Marymatt Hanover Euthanized

By Nicholas Oakes

An illustrious racing career was cut all too short during Saturday night’s sixth race at Woodbine Raceway.

Marymatt Hanover (Blissfull Hall – Mary Mattgalane) was nearing the finish of his race when he suffered an injury to his pastern, forcing driver Mark MacDonald to pull up the six-year-old stallion.

Trainer Gordon Ford rushed the horse to the University of Guelph, but the horses injury was too serious to mend. Marymatt Hanover was euthanized Sunday morning.

Marymatt Hanover was bought at the 2003 Harrisburg yearling sale for $20,000 by Ron Matheson, Hal Bevan, and Tom Clark, all of Charlottetown P.E.I.

Trainer by Charlottetown-based trainer Ron Matheson, Marymatt Hanover started his career off at Summerside Raceway, Summerside, P.E.I., at age three winning in 2:01.3.

He then proceeded to wheel off 10 more victories (The last three of which were at Hippodrome De Montreal, under the care of Marcel Barrieau) before his streak was snapped at 11, with a second place finish.

Soon after the colt found his way to Woodbine Raceway with trainer Dr. Ian Moore (of Shadow Play and Astronomical fame) who is a longtime friend of the ownership group.

He won his first two starts for Moore, including a win in a blistering 1:49.4, at the end of November, with Mark MacDonald in the bike. MacDonald is married to Charlotte Bevan, daughter of Marymatt Hanover’s co-owner Hal Bevan.

When Moore returned to P.E.I., the horse was left in the care of Casie Coleman, who won a leg of the 2005 Valedictory pacing series with the bay pacer. That was Marymatt’s only win in the series as he failed to defeat arch-rival Pacific Mariner in the second leg and final.

After brief stays in Charlottetown and Montreal, Marymatt Hanover made visits to the winner’s circles in Chester Downs (1:53.1) and The Meadowlands (1:51.4) while being trained by Joseph Holloway.

After another trip to Ontario, he came home in  to Charlottetown in 2007 to compete in the regional free-for-all circuit, then again returning to Ontario where he climbed up to compete in the Open pace at Woodbine.

This past summer, Marymatt Hanover finished a close second to Pownal Bay Matt in the $60,000 Gold Cup & Saucer final, with fellow Islander Robert Shepherd in the bike.

His last win was Nov. 29 at Woodbine in 1:52.3 with Mark MacDonald at the controls.

Co-owner Tom Clark was faced with a tough decision Saturday night when he witnessed what happened to the pacer, while watching the simulcast from the Charlottetown Driving Park.

There was only a slim chance of survival for the horse and Clark believes he made the right decision.

“I think among the three of us (Clark, Bevan, and Matheson) we didn’t want to subject Matt to any torture purely for our own motives,” Clark said.

Clark enjoyed having Marymatt Hanover around.

“He wasn’t hard to handle. He was a good blend of talent and determination. I feel pretty fortunate to have had him.”

Everyone ever connected with Marymatt Hanover no doubt counts themselves lucky to have had the chance to work with him, as Clark wrapped up perfectly.

“None of us will ever forget him.”

Marymatt Hanover, February 23, 2002 – December 7, 2008.

MacPhee working into Ontario driving ranks

By Nicholas Oakes

DUNDAS, Ont. – Clyde River, P.E.I., native Brodie MacPhee made his first step to breaking into the Ontario driving ranks Monday night at Flamboro Downs.

MacPhee, who moved to Ontario last week, scored a win with Hello Honey, trained by Charlottetown native Harry Poulton, in 2:03.4.

Hello Honey was the second-longest shot on the board and MacPhee was hoping to get an easy trip and finish third with the three-year-old Western Maverick filly. The plan changed at the start of the race.

“She was wanting to leave out a little bit, so I decided I’d leave out and made front.”

MacPhee made front, then relinquished the lead to Astroika (driven by Anthony Haughan).

“When I got to front I tapped the breaks. I was trying to help myself get (to the quarter in) 29 seconds instead of 27. I was a long shot so maybe if we got to half in 1:00 or 1:01, I’d be around at the end and maybe have a shot.”

MacPhee sat in the two-hole through fractions of 29, 1:00, and 1:31, then tipped out to win by a length in 2:03.4. Hello Honey paid $39.10 to win.

MacPhee’s next driving assignment is Thursday night at Woodbine Raceway in Rexdale, Ont.

