May's Calendar Photographer

Jackie McManus of Komoka, Ontario is the Heart of Harness Racing’s May photographer. McManus and her husband Dave attended Seelster Farms' Mother’s Day Open House last year where she captured this great image.

“Neither of us have had much opportunity to be around mares and foals, so we jumped at the chance last year to visit one of Canada’s premier breeding farms, we were impressed with how clean and organized the farm was.”

After touring the farm, Jackie and her husband headed outside where they noticed a few more mares and foals in paddocks and that’s where she captured her image.

“This mare and foal caught my attention. Besides being adorable, the foal was very rambunctious, not giving his mother, who was very patient, much of a break. I later learned that he was only two weeks old at the time.”

Jackie (third from R) in the winner's circle with the connections of Blue Line, a horse she co-owned earlier this year

Jackie and her husband Dave plan on attending the Mother’s Day Open House this year at Mac Lilley Farms in Dutton, Ont. Mac Lilley and Tara Hills Stud near Port Perry, Ont., will both be hosting Mother’s Day Open House events for the general public on Sunday, May 13 from 1 to 4 p.m. to showcase their mares, foals, stallions and facilities, and in collaboration with the Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Association (SBOA) and Standardbred Canada’s ‘I Love Canadian Harness Racing’ Fan Club, will educate visitors about Standardbred breeding and harness racing.

Students in grades 5 through 8 are encouraged to write about one of the foals they see at one of these farms for the Youth Literary Derby, a juried, horse-themed writing contest with prize money.

The addresses for each of the participating farms are as follows:

Mac Lilley Farms
28322 Chalmers Line
Dutton, Ont. NOL 1JO
Phone # - 519-762-3423

Tara Hills Stud Farm
13700 Mast Rd.
Port Perry, Ont. L9L 1B5
Phone # - 1-877-828-6057