The date was May 20, 2007 and the first Atlantic Regional Driving Championship was complete. By points, Kenny Arsenault finished in a three-way tie for first place. Sadly, he was the one who didn’t make it because he had the fewest top three finishes on that day

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"It would’ve been nice to represent Atlantic Canada in that but someone had to be the odd man out," Arsenault shrugs. "Then Gilles [Barrieau] went and won the whole thing and went to Australia and New Zealand. It could have just as easily been me."

This Saturday, Arsenault will be looking for another chance. The driver may have home field advantage Saturday afternoon at the Charlottetown Driving Park but he admits the draw seems to be on the side of one of his biggest competitors on the stakes circuit: former Canadian Driving Champion Gilles Barrieau.

"On paper it looks like Gilles has the best horses but I’m happy with my draw," Arsenault says.

Though he is a popular catch driver on P.E.I., Arsenault says most of his drives in the nine-race competition are horses he has never sat behind before. He watches these horses race every week but admits his knowledge won’t necessarily give him an edge when new drivers are thrown into the mix and horses may be tired after a long campaign.

"It makes it a better driver’s championship that way though," he says.

Lifetime, Arsenault has 2,472 wins and $4 million in purse earnings. He is best known the past couple years for driving and training Meridian Magic, who won 25 straight races on the East Coast. He will be representing Prince Edward Island in the competition along with drivers Marc Campbell and Gary Chappell.

One thing Arsenault thinks may help him early in the day is that only the three P.E.I. drivers have driven so far in 2011, due to the other three Atlantic provinces being shut down before the new year.

"It’s been a month or more since some of them have driven. It might take the boys a couple drives to get back into the groove."

Arsenault is hoping that one of the three from P.E.I. can move on to the Nationals in May, especially since it will be hosted by the Charlottetown Driving Park.

"I’d like to see either Marc Campbell or Gary Chappell move on. Though If I don’t make it I’ll be pulling for Gary. Nothing against Marc but he got to go to B.C. for (the Nationals) before."

He would be happy getting to advance to the Nationals in May, but representing Canada would be something else for the 50-year-old reinsmen.

"That would be quite a thing putting that suit on. Representing Canada, that would be my biggest highlight in harness racing."

Arsenault is expecting a good day and tough competition from the talented field of drivers.

"They’re the best from the tracks. The least of your worries is the safety aspect. Let’s just hope the track is good. We don’t need an icy track. I just want everything to be fair for everyone. These driver’s championships are great for getting the people out. I think there will be a big crowd."

Post time is 1 p.m. Atlantic for the 13-dash program. The Race Day show will be carried to a world-wide audience on www.harnessracingpei.com.

Click here to view Saturday’s complete entries.

(A Trot Insider exclusive by Nicholas Oakes)