Carl MacKenzie, who guided the fortunes of Truro Raceway from the early 1940s until his retirement as general manager and race secretary in 1974, passed away Thursday

, October 15 in Colchester County Regional Hospital. He was 91 years of age.

Dixie MacKay, a longtime neighbor, told Atlantic Post Calls that MacKenzie died of pneumonia. He had been in hospital for 14 weeks before his passing.

Truro Raceway had staged the Carl and the late Margaret MacKenzie Stakes for three-year-old pacers on October 4, but Carl was too ill to attend the races he had sponsored since 1996.

A native of Truro, NS, MacKenzie was instrumental in initiating many 'firsts' in Maritime harness racing during his tenure as general manager and race-secretary, a career that started in 1948 .

He was the secretary-treasurer manager of the Jollity Horsemen’s Club, a group of local businessmen who leased the raceway in 1948 from the Central Nova Scotia Exhibition Association and operated the track until 1958.

It was during his stewardship that night racing was introduced on a continuous basis in Nova Scotia as well as the first use of photofinish equipment and a public tote board.

MacKenzie also installed the first electronic timing system at a Nova Scotia track, employed the first starting gate and introduced win, place and show wagering where only 'win' betting had been available.

The Jollity Horsemen’s Club continued to make improvements to the facility, including a glassed in and heated grandstand and established the Jollity Stakes for three-year-old pacers in 1955.

When the Jollity Horsemen’s Club’s lease expired in 1958, the Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition took over the operations of the raceway with MacKenzie remaining as general manager and race-secretary until his retirement in 1974.

During those formative years, Carl’s wife Margaret, who passed away in 2003, assisted and supported him in his duties. MacKenzie served for a time as secretary-treasurer of the Nova Scotia Harness Racing Association and was associated with the founding of the Atlantic Sires Stakes program.

In 1991, the Atlantic Standardbred Breeders Association honoured Carl by presenting him with the Glenn Kennedy Memorial Award.

Carl and his wife operated a modest standardbred breeding farm, Wayvue Stables, and produced and campaigned several Maritime record holders, including Champ Wayvue, who became the first Maritime-bred two-year-old to break the 2:10 barrier.

Introduced to the sport as a youngster by his uncle Collie, an accomplished trainer-driver, Carl did odd jobs around the track, selling score cards and helping to groom his uncle’s horses. MacKenzie owned by his first horse at age 15.

Funeral arrangements have not been announced.

He is survived by a son Robert, who lives in British Columbia.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Carl MacKenzie.

(Atlantic Post Calls)