A meet n greet session with four Maritime horsemen, who enjoyed great success in the 2008 harness racing season will be featured during the opening night of the
Atlantic Regional Harness Racing Symposium at Charlottetown April 3.
The three days of meetings will be attended by industry leaders from the four Atlantic Provinces.
On opening night, the organizing committee is inviting the general public to attend an informal gathering with Brent MacGrath, trainer of world champion Somebeachsomewhere and Reg Petitpas, one of the six owners of the 2008 Horse of the Year.
Dr. Ian Moore of Charlottetown, trainer and co-owner of Little Brown Jug winner Shadow Play and O’Brien award winning horseman Phil Pinkney, owner of Maritime triple crown stakes winner Deep Finesse, will also join the panel.
“We have a number of great success stories in Atlantic Canada and we feel these stories should be made public,” says Wayne Pike, executive director of the PEI Harness Racing Industry Association, which is hosting the symposium.
Pike says it is hoped that the campaigns of Somebeachsomewhere, Shadow Play and Deep Finesse, may encourage new ownerships in the sport.
Don Marean, a director of the Maine Harness Horsemen’s Association and a veteran industry leader in that state, will deliver the keynote address at Saturday’s luncheon. Marean is a past president of the Maine Standardbred Breeders and served four years on the Maine House of Representatives. He will discuss the growth of the sport in recent years.
Horse Racing New Brunswick Inc. will also outline its plans for its first season as operator of the three racetracks in New Brunswick. President Jamie Hachey and Jeff Malloy will give their update during the Saturday session.
The annual awards banquet will be held Saturday night at the Top Of The Park at Charlottetown Driving Park Entertainment Centre.
Pike says tickets for the banquet are limited in supply. Tickets are $35 per person and can be obtained by calling 902-569-1682l.
Business sessions of the symposium are being held at Rodds Royalty Inn. For toll free reservations, call 800-565-7633.
(Atlantic Post Calls)