Not Old, Experienced

A rather unique event is taking shape at Inverness Raceway in Nova Scotia as two fourteen-year-olds are set to make their final appearance

at their home track.

Making It Big and G E Cams Freedom will be honoured in a retirement ceremony on Sunday. Both horse are trained by Lloyd MacLean of Inverness. What makes this even more noteworthy is that Making It Big is the last active son of the late, great pacing superstar Cam Fella.

On August 7, Making It Big and Howya Dodat There, a 14 year-old horse by Radiant Nukes with 45 lifetime wins and more than $70,000 in earnings, hooked up in a thrilling stretch battle at Northside Downs. As the duo drove down the middle of the lane, driver Ryan Ellis urged Making It Big for every last ounce of his royal heritage to eke out victory by a neck over his late-rallying rival in 2:02 and 1.

MacLean seems to have a good bedside manner having already coaxed five wins out of his pair of veterans this campaign including four from G E Cams Freedom. Although MacLean will retire Making It Big at the end of the meet, G E Cams Freedom could continue to pace.

“The Camluck could race at 15, it wouldn’t be an issue,” says MacLean of the strapping bay gelding. “The racing is tough for them now. You have to race these younger horses and still have to compete but when they're in the right class they don't embarrass themselves.”

MacLean says he doesn’t need to do anything special to keep his old warriors going.

“I don’t believe in training them a lot once they get to the races,” explains MacLean. “They're usually racing Sunday and Wednesday and once they’re going I don’t even jog them basically.”

Although G E Cams Freedom would like win a match race between the two iron horses, there’s no doubt who the sentimental favourite will be – at least as far as MacLean’s eight year-old niece Madison is concerned.

“She gets on his back and rides 'Big' off the trailer and there's nothing to it,” laughs MacLean. “She's a cute little redheaded girl. Takes the bandages off and paints their feet. She's quite the little horse lady. He's a very kind horse Making It Big, very kind.”

And when you think of all the horsemen that rose to prominence from Nova Scotia – Bill O’Donnell and Greg Peck come to mind – it’s good to know that the young are still learning from the old in the ocean playground.

Be sure to read the full feature on Making It Big, the last Cam Fella, in the October issue of Trot.

For Sunday's entries, click here.

(A Trot Insider Exclusive by Keith McCalmont)