He is slated to drive Signal in the $21,000 ninth race for his uncle Ricky MacPhee. Signal will leave on the rail, and has been installed as the 4-1 second choice.

Brodie is unsure of where his mount fits in the race, but is confident in the mares ability.

“If she’s on her game I think she’ll be close with any kind of a drive.”

He say’s he’s not nervous to drive at Woodbine.

“No, not now I’m not. Maybe Thursday after the eighth race I might be.”

Driving in the Maritimes in 2008, MacPhee had 65 wins and purse earnings of $98,982.

Woodbine’s race card has a 8:30pm (AST) post time and will be simulcast at the Charlottetown Driving Park Entertainment Centre.

Festival of lights returns to Confederation Landing in 2009

By Nicholas Oakes

CHARLOTTETOWN – The Festival of Lights will be held at Confederation Landing Park again in 2009, Charlottetown City Council decided in a unanimous decision Monday night.

The festival is set for July 1-4, 2009.

Earlier in the year, there was doubt as to where the festival would be held. Coun. Mitch Tweel says he was lead to believe the festival was to be held at the former Irving Oil tanker site.

“I told residents not to worry, and that the Festival of Lights would not be held at Confederation Landing Park,” Tweel said.

He’s unsure if residents were asked where they wanted the event held.

“I’m not sure if there was a consensus among the residents down there.”

Coun. Peter McCloskey says if there is to be a change of venue for the festival, it will be decided another year. He says other possible sites are hard to find.

“Confederation Landing Park is the only place in our that can hold a concert of that size.”

Talk of changing the site of the festival was sparked by resident’s concerns about noise and the safety of their property.

Mayor Clifford Lee says the format of the festival still isn’t perfect.

“We need an event that provides a positive entertainment product to the city without infringing on other residents.”

He says the business generated from the festival does not outweigh resident’s concerns.

“I would never say that the economic spinoff is worth annoying residents. That would be irresponsible.”

There will be guidelines and rules in place for the festival next year, says Coun. Kim Devine. She believes the event has been a success.

“Tourism Charlottetown has a very successful event on its hands.”

Kingston Legion still going strong

By Nicholas Oakes

Even through tough economic times and declining membership, the Kingston Legion is operating strong.

Nestled in the heart of New Haven, P.E.I. the legion began operating 61 years ago, and currently has about 100 members.

William Gaudet, 77, is a veteran of the Korean War, and a longtime legion member. He says the membership group is growing smaller over time.

“We’re running fairly thin.”

Claude Clow is a Second World War veteran, and is the secretary treasurer of the Kingston Legion.  He says even though members are getting older he believes people with parents associated with the legion will some day join.

“I think it will enhance our situation in the future,” Clow said.

Gaudet says the one thing that’s key to the legion being able to hold functions, make donations to charity, and still survive, is the work of volunteers.

The legion barkeepers, bingo workers, and dinner staff are all volunteers and the cleaning and maintenance work is done by volunteers.

Due to their efforts the legion only needs to bring in about $26,000 per year to break even.  The expenses the legion would have to pay include insurance, electricity, heating, cable television, phone service, grass cutting and snow removal.

The main source of income for the legion is bingo, which is held every Monday and Friday. Other sources of income include operating a bar, and holding dinners and anniversary parties.

Gaudet says bingo is a social outing for those who attend.

“By and large the people that come know each other and have been coming for years.”

In 2005, the legion was able to receive approval for infrastructure funding for renovations to the building totalling approximately $76,000.

The renovations included taking out a partition to expand space in the legion,  fixing the interior, changing the heating system and adding a handicapped bathroom.

The legion is also active in the school community, having a strong cadet corp, and offering bursaries to students graduating high school.

Gaudet says that the town of Cornwall is unique in when they hold their cenotaph service.

“Since 1920 the town of Cornwall has celebrated remembrance day on the third Sunday in September,” Gaudet said.

The reason for this, he says, was due to a combination of road conditions and crop harvesting.

The legion services are on Nov. 11 every year at a different location each year (on a rotating basis). The services rotate among New Haven, Clyde River, Crapaud, Hartsville, Kingston, Nine Mile Creek, and Kelly’s Cross.

This year services will be held in New Haven with a short parade.

“Our vets are getting older so we don’t have a long parade,” Clow said.

A reception will be held afterwards at the legion.

