Staple names in Maritime harness racing from this generation and the future generation were featured on Saturday evening’s (April 18) episode of ‘Virtual Tack Room’, a show produced by Universum Media and put on by members of Prince Edward Island’s harness racing industry to shed light on the industry while racing across North America remains dark during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Clare MacDonald, Paul MacKenzie and Austin Sorrie joined hosts Red Shores' Lee Drake & Peter MacPhee along with race historian Jerry McCabe to discuss memorable moments throughout their careers from first wins to favourite wins.
The 'first lady of Canadian Harness Racing', Clare MacDonald revisited a pinnacle horse in her career from 1993 by the name of West River Exotic. That Maritime-bred trotter went on to race against some of the best trotters in history such as Goodtimes, Wesgate Crown and Glorys Comet.
“Around Christmas time prior to his two-year-old year, I thought he was a very special horse. He was extremely good-gaited and was very professional since day one, he always had a special presence about him. He could go with the pacing colts and just did it so effortlessly, he has such a huge kick coming for home, he could come out of a turn just as good as any of the pacers I had. He was a long way ahead of his time for sure. You didn’t have to worry about leaving too hard with him because you could always be sure he would be there to lick up the gravy at the end of a mile.”
Charlottetown native Paul MacKenzie, who now calls Ontario home, is eager to get back racing as he embarks the journey to 9,000 driving wins. Out of the 8,754 driving wins MacKenzie currently boasts with multiple driving titles to his credit, one of his most fondest memories is the 1993 Gold Cup & Saucer with Little Black Book.
“I was driving horses for Joe Stutzman at the time around the ‘B’ tracks and he sent me over a few that belonged to the Millars. I had said to George that I was going to Old Home Week and suggested that I give his horses the week off and he said to me ‘well what kind of horse do you need?’ I said to him that you need one that can get off the wings good, and be able to get around a half good and take a little air. He mentioned Little Black Book, that she had been racing in the Open at Greenwood. She could pace the turns like a small sports car. So he told me to go pick her up and make the journey with her to P.E.I, so that’s pretty well how Little Black Book ended up on the Island and in the Gold Cup. Her owners went to watch the race and had their family there and thought that the Island was just the greatest place on earth. She could pace around a turn like a hoop around a barrel, she was just so push button to drive, really I think anyone could have driven her.”
MacKenzie also reflected on what it felt like to win the Maritimes' most coveted race as a participant that grew up watching the Gold Cup & Saucer for as long as he could remember.
“You get shivers when you win the Gold Cup. I grew up there and watched everyone win it and it is just the most amazing feeling there is. It is the most unforgettable, most greatest feeling there is. I’ve won big races here [Ontario] but nothing compares to winning that race. Old Home Week has such a good atmosphere, if you can't have a good time during Old Home Week, then you can’t have fun anywhere.”
An up-and-coming driver on Ontario's ‘B’ circuit, P.E.I. native Austin Sorrie was a finalist for the Future Star Award at the 2019 O’Brien Awards. He revisited what he describes as the most memorable moment of his career thus far, his first WEG circuit win with a horse he trains -- Bugsy Maguire.
“I got to win with him during Old Home Week and that was very special to me. There were a lot of people in the winner's circle and it was very special to my family. He doesn't mind being roughed up a bit, you can drive him however you need to. When I won my first race at Woodbine with him, he was 9-1 that night and I wasn’t really sure what he was going to do on a big track so I was really just hoping and praying. It was my first lifetime drive at Mohawk as well and I was really just hoping for a cheque, so to win was pretty cool.”
Sorrie also credited those who have made his move to Ontario a smooth sailing project.
“I have to thank people like J Harris and Patrick Shepherd. J gave me a spot to live and Patrick really helped me out a lot with getting drives.”
The feature, which relived wonderful memories throughout the careers of the three participants, is available below.