Having recently returned from a trip to Canada taking in the final night’s heats for the World Drivers Championship and the time honoured Gold Cup and Saucer held at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino, Charlottetown Driving Park, Prince Edward Island (during Old Home Week), we’ll take a look at what transpired.
Standardbred Canada hosted the World Trotting Conference (WTC) at the Delta Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown from Monday 14th until Saturday afternoon 19th August 2017 marking the 25th edition of the World Trotting Conference (commenced 1970). The conference coincided with the 250th anniversary of horse racing in Canada. Canada was also celebrating 150 year of confederation which began in Charlottetown (1867).
Held in conjunction with the WTC was Standardbred Canada’s hosting of the 2017 World Drivers Championship at five different tracks spread over four different provinces in the period Saturday 12 to Friday 18 August 2017.
Those competing for a total prizemoney prize of US$56,000 ($25,000 for winner) were :
Dexter Dunn (New Zealand, representing International Trotting Association), defending champion from Sydney 2015
James MacDonald (Canada) ** late replacement for Brandon Campbell (Canada)
Rik Depuydt (Belgium) ** replaced Rick Ebbing (Netherlands)
Mika Forss (Finland)
Bjorn Gopp (Sweden)
Shane Graham (Australia)
Eirik Hoitomt (Norway)
Gerhard Mayr (Austria)
Marcus Miller (United States)
Noel Baldacchino (Malta) **replaced Michael Nimezyk (Germany)
Mark Purdon (New Zealand)
Prior to reviewing the final night’s heats, a quick resume of the Drivers’ Championship leading into the Charlottetown leg showed :
12 August : Century Downs’s Racetrack (1 1/16 mile) and Casino, Balzac (Calgary), Alberta : winners of the first five heats on the Saturday evening programme all raced over 1 1/16m distances with nine off the front line were Marcus Miller and James MacDonald, both winners of two races and Bjorn Goop of one (Miller led on 57 points from MacDonald 50 and Graham 48)
14 August : Mohawk Racetrack (7/8 mile), Campbellville (Toronto), Ontario : Monday evening winners were Finnish driver Mika Forss who completed three wins and James MacDonald won the other heat all run over a mile distance. Point’s leaders after two rounds were Forss (95), McDonald (83), Miller (74.5), Dunn (71)
15 August : Georgian Downs (5/8 mile), Innisfil (Toronto), Ontario : Tuesday evening winners were James MacDonald (two), Marcus Miller, Eirik Hoitomt and Shane Graham with all heats run over one mile. Point’s leaders after three rounds of heats were MacDonald (144), Forss (130), Miller (123.5), Graham (97) and Dunn (93)
16 August : Hippodrome 3R (1/2 mile), Trois-Rivieres [Three Rivers] (Montreal), Quebec : Wednesday evening heats were split between two at one mile and two at 1 1/16 mile. Winners were Marcus Miller, James MacDonald, Mika Forss and Noel Baldacchino
Consisting of a total of twenty two all mobile start heats, after the first four legs of the championship series and eighteen heats, James MacDonald (192) was leading the Drivers competition by 26 points from Mika Forss (166), Marcus Miller (162.5) and Dexter Dunn (131).
CHARLOTTETOWN
Charlottetown celebrated Old Home Week, an annual event since 1888 of fun, educational and community activities running from Friday 11 August through until Saturday 19 August 2017 culminating for harness racing fans with the Gold Cup and Saucer race. In fact, during Old Home Week (no racing Sunday), in the space of nine days there are fifteen harness racing meetings (combination of afternoon and evening meetings essentially each day).
Independent local PEI publishers www.retromedia.ca produced a commemorative book for the World Trotting Conference titled “World Harness Racing”. It is global in outlook although PEI as WTC host features in its 170 pages containing summaries of seventeen different countries including 100+ photos. This extremely informative publication is well worth the investment required to secure its purchase (three of the WDC drivers feature in the book – Dexter Dunn, Bjorn Goop and Gerhard Mayr). The book launch took place at Red Shores Charlottetown on Wednesday 16 August 2017 with newly appointed Hambletonian Society President and recently retired driving legend John Campbell in attendance to autograph books. Wally Hennessey, a native Prince Edward Islander, USA and Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Famer and regular driver of champion trotter Moni Maker was also part of the head table group at the book launch. Copies are available from www.retromedia.ca at a cost of C$29.95 plus shipping and fees.
The opportunity was taken during Thursday to visit the Agricultural and Pastoral (A&P) Show including sideshows held within the Racetrack and Casino complex and grounds. It compared favourably with several of those held in New Zealand.
Thursday evening was the first viewing of racing on the Red Shores Racetrack, a small/tight half mile circuit where spectators are close to the action. Our viewing/dining position in the three tiered Top Of the Park Restaurant seating 220 guests provided an impressive panoramic view of the track. An extensive range of cuisine was provided with the whole operation under the control of Lisa MacDougall, Sales Lead, Red Shores. Racing on this evening consisted of 10 races run at twenty minute intervals in a 6.35pm – 9.35 window. The WDC drivers arrived on course mid evening in a stretch limo prior to signing autographs and posing for photos with on course patrons.
Friday morning 18 August the annual Gold Cup and Saucer/Old Home Week parade through the streets of downtown Charlottetown where thousands of spectators lined the streets. The WDC drivers were participants in the parade being driven around the parade route in open top classic cars. The Gold Cup and Saucer parade is a large street parade giving a great sample of the excitement everyone anticipates for the Gold Cup and Saucer race to follow the next evening. Consisting of floats, marching bands, pipes and drums, brass, clowns, balloon displays, children’s performers and vintage cars. The floats are designed and build by volunteers on which they dance and wave to greet the crowds. A testament to the enthusiasm displayed by locals to honour the time old traditions which encompass the entire spirit of celebration each year.
