Truro Raceway is set to host the first edition of the Atlantic Women’s Driver Challenge, taking place this Sunday, July 21 as part of the Nova Scotia track's Harness The Hope day. Seven of among Canada’s best female drivers will square off in a five-race drivers challenge, with the winner earning a new painted racing helmet courtesy of Grattan Helmets.
Headlining the field of seven drivers in career wins and earnings are both Clare MacDonald and Natasha Day. MacDonald, a native of Antigonish, N.S., is Canada’s all-time leader among female drivers in both purse earnings and career wins, with just under $5 million in driving earnings and 1,530 career wins and counting, all earned in Atlantic Canada. Day, who hails from the Gold Coast in Australia and now lives in Beachville, Ont., has carved out a strong niche in southwestern Ontario and has 425 career North American wins and just over $2.8 million in purse earnings.
The impressive field of drivers also includes P.E.I.’s Ambyr Campbell, Truro’s Tammy MacKay, Port Hood, Nova Scotia’s Monica Sutherland, Julie Walker of Carlisle, Ont., and Maggie Jones of Barrie, Ont.
“We’re extremely pleased to welcome many of Canada’s top female drivers to Truro, to be part of our Harness The Hope event, which will raise funds for both the Colchester East Hants Hospice Society and the We Care About Cancer Fund," said Steve Fitzsimmons, Truro Raceway General Manager. "They both do incredible work helping breast cancer patients and are worthy recipients of the funds we’ll raise.”
There will be sponsored races, 50/50 donated by the Truro Harness Horse Owners Association, a live cake auction, commemorative drivers challenge t-shirts for sale with art work from Michelle Hogan and custom designed sports cards of each driver, sold in sets with all seven drivers.
Driver Julie Walker, who has been part of the OLG Ontario Women’s Driving Championship twice and in other female driver events, is looking forward to being a part of such a worthy event and visiting a place she has never been before.
“I’m excited to drive with some of the best lady drivers in Canada," said Walker. "It’s always a great time getting together and chatting with great horsewomen. Looking forward to a great day at Truro Raceway.”
For driver Tammy MacKay, a Truro native who literally lives in a house just outside the racetrack property, racing at her home track in an event like this has special meaning.
“I’ve been to a number of ladies driver challenges over the years. But racing at home, on your home track is very exciting and we are racing in support of a great cause – for breast cancer," said MacKay. "I have a few close friends who are breast cancer survivors and these ladies are coming to watch and will wear their breast cancer survivor pink Harness the Hope shirts. In the end, we are all helping out a great cause."
The event is sponsored by Ozzie MacKay and Achieve Financial, with support from the Truro Harness Horse Owners Association, Grattan Helmets and the Central Ontario Standardbred Association.
The card kicks off with a carryover of $966.49 to the Pick 5, which begins in race one and has Canada’s lowest takeout rate of just 12 per cent. Post time is 1 p.m. Atlantic.
To view Sunday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Truro Raceway.
(Truro Raceway)