Our son, James MacDonald, is trying to win the crown for Canada on his home turf and in front of his hometown fans. American Marcus Miller and Finland’s Mika Forss are in hot pursuit in the competition, which features the top harness racing drivers from around the world.
The Old Home Week Invitational Trot is always a big attraction and it goes Saturday in Race 2 for $3,500.
If you've been following the trot ranks this summer at the city track, you may have watched some of the torrid match-ups between Freddie, the track record holder, and Osprey Impact, the track record holder for mares. Others have given these two all they can handle and with the arrival of highly regarded Murmur Hanover, this trot event could be history making.
Island native David Dowling has also brought in Ontario invader Kennel Buddy, who won his debut here in 1:57:1 with ease.
Freddie is the pride of the Three Wisemen Stable, who also has Art Major filly Keepcalmndanceon going tonight in Race 2.
Who’s here
In our annual Old Home Week review of those arriving from away, I am pleased to see Moncton's Don Gaudet, one of the best hockey referees of his era, and the duo of Brian (Pilot) Morrell and Bruce Maxwell, who have been coming here since the early 1970s when Saint John's Scotch Gauman and Flying Caper were on the go.
Hall of Fame driver Wally Hennessey and Mark (The Mechanic) Beckwith, a top USA driver with 5,000-plus lifetime wins, are in from Saratoga.
Carl Jamieson and Harry Poulton, prominent Ontario trainers, are here. Sources told me Carl played great for 15 holes before running out of gas in the Wednesday horsemens golf tournament.
Dr. John Hennessey, a prominent Ontario vet and a member of the first Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) graduating class, was last seen in the near tent telling stories with Ontario trainer Vic Puddy and prominent Ontario horseman Bill Means, the owner of the top trotter Il Sogno Dream.
Lowell Brown, a retired RCMP officer from the city and an owner-trainer in Ontario for many years, is here visiting Gordie and Tammy Brown and ex-hockey teammates. Lowell was a top junior player here in the late 1960s.
Longtime Ontario presiding judge Mike Brown, now based in British Columbia, is home visiting relatives including uncle Jack, who just missed winning the Gold Cup and Saucer with Tammany Hall in the early 1960s.
Don MacNeill, aka Don Don, is home from Fort McMurray. Paul Taylor, a soccer and snooker star of the early 1960s, is back again from Winnipeg.
Elaine Slaunwhite from Halifax is one of a number of The Stable.Ca new owners enjoying Old Home Week for the first time. Also here for the week are Stable.Ca owners Jamie Sorochan and his wife Pam from Ontario.
Erv Miller, one of the best trainers in North America, is here with son Marcus, who is representing USA in the World Driving Championship. Marcus is driving Arque Hanover in the Gold Cup and Saucer for the first time.
Also here is Erv's daughter Hannah Miller, aka Hurricane Hannah, the top female driver in the world.
Phil McGee, who left here 60-plus years ago with Sammy Gregory for New Jersey, is home visiting family and playing a little golf.
There is the usual huge contingent from Cape Breton, including Joey Garabb and Paul (Jigger) Andrea, an ex-NHLer and former horse owner.
Of course, no great harness racing event would be complete without John Campbell, and the legend is here participating in the World Trotting Conference.
Fred MacDonald's column appears every Saturday in The Guardian. This is his annual Old Home Week special. He can be reached at fiddlersfacts@hotmail.com.