Hittin’ the old dusty trail

By Nicholas Oakes

In a move that will surely be career changing, a trio from P.E.I. will try their luck on a bigger stage and make the move to Ontario.

Ambyr MacPhee, and Mitchell Tierney are setting up training operations at the Campbellville Training Center, in Campbellville, Ont.

Tierney, 20, (Lifetime: 211 – 37 – 30- 34, $47,547, UTRS .308) trains a small stable out of his home farm in New Haven, and campaigns top trotting mare Dusty Lane Shelby, who tied the aged mares track trot record at Charlottetown in a 2:01.1 victory.

Tierney had a very simple answer for why he likes Dusty Lane Shelby.

“Because she’s good,” Tierney said.

He plans on taking two of his family’s horses with him to Ontario, Dusty Lane Shelby and Lyndale Lover.

Lyndale Lover, 5, (Drop Off – Lyndale O Kay) has lifetime stats of $23,511 earned, 10 wins, and a mark of 2:00.1. So far in 2008 the mare has earned $2,915 and has two wins (the fastest in 2:01).

Tierney plans on racing the mare in the $4,500 claimer at Flamboro Downs.

Dusty Lane Shelby, 6, (Imperial Angus – Dusty Lane Nipper) has lifetime stats of $27,966, 19 wins, and a mark of 2:01.1 (taken this year). So far in 2008, the mare has seven wins and $6,749 earned.

Tierney has a tentative roadmap worked out for the trot mare.

“Her first start will be at Flamboro, just a tightener, and then we’re going to go to Georgian (Downs) to see what she’s like on a bigger track, with bigger turns,” He said.

Tierney also hasn’t ruled out a trip to Woodbine with the mare, and says that if she goes, fellow islander Brodie MacPhee will get the call to drive.

He says that a claimer is not an option for the mare.

“Never. She will not be in as a claimer at all.”

Tierney says he has learned some lessons in his short time training horses.

“Trotters made me patient,” Tierney said. “and time, devotion, and hard work pay off in the long run.”

Ambyr MacPhee, 26, is an active driver/trainer on P.E.I. but plans on staying behind the fence once she makes the move to Ontario.

MacPhee’s career highlight is winning with gutsy claimer Shy Boy Hershey, holding off late charges by Wylde Cherry and Township Blazeaway, by a nose in 1:58.

She also has respectable lifetime training stats: 355 – 53 – 45 – 49, $59,055, UTRS .265.

MacPhee says one the biggest parts of having your own stable is dealing with people.

“In order to have owners, you have to be able to deal with the public.”

Currently, she only has one horse lined up to go with her, Keziah M, but she says there is a strong possibility of taking three or four with her. She does not plan on driving herself.

Keziah M, 3,  (10 – 3 – 1 – 0, $3,520, 2:04.2) is owned by Peter and Joanne Gray of N.B., and he fits the maiden classes throughout Ontario.                       

MacPhee is optimistic of Keziah M’s chances.

“I’m hoping he’ll do, and if he does well I’m hoping it’ll spark some interest in some more maritime owners sending horses up.”

In the meantime, the two have not ruled out the possibility of working for another trainer until they get more horses.

Tierney and MacPhee leave Nov. 15, and will surely remember one thing the rest of their careers.

“To be in this game and be successful and have to not only want to do it, you have to love the horse,” Tierney said.

Cornwall’s Brodie MacPhee is also making the trip, but he wants to establish himself in the Ontario driver’s colony.

MacPhee is enjoying a career year in the bike (438 starts – 65 wins – 62 seconds – 66 thirds – $98,982 in purses – UDRS .277).

He says he was fortunate this year to drive Porthill Alf and Pans O Silver in Charlottetown’s top classes.

His driving improved this year, he says, due in large part to a piece of advice he received from an older trainer at the CDPEC.

“He gave me a little tip that stuck in the back of my head, and I used it quite a bit this year,” MacPhee said.

MacPhee was unwilling to reveal the tip.

He has only been to Southern Ontario once. He spent a few days at Mohawk when he was groom for world champion Chucaro Ahijuna.

He’s currently unsure of exactly where he is going when he leaves but his plans are to work for an established trainer in Ontario.

He says he’s basically starting from scratch when he get there.

“I’m going to have to earn my respect. I’m not gonna expect to walk into Flamboro and have guys open up holes for me.”

His older sister, Ambyr MacPhee, is also making the move and plans to have Brodie drive her horses.

