On Sunday (Sept. 15), Truro Raceway hosted an event to honour the memory of former Maritime racetrack, Sackville Downs, accompanied by interviews, autograph sessions, guest appearances and more for the fans as well as the horsemen.
Two races were contested on the card that featured former Sackville Downs drivers and/or drivers representing their family members who were prominent Sackville drivers.
The drivers that competed included: Heath Campbell, Dave Carey, Stephen Charlton, Donnie Ellis, Carl Jamieson, Robert Laffin, Clare MacDonald, Kenny MacDonald, Toby MacDonald, Emmons MacKay, Paul MacKenzie, Bernard “Pooker” McCallum, Todd Ratchford, Danny Romo and Henry Smallwood. Both races were called by former Sackville track announcer Clary Flemming.
In the first division in race seven, Todd Ratchford topped the charts with Gardner McCallum's Atlas Marigold.
Atlas Marigold got away fifth through the opening panel in :28.4 as Lady N Paradise (Cyril MacDonald) and Mrs Dragonfire (Paul MacKenzie) tussled it out for the front. As Lady N Paradise settled in along the pylons, Atlas Marigold moved out to follow a first-over bid behind Payback (Kenneth MacDonald). The pair of pacers continued overland through the half in :59.4 and three-quarters in 1:30. At the top of the turn, Lady N Paradise maintained her lead and she was met by Payback, Altas Marigold, and Mrs Dragonfire at her heels. Kicking into a second gear, Atlas Marigold gained the jump on all of them and swooped home to win by 2-1/4 lengths in 2:01. Lady N Paradise took second while Mrs Dragonfire nabbed the show spot.
Hubtown Horse Owners Club owns the four-year-old gelded son of Betting Line - Double Switch. He recorded his fourth win of the year and sixth career win. He paid $3.00 to win as the favourite.
Paul MacKenzie and Ubettimagoodone took the second race featuring Sackville Downs drivers and/or driver representatives for trainer Jeffrey Lilley, who was credited with the idea of the Sackville Downs remembrance event.
"It's really good to get home and to see a lot of people I haven't seen in years," MacKenzie said. "I started out at Sackville. I did all I could do there so I thought I might try Ontario. It was a great stepping stone, I learned to drive all kinds of horses, good ones, bad ones, bad gaited ones. It really made my career take off."
MacKenzie left from post two with the Lilley student and they never looked back, clicking out the mile in :28.3, :59.1, and 1:28.2 before scoring by a neck in 1:58.4. Danny Romo surged home with Bettor On Than Off and was bested at the wire, but fended off the photo finish for second over Privilege and Carl Jamieson.
Ubettimagoodone (Image Of Dawn - Bettim Laura) is a seven-year-old mare owned by Lilley, who also bred the mare, in partnership with Blair Maclauchlan and Marc Gallant. She won her second race of the year and her 30th career victory. Upsetting with 11-1 odds, the mare paid $23.50 to her backers.
Also in race eight, Dave Carey, a former multiple-time Sackville Downs driving champion, drove in his final career race. He has 3,043 career wins and $2,617,082 earned in his career.
American Risk (American Ideal - Kissing Bandit) won every pole en route to a 2-3/4 length triumph in 1:55.2 in the Winners Over Pace. Heath Campbell was in the bike for trainer George Rennison and owner Risky Bizz Group. Winning his 41st career race, the eight-year-old gelding moved his seasonal tally to 7-4-2 in 15 starts. He paid $2.60 to win as the bettors' choice.
The full stream from Truro, complete with interviews of numerous participants, is available below.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Truro Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)