Davies Ontario-Based For Good

When harness racing returns to Alberta this weekend, one individual that has been a frequent participant in the province will not be listed on the entries sheet. That individual is Paul Davies. 

Davies, whose stable has been on the rise in Alberta in recent years, has relocated back home to Ontario, permanently. After posting career-best totals in 2019, Davies has already made a statement since returning to Ontario. This past Saturday, Davies trainee Veneno served up a $17.80 win ticket at Hanover Raceway as a going away winner by five-and-a-half lengths.

“The racing in Alberta wasn’t really fulfilling what we were wanting to do," Davies told Trot Insider regarding the move back to Ontario. "We had good luck, made good money and had some nice horses but then some of those nice horses would have to get shipped to Ontario because there was no spot for them to race.” 

Davies is optimistic about the stable of horses he and wife Nikki brought to Ontario.

“We purchased some young Ontario-bred horses and they’re training down good and should qualify here soon. My good horse from Alberta, Outlawgrabbingears, is back with me now too since he was sent here to my in-laws (John & Kathy Cecchin) after the Alberta Super Finals in November. He’s a nice horse and I have a soft spot for him I guess, he made us a lot of money and did very well for us so I’m excited to see if he can compete here. 

"I have a two-year-old State Treasurer colt that's training down very well and we also own a two-year-old Shadow Play with the in-laws that is going well too.”

Outlawgrabbingears clearly has a soft spot for Davies as well. The duo teamed up this past Monday at Grand River Raceway, and it was just like old times. A three-wide swoop of the field resulted in a four-length win in 1:55.2 in the Preferred 2&3 Handicap.

With his stable off to a roaring start since relocating, Davies also stated that he's invigorated by the racing atmosphere in Ontario.

“Racing is more exciting here and there’s a lot more different tracks to race at here than in Alberta. It’s nice to have a change once in a while instead of being at the same track week in and week out with the same horses.”

However, as with anything, there will always be certain aspects of Alberta that Davies will miss.

“I made some pretty good friends out there over the years, that's what I’ll miss the most. But, my wife and I just had a baby, he’s five-months old now and we’re both from here so it was the right decision to move home -- we’re closer to family now and closer to old friends.”

While Davies clearly has lots to keep him busy -- with four (possibly five) horses in-to-go from Saturday through to Monday --  the young reinsman is more than happy to pick up a catch drive or two should the opportunity arise.

“We have 11 horses right now and it’s just me and my wife doing them so that’s a full-time job for us right now but if I have the opportunity to pick up some catch drives, I’m not going to turn them down, that's for sure.”