CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – The highest honour in Canadian horse racing is being bestowed on a former Islander.
William Andrew, now of Calgary, is being inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame as a builder after decades of involvement in the sport in P.E.I. and Alberta. Although both of Andrew’s parents were from P.E.I., he was born in Clinton, Ont., while his father was stationed there in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Andrew would eventually return to grow up on the Island and inherit his family’s multi-generational love of harness racing. His professional career has seen him enjoy great success in the western Canadian oil business as well as serving as chancellor of UPEI.
The 65-year-old now operates Meridian Farms locations in Milton and High River, Alta., and owns horses actively racing across the country, including a string on P.E.I. with brother trainer-driver Brian Andrew. Meridian Farms has been nominated multiple times for top standardbred breeder in Canada for the O’Brien Awards. Andrew has also been a strong supporter of grassroots harness racing efforts across Canada, financially supporting the Atlantic Sires Stakes trotting divisions since 2014 as well as the P.E.I. Matinee Racetrack Program that holds races across the Island in small communities.
He also initiated the Fun For Fans Stables and the Hurrah For Charity Stable where his horses partnered with a different charity every month, giving all of their race winnings to the organization. Andrew has also sponsored other events across Atlantic Canada under his Meridian Farms banner and was awarded Standardbred Canada’s coveted Cam Fella Award in 2015 for meritorious service to the Canadian Standardbred industry.
The last Islander to be inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame was Wally Hennessey in the trainer-driver category in 2014.
In the standardbred horse category, Chancey Lady is being inducted into the hall after banking more than $2 million in her career. The former Casie Coleman pupil was driven by Kingston native Mark MacDonald in her big victories as a two- and three-year-old, including the $300,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final in 2007 and the $733,031 Fan Hanover Final in 2008. The champion filly was also cared for by Charlottetown native Tim McKinnon for part of her career.
Six people and four horses are being inducted in the hall this year from both the standardbred and thoroughbred industries. The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame was established in 1976 with this year’s induction ceremony being held at the Mississauga Convention Centre on Aug. 8.
P.E.I. Scene
The P.E.I. Standardbred Horse Owner’s Association Awards banquet is set for Saturday night at the Murphy Centre in Charlottetown. It honours the best in harness racing from the 2017 racing season. The guest speakers are U.S. trainer Erv Miller along with daughter and driver Hannah Miller.
Nicholas Oakes' column appears in The Guardian each Friday. He can be reached at [email protected].
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