"I once read a quote somewhere to watch what a person photographs because that is what they are most afraid of losing -- and it's true."

The I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club’s Heart of Harness Racing Calendar photographer for October is Trish Dooling of Portugal Cove, Newfoundland.

The photo captures Blueberry Tea and Trish’s Dad, Jim Dooling, out for a jog in Goulds, Newfoundland. Trish took the photo on a fall day just before the 2014 season ended.

“My Dad was on the track and I was eyeballing the background to find a decent shot. It is ridiculous how many photos I have of her. I can't remember the last time I watched a race when it wasn't through the lens of my camera!”

Trish, a regular contributor to the Heart of Harness Racing Calendar, was basically born at the track. Both her parents' families were involved in harness racing when she was born in the early 80's.

“I spent many school nights cheering on my dad while other kids were tucked away doing math homework. It never occurred to me at the time how lucky I was to be born into this industry I have grown to love. I never actually owned my first race horse until 2007.”

That horse was Yuste. Trish purchased her from Jason Hughes in PEI, and shortly thereafter specially ordered a custom-made hot pink harness from Pennsylvania. (Yuste was featured in the 2012 Calendar)

“When I had to get her euthanized in 2011 due to a serious injury I vowed no more horses. I was heartbroken. It was a long time before another horse came along. He was not for me and he certainly couldn’t wear that pink like the mare I had lost so I found him a home elsewhere.

"Along came Blueberry Tea. My grandfather owned her the year prior, he wanted a pet he could harness in a wagon for the grandkids and when he got her he realized she was the size of a giraffe, she went back to her original owner. It was about one year later my dad called me and asked me if I wanted to buy her. I said no. Absolutely not. I was done. Within two minutes I picked up the phone...I had changed my mind. My gut told me I needed her. Once horse racing is in your blood, you can't shake it. I took a chance on a mare who was trying to find a place to fit in somewhere. And she proved herself to us. That horse knew I was skeptical about starting over and knew my heart was broken in half and she proved herself to us."

This is Trish’s fourth year with Blueberry Tea. With the racing season just ending at St. John’s last weekend, Trish is eager to get her back to her grandfather’s farm for the winter. According to Trish, "Blueberry Tea might not make it for the winner's circle photos often but there is never any shortage of photos of her."

Trish’s Dad gives all the horses in the barn a nickname and Blueberry Tea is known as “Big Jerome”, after the giraffe from the Friendly Giant TV show because of her size.

A full-time hairstylist when she’s not photographing horses, Trish keeps busy with Atlantic Post Calls where she’s been a contributor for the PEI-based harness racing news publication for a few years.

“I try to help promote our racing any way I can,” she explains, “We may only have a ten-race season here, but we make the most of it. Through writing my columns and submitting photos, I try to show the rest of Canada that we have quite the picturesque track along with some great horsemen and women.”

“The Heart of Harness Racing calendar is showcased in the entrance of the salon I work in. Everyone is super excited to turn the month to October and see my beautiful horse and of course the man that keeps her in top shape, my Dad!”