Truro Raceway kicks off its 2024 race season this Sunday, May 19 with a stacked 14-race card.

Sunday's card features four Atlantic Sires Stakes divisions for three-year-old pacing fillies, racing for $12,240 in two 'A' divisions and for $6,000 in two 'B' divisions.

In the first 'A' division, last season's two-year-old Atlantic Breeders Crown champion, Zendayas Firstlady will go behind the gate in the seventh race from post five for trainer Stephen Quinn and driver Myles Heffernan as the morning line favourite.  Starship Beauty (David Dowling) and Eenymeenymoe (Paul Langille) round out the top three choices on the morning line. 

The second 'A' division goes in Race 10, with Goodmorning Nova (Corey MacPherson), Dusty Lane Dixie (Gilles Barrieau) and Fern Hill General (Brodie MacPhee) as the top picks.

Races 6 and 9 will feature the $6,000 'B' divisions. 

Points earned in each Atlantic Sires Stakes 'A' division and trot events go towards securing a coveted spot in the season-ending Atlantic Breeders Crown Championships. 

In Truro's Winners Over top class this week, it’s a star-studded group of six, led by the return to the racetrack of standout star Mappos Lion, who has been off for over a year, with his last race appearance at Woodbine Mohawk Park on April 29, 2023.   He is currently in the care of trainer Clare MacDonald, who originally developed the horse as a youngster before he departed to the Paul MacDonell stable in Ontario. The seven-year-old Sunshine Beach gelding has won back-to-back qualifiers at Truro, with the last being a scintillating 1:55.4 last Sunday, into a cool wind and with driver Kenny MacDonald motionless in the bike.  Squaring off against him are two-time Truro Raceway Horse of the Year, American Risk, standout Batterup Hanover and three other foes.

Sunday also marks the Truro debut of Atlas Marigold, who is owned by the Hubtown Horse Owners Club and is trained by Gardner “Wink” McCallum. Fans can purchase a membership in the club and own a share in the horse for as little as $160. Contact Truro Raceway General Manager Steve Fitzsimmons at [email protected] for more information.

The grandstand, which has been under renovation for close to four years is nearing completion. The bottom section will be fully open for customers, with food and drink. The upper grandstand will be available to customers for the next race card on Sunday, June 2.   

Returning this season on the wagering menu is the lowest Pick 5 takeout in Canada, with a low 12 per cent takeout that kicks off in Race 1, as well as a 15 per cent low takeout Pick 4 in Race 11.  Truro’s HPIBET Survivor Contest returns for its second season, with a $100 deposit available to the winner each week. It’s free to enter and can be found once the program is posted at truroraceway.ca.

To view the entries for Sunday's card of harness racing in Nova Scotia, click the following link: Truro Raceway - Sunday Entries // Sunday Program Pages (courtesy TrackIT).

(Truro Raceway / Atlantic Sires Stakes)