Dawn MacInnis of Summerside, P.E.I. is the photographer behind the lens for the November image in Standardbred Canada’s Heart of Harness Racing Calendar. The photo shows Justin DeRoches and Barry Strongman with Howmac Boomer heading onto the track at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.
The photo is a perfect fit for November as trainers are heading into the fall season with their recent yearling purchases.
“This photo was taken last fall after the yearling sale. It was Howmac Boomer’s first time in the jog cart. I wanted to capture as much of the experience as possible. I was lucky enough to be there just as they were coming out of the barn. Boomer was a pro right from the start!” explained Dawn. “For every good picture, there’s likely 50 that don’t turn out or that nobody sees. As much as I enjoy race days, I’m really learning to appreciate the hard work that the people and the horses put in to actually get to the races. Breaking in the yearlings is a subject I love to capture more and more every day. It only happens for a short time every year, so being there and being able to take that in, is special.”
MacInnis has deep racing roots, having been around the racetrack her entire life. She grew up travelling the Maritimes and making memories with her mother at the different tracks that they visited.
“I have been attending the races since I was a young child. I would go to the races with my mother to watch my uncles race their horses. Not much has changed! We both still attend the races regularly and have done some traveling within the Maritimes to check out other tracks as well.”
Although Dawn can’t make her annual trip to Maine with her mother, technology keeps her current with racing.
“I’m looking forward to the rest of the racing season on PEI. I’m also hoping that there will be racing next year. With everything COVID related, it’s amazing to see how everyone has adapted and that racing was able to literally “get back on track” this year,” she explained. “COVID has certainly changed how we all do things in our daily lives. Harness racing was no exception. It’s been different, but technology is on our side, thankfully.”
Almost 10 years ago she decided to try her hand at photography and it has since become one of her favourite hobbies.
“I received my first digital camera about 10 years ago. I’ve taken many different types of photos (portrait, scenic, etc) but nothing makes me happier than taking photos of horses! They’re easy to deal with and never dodge the camera when it’s pointed their way. Every photo I take is just practice for the next photo. I’m always trying to get better and improve. The more photos I take, the better chance I have of getting a lucky shot that turns out.
To view more of Dawn’s work you can visit her “Humans of Harness Racing” Facebook page which showcases her photos from the industry.