As track after track opens this season amid the COVID-19 pandemic with spectator-free racing, one racetrack's season opener came just as the province and local health authorities eased restrictions. That track is Northside Downs in Sydney, N.S.
Hosting its first of 22 cards on Saturday (June 13) the Cape Breton track conducted a seven-race card and the local horsepeople and fans were delighted to attend despite a slight drizzle over the first part of the card.
“The people who go to the races every week develop friendships at the track,” Willie Seyour, president of the Cape Breton Horse Owners Association, told the Journal Pioneer earlier this week. “Now they’re going to get to redevelop and rekindle those friendships.”
Some railbird friendships were rekindled, and some on-track rivalries were either rekindled or developed on the Saturday card. The $1,400 Winners Over Pace featured six of the best older competitors in the region, including 2019 Horse of the Year, Southwind Ricardo. He had a tough task, drawing the outside in the field of six.
As the wings of the gate folded, favoured Wildcat Jet (Mark Pezzarello) was forwardly-placed and made the front but not without company. Sly Baran (Joey Poirier) challenged the favourite through a :29 opening panel and persisted to pester the pacesetter through a :59.4 half. Heading down the backside for the second time, Sly Baran began to back away from the leader and second-over Southwind Ricardo (Harold Leblanc Jr.) wasn't advancing off that cover. That gap allowed Greg Sparling some room to right-line Accelerator from the three hole as Wildcat Jet hit the third station in 1:29.4.
Around the final turn, Accelerator lived up to his name and began to close ground on the leader with every stride. In the stretch, Accelerator had made the front but then had to fend off the late bid of pocket-sitting Private Paradise (Ryan Campbell). Accelerator hit the wire three-quarters of a length the best, with the mile timed in 2:00.2. Wildcat Jet stayed for third.
In his 100th lifetime start, seven-year-old Accelerator (Driven To Win - KG Affair) notched his 20th lifetime victory for owner-trainer Robert Blanchard of Howie Center, N.S.
For the results from the Saturday card of harness racing at Northside Downs, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.