Only missing the top three once all day, David Dowling came out on top in the annual Paul MacDonald Memorial Driving Championship on Horse Person’s Day Saturday (Nov. 21) at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Dowling made just one trip to the historic winner’s circle in the eight-race competition but was never far out of the final picture with four seconds, a pair of thirds and a fourth place finish to complete the day with 69 points in the challenge named in honour of a former leading driver at the capital oval. Dowling generously donated his earnings from the eight-race competition to the family of late Red Shores track maintenance worker Ryan Mullaly, who passed away in a tragic traffic accident in August. Corey MacPherson was second in the competition with 65 points while Gilles Barrieau was third at 59 points.
MacPherson won the first two races of the competition with Lorne Valley Barb (1:56.4) in a new lifetime best for Barry MacLeod of Cardigan, followed by a win with the Jason Hughes trained Rocknrols Image (1:57.4) in the second leg.
Marc Campbell hit the wire first in the third leg with Painted Pony (1:58.1) for the veteran pacer’s 40th lifetime win for trainer Raymond White of Belfast. Ten Mile Beach (1:58.3) took Barrieau all the way in the fourth race of the competition from the Brett Leblanc stable. Dowling had his lone victory in the next leg with the Robert Phillips-trained Traces Of Purple (1:58.3).
Jens Credit (1:57.4) blasted from post eight to strike the front and take Barrieau to the wire in the sixth race of the challenge for trainer Ryan Perrot. Rockin Indy (1:57.1) was the next winner for driver MacPherson and trainer Troy Murray. The final winner in the MacDonald Driving Championship was Smart Official (1:56.4) for Barrieau and trainer Peter Lanigan.
The top class of the day was the $2,500 Steven MacRae Memorial, claimed by Pillage And Burn in 1:56 with Ken Murphy at the lines for trainer Trevor Hicken and owner Perry Burke of Grosse-Ile, Quebec.
(L-R) PEISHOA President Peter Smith, Gilles Barrieau, Steven Shepherd, David Dowling, presenter Devon MacDonald, Marc Campbell, presenter Danny MacDonald, Corey MacPherson, Adam Merner, Donnie MacNeill, Dave Kelly
Final Point Standings In MacDonald Driving Championship:
1 – David Dowling – 69 pts
2 – Corey MacPherson – 65 pts
3 – Gilles Barrieau – 59 pts
4 – Adam Merner – 57 pts
5 – Marc Campbell – 49 pts
6 – Steven Shepherd – 46 pts
7 – Dave Kelly Sr. – 40 pts
8 – Donnie MacNeill – 38 pts
To view the results of Saturday's card, click the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(Red Shores)