Trot Insider has learned that Horse Racing New Brunswick is renaming its invitational race which is scheduled to be contested during Saint John Exhibition Week this coming September.
Officials with HRNB have stated that with the announcement of Jim Doherty’s induction into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, it is only fitting that the invitational race be renamed in his memory.
The invitational will be sponsored in part by the Doherty Family and the Dr. Mitchell Downey Professional Corporation.
Anne Gilbride, Jim’s sister, said, “We were very pleased when contacted by HRNB officials about recognizing Jim and can think of no better way to honour his memory than an invitational race (during) Exhibition Week.”
Anne added that Jim, “never forgot Saint John and where he came from.”
Brock McEachern, the president of HRNB, said that, “With a purse of $5,000 we will be hoping to attract some of the best free-for-allers in the Maritimes to pay respect to one of the best horsemen New Brunswick has ever produced.”
The invitational will be the final race of Exhibition Week, and will be contested on Saturday, September 1.
(With files from HRNB)