CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Driving championships are proving to be to David Dowling’s liking as the reinsman won his second straight Paul MacDonald memorial trophy last weekend at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The championship was part of horse person’s day, presented by the P.E.I. Standardbred Horse Owner’s Association.
Dowling won the event this year while winning just one race of the eight-dash competition by virtue of a near perfect top-three performance. Dowling had one win, four seconds, a pair of thirds and a fourth-place finish to defeat second-place driver Corey MacPherson for the title.
Live racing continues Saturday and Sunday at 12:30 p.m. both days for the final two-card weekend of the meet. Live racing switches to a Saturday-only schedule for the rest of the season, with the exception of Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve, with the season tentatively scheduled to wrap up the first week of February.
Condolences
Island racing suffered a blow this week with the untimely death of Dianne Gass, co-owner of Dusty Lane Farms in Cornwall, which she operated with husband Ron Gass. Dianne ran business operations at the Cornwall nursery, that at one time was the busiest stallion station on the East Coast with upwards of seven studs at any one time. Known for her warm personality when dealing with horse people across the region, she will be deeply missed.
Across The Continent
Kingston native Anthony MacDonald had a big score in stakes action in the U.S. this week. MacDonald steered Jazzy Judy to victory in the $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeder’s Fund final for two-year-old trot fillies with a 1:59.4 victory. The filly is owned by MacDonald’s Thestable.ca ownership syndicate.
Breeders Awards
Reminder to all breeders to tap into the new breeders award program being paid out this year by the Prince Edward Island Harness Racing Industry Association. Eligible breeders can register for a $250 award for Island-foaled weanlings, who are registered and whose dam resided on P.E.I. for at least 183 days in the foaling year.
To enroll, go to PEIharnessracing.com or contact executive director Julie Jamieson at 902-569-1682.
Nicholas Oakes' column appears in The Guardian each Friday. He can be reached at [email protected].
