It is harness racing at its very best Friday afternoon at Saint John's Exhibition Park Raceway as Horse Racing New Brunswick and its partners and sponsors present a ten-dash action-packed race card.
First race post time is slated for 4:30 p.m. and the card features the lucrative Maritimer stake for three-year-old fillies, plus races honouring Milton Downey and Jim Doherty.
Friday's Maritimer stake has attracted 10 of the best fillies in Atlantic Canada. They will race in two elimination heats with the top eight coming back for a winner-take-all final. Co-sponsored by the New Brunswick Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association, the event has a total purse of more than $22,000. Locally-owned filly Howmacscanasta has been listed as one of the favourites in her elimination.
A pair of memorial races on the program will recognize two great New Brunswick horsemen. Milton Downey and Jim Doherty will be honoured in two separate races on Friday afternoon. Both men were ambassadors and pioneers in the harness racing industry in New Brunswick and their families and supporters will be on hand to remember the two gentlemen.
In the Milton Downey Memorial, co-sponsored by Steve Downey and family, five pacers will square off for a purse of $4,000. Standout pacing mare Ramblinglily -- never worse than second in 14 starts this season -- is favoured for driver Marc Campbell and trainer/co-owner Allan Jones. Starcastic, who ships in from P.E.I. for the event, has been listed as the 3-1 second choice. New Brunswick's Gilles Barrieau will drive the pacer from post five.
The Jim Doherty Memorial will go with a solid field of five pacers competing for a purse of $2,100 and showcases one of Atlantic Canada's best three-year-olds, Jackson K Down.
Kathy-MacLean Harvey, President of Horse Racing New Brunswick would like to thank all the horsemen who will be in attendance on Friday, as well as the fans and the generous sponsors who supported the highly-anticipated racing card.
Sponsors include the Saint John Exhibition Association, N.B.S.B.O.A, Steve Downey, Fredericton Horsemen Association, Rick Armstrong, Dairytown Veterinary Hospital, and Peter & Paul Doherty.
Special thanks to the Saint John Exhibition Association for not only sponsoring one of Friday's races but contributing $4,000 to enhance the afternoon's purse offerings.
To view the entries for Friday's card, click on the following link: Friday Entries - Exhibition Park Raceway.
(with files from HRNB)