-old gelding owned by Jeffrey Lilley, Ian MacDonald, and Bruce MacLauchlan. He is coming off a 1:58 qualifying tune-up at Truro Raceway and will have Todd Trites in the bike. He has had a win at Dover Downs this season in 1:52.1 and has drawn the rail position for this Saturday’s race.
American Risk, owned by the Risky Bizz Group of Truro, N.S., was a winner at Exhibition Park Raceway two weeks ago in 1:58.2 for driver Todd Trites. He will pick up Mark Haig on Saturday from post three. He was third in his last outing in Truro to Sock It Away, charting his own mile in 1:55.1. He reeled off five straight wins before that.
Highly touted Batterup Hanover, owned by the partnership of Debbie Francis, Chantel and Rosanne Langille, and Douglas Lowthers, will score post four for talented young reinsman and trainer/driver Paul Langille. He was an impressive second last week in his first 2022 start, pacing his mile in 1:54.2 with a :27.2 closer.
Mike Downey and Father Ofthe Year will give owner Dr. Mitchell Downey his second starter in the field. He was a winner last week for trainer Ellen Stevenson in 2:00 as a tune-up for Saturday. He is a comeback story as he was a Gold Cup & Saucer finalist in 2020 before taking all of 2021 off.
Rounding out the solid field is Screen Test from the hot hands of trainer/driver Corey MacPherson. He has had two wins and two seconds in six starts on the year, including a win at Red Shores in 1:55. Despite a post seven draw for the Kicking Horse Stable, he is a versatile pacer with driver MacPherson having 30 wins on the season at press time.
There are a total of five races on the day with post time slated at 1:00 P.M. Horse Racing New Brunswick would like to thank those who answered the call for the invite to the classic event, the oldest free-for-all in Canada.
To view the entries for Saturday's card, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Exhibition Park Raceway.
(Horse Racing New Brunswick)