WDC FINAL AT RED SHORES RACETRACK
Friday evening 18 August saw the final four heats of the twenty seventh World Drivers Championship run as part of an evening programme of twelve races. WDC races at Red Shores were run over the distance of 1 1/16 mile, necessary to accommodate the eleven starters with eight starting off the front line and three making up the second row. Our Australasian representatives:
Flags of all competing nations plus the International Trotting Association were flown in the infield of the Charlottetown track.
Opening heat of the evening was won by Sweden’s Bjorn Goop whose charge Jinglewriter took the lead off early pacemaker Maudai Mac (Miller) by the quarter mile peg. Under no threat during the remainder of the journey, Goop’s victory came in a time of 2:05.0/1:57.2MR winning going away from the balance of the field. Mark Purdon and Jays Little Spark who started from barrier position eleven finished fast to just beat Shane Graham and Formidable out of second place.
The second heat was taken out by Gerhard Mayr of Austria driving an outsider in Keep A Secret ($42.90 for a $2 win bet) in a time of 2:06.0. An even less fancied choice in Caughtfoolinaround provided Mika Forss with good points heading into the penultimate round when promoted to second over local hope James MacDonald relegated to third on Go With It after causing interference to his rival during the running of the race.
Finally, after twenty previous heats, the Kiwi drivers were to the fore in the final two WDC heats at Red Shores. First Dexter Dunn took out the third heat of the evening with Kennairn Fame after making a three and four wide move down the back straight on the final lap. Early leader Pick N Scoop for James MacDonald in moving off the marker pegs interfered with a number of horses in the moving line allowing Mika Forss and Rising Fella to take the lead. Dunn and Kennairn Fame wide out overtook Rising Fella in the straight to win in a time of 2:07.3. After finishing second Pick N Scoop was relegated to last position with Electric Syl and Noel Baldacchino promoted to second and the tiring Rising Fella moved up to third position.
The final WDC heat was decisively won by Mark Purdon’s charge Painted Pony ($65.10 for a $2 win bet) in the quickest WDC heat time of the evening, 2:04.2 for the 1 1/16 mile distance. Coming very wide on the home turn, Painted Pony cleared out from the balance of the field leaving from the outside barrier position of eleven receiving an economical run behind a three way battle for the front. Placing second was Eirik Hoitomt with Artners In Crime with Bjorn Goop third with Saulsbrook Quick. James MacDonald finished eighth and Mika Forss ninth, with this result having no impact on the overall standings for the championship.
*** three photos courtesy of Greg O’Connor
New Zealanders on course supporting their drivers included Rose Dunn, Tom Bagrie, Natalie Rasmussen, Barry and Katrina Purdon, Hazel van Opzeeland, Ricky May, Greg O’Connor, Edward and Janice Rennell plus a small tour party of enthusiasts.
A very large crowd was on course, estimated as approaching 15,000 (Ricky May commented on numerous occasions at the size of the crowd when viewed from the winners circle inside the track) was on hand to welcome home 2017 WDC champion James MacDonald. A local boy, the 31 year old Prince Edward Island native was the first Canadian to claim the world title on home soil. Canada now has four winners of five championships – the others being Herve Fillion (inaugural champion in 1970), nephew Slyvain Fillion (1999) and Jodi Jamieson (2001 and 2011). Somewhat ironically, MacDonald won heats at all venues except in his home province of PEI.
Final points –
- James MacDonald (Canada) – 211
- 2. Mika Forss (Finland) – 193
- 3. Marcus Miller (United States) – 181.5
- 4. Dexter Dunn (ITA/New Zealand) – 166
- 5. Björn Goop (Sweden) – 152
- 6. Noel Baldacchino (Malta) – 148
- 7. Eirik Høitomt (Norway) – 136
- 8. Shane Graham (Australia) – 135
- 8. Gerhard Mayr (Austria) – 135
- 10. Mark Purdon (New Zealand) – 124.5
- 11. Rik Depuydt (Belgium) – 107
All bar one driver managed at least a solitary victory during the 22 heat championship – multiple winners were MacDonald (6), Forss (4), Miller (4), Goop (2). The importance of wins can be seen in the five point difference between first and second (18 v 13 points) placing. Mika Forss improved on his third placing in Sydney (2015) by placing second this year.
It was pleasing to be able to meet up with Canadians met at the 2015 WDC in Sydney – Carl Jamieson (driver of 2006 Gold Cup and Saucer winner Banner Yankee and Jodi’s father), Jim and Angela Whelan as well as Bjorn Goop (2011,2013 WDC) and Mika Forss (2015). The chance to meet legendary driver John Campbell and Wally Hennessy at the World Harness Racing book launch was too good an opportunity to turn down. This gave the chance to meet the publisher Larry Resnitzky and his wife Nancy (Editor) and Jerry McCabe (Managing Editor), all very hospitable people.
One cannot say enough about Prince Edward Island, a wonderful place to visit, albeit very briefly. However, one doesn’t need to stay long to encounter the friendly, courteous, helpful and generous nature of the local inhabitants and the many returnees to their birthplace. It was great to experience the relaxed pace of life on the Island even at a busy time like Old Home Week.
The Prince Edward Islanders are passionate and knowledgeable about all aspects of harness racing. It is a very important part of the Charlottetown dynamic, one can only thank them all for allowing us to experience it. Standardbred Canada made the right choice to end the 2017 WDC in Charlottetown.
The 2019 World Drivers Championship will be held in Sweden commencing with Elitloppet weekend in late May 219.
Next Week : Gold Cup and Saucer
Peter Craig
12 September 2017
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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