Seeing as though the Newfoundland-based CBC series 'Republic of Doyle' has been hitting the airways for three seasons now, Maritimers have been given the chance to get quite familiar with the show and its characters. Track Manager Brett Whelan has told Trot Insider that the cast and crew got familiar with harness racing at
the St. Johns Racing and Entertainment Centre last summer, and that will be evident tonight (Wednesday, January 18).
Whelan has told Trot Insider that the episode of Republic of Doyle which will be airing tonight will feature a scene which was shot at the SJREC this past summer.
"They were down here for four days and they filmed an episode in the Goulds," Whelan told Trot Insider. "One of the parts of the show is at the track."
The episode will air in Newfoundland at 9:30 p.m. (check your local listings for broadcast times in your area).
In the show, Jake Doyle and his father, Malachy, run a private investigations agency in St. John's, Newfoundland. Their cases involve them in all sorts of dealings --- not all of them on the right side of the law.
Whelan explained that the crew had set up at the track for four days, even though they shot the racing scene in one day.
"Allan Hawco, who plays the main character on the show, Jake Doyle, is actually a native of the Goulds," Whelan explained. "He actually came out for a site survey one day, and it was the first time he had done a site survey in two years. The whole experience was pretty exciting."
Whelan said that the scene that was shot at the track involves a couple of characters buying betting tickets, who then walk up to the rail as the horses race by.
"Shannon Tweed (special guest star of the episode) was down at the track as well. It was a really big thing for us," Whelan said.
"The show has a big following so we’re hopeful it will help to build awareness. It would be great to get people to watch it."