The first annual Nova Scotia Amateur Driving Championship will take place on Sunday, Nov. 14 at Truro Raceway, featuring some of the up-and-coming talent in the Nova Scotia harness racing industry.
The competitors for this event were selected at their home tracks over the summer and fall racing season. Each track has sent out two amateur drivers for this event, which ended up in an even split of both male and female drivers. The races will be in two heats with a driver from each track represented.
Keigan Madden and Jeremy Baker will represent Northside Downs. Both young men have been around the track for several years with Baker being the youngest driver competing this year at the age of 15.
Inverness Raceway has sent out two of their up-and-coming stars: Monica Sutherland, who is beginning to make a name for herself as a trainer; and Madison Poirier, who has grown up in the industry.
Truro Raceway sent in the veterans to round out the field. Heather Gatti has been racing in amateur events since 2006 and Todd Harvey has decided to try his hand at driving after sitting in the bike for many years as a trainer.
“This event has been a work in progress," said Kaitlyn Wesley, one of the main driving forces behind the event and who was also a competitor herself in Truro’s races. "It's exciting to see the new talent step up and take part, and it’s really exciting to see this many women competing. We hope to make this an annual event with next year one of the other Nova Scotia tracks hosting the final.
"A huge thank you goes out to the sponsors for this event," she added. "Thanks to you supporting this event, [it] became even bigger than we thought."
The event sponsors are: Grattan Helmets, APHRC, Wilson’s Home Heating, Lindsay Construction, Catch Driver, Ambyr Campbell, Marc and Natasha Campbell, Baddeck Vet Clinic, Northside Downs, Truro Raceway, THHOA – Moving Forward, Greenhawk (Truro), Equestrian Closet Consignment Shop, Stephanie Naugler, Farmhouse Bar and Grill, Charles Symes – Symes Horse Transportation, D&B Racing (Brittany Watts and David Dowling), and KW Photography.
Post time on November 14 will be 12:45 p.m. The Nova Scotia Amateur Driving Championship will be part of the Truro Raceway livestream.
For more information on the drivers and horses competing, visit the Facebook event page.
(With files from Nova Scotia Amateur Driving Committee)