“Anytime that Brodie has the time, he’ll get the call (to drive),” Ambyr said.

Brodie says it’s going to be different driving in Ontario.

“It’s gonna be different going from driving six or seven (horses) a night (on P.E.I.) to driving maybe once every two weeks (in Ontario),” Brodie said.

Marc Campbell

By Nicholas Oakes

When you toss around the words “youth” and “success” in harness racing, you don’t have to look any farther than Prince Edward Island, and 24-year-old Marc Campbell.

Marc, from Orwell, P.E.I., is only into his fifth year driving and has recorded over 300 wins driving in the Maritimes.

His most memorable moment was winning three Atlantic Breeders Crown events on the same day in 2007, with three-year-old filly Forceful Hope, aged mare Howmacs Dragon, and free-for-aller Rigio Hanover.

Earlier that year, Rigio Hanover fulfilled one of Marc’s childhood dreams when he made it into the final of the Gold Cup & Saucer.

“Like it’s every kids dream to drive in (the GC&S), and maybe win it some day. I got to drive in it and I was only 22. It was pretty big,” Marc said.

Marc previously attempted to establish himself on the Ontario circuit, while working for fellow Islander Anthony MacDonald, but he was hit with some tough luck when he fell and broke his leg while outside the barn at the Campbellville Training Centre. He soon came home and has now been married to wife Natasha for almost two years, while he operates a stable of 17 horses out of the Charlottetown Driving Park Entertainment Centre.

Between operating a stable, driving in overnights on P.E.I. and stakes events across the Maritimes, Marc says it can all get fairly hectic at times, but he has found something to make the pressure go away.

“Just family time. I spend time with Natasha, and Landon (the couple’s one-year-old son). We just go for walks, and try and do something else. You just need to get time away from it all to keep sharp. You’re at it all the time and you don’t get a break, you lose your edge I find.”

He also says he’s an avid television fan, from watching professional baseball, to a his favourite movies (which include The Notebook, Tombstone, and the Rocky series), and a number of TV shows.

“I like ‘Desperate Housewives’ it’s a pretty good show, actually ‘Criminal Minds’ is probably my favourite show.”

Like many other drivers, Marc thrives on racing.

“I think I’m really doing a dream job for me. It’s just the competition, you have to think on your feet so fast. You’re always thinking, that’s what I love about it. I like the pressure.”

He says he doesn’t have much experience driving on a five-eighths track but is looking forward to go to Fraser Downs. His wife Natasha reminds him he has bigger issues to deal with, as their second child is due right at the time of the World Driving Championship in Norway, in May.

“Natasha said I can’t go to the worlds if I win,” he said with a laugh. “We’ll deal with that when the time comes. I don’t even want to think about it.”

He says representing Canada would be pressure enough for him.

“I’d be scared at first, because then I’d have to think about that position. It’s be unreal to do it, probably a once in a lifetime thing.”

Bill Davis

By Nicholas Oakes

Although he was born, raised, and learned the ropes of the game in Canada’s heartland, Ontario, he now plys his trade out west and has continually dominated racing on Canada’s Pacific Coast.

Bill Davis, 47, was born in Peterborough, Ontario, to Dorothy and Bill Davis sr. His father and older brother, Dan, worked for General Motors Canada in Oshawa, Ont., but Dan was also a small-time horseman on the side. Bill helped out his brother after school and quickly developed an interest in harness racing.

Once he was out of school Bill got a job at nearby Kawartha Downs working for Jerry Robinson. At that time he attained his driver’s license, but says he didn’t receive much opportunity at Kawartha Downs.

This led to Bill making the move to British Columbia, when his sister asked him to come visit her.

“My sister was living out in North Vancouver, and it was the summertime so I figured, well she invited me out and said there was a track out here, so I’d just see,” Bill said in an interview from his Langley, B.C. home. ” I just went down to the (old Cloverdale Racetrack), next thing I knew I had a few drives and kinda liked it so I decided to stay.”

It looks like Bill made the right decision, as while in B.C. he met, his now wife, Laurie.

“She was working at the track too but she was up in the grandstand working in concessions. I went up to the grandstand a bit and ended up meeting her there.”

Laurie and Bill have now been married for 23 years and have three children, Billy (age 22) who trains and drives in B.C., Megan (age 20) who works for Adidas, and Courtney (age 15) who is in high school.

Bill currently trains a stable of 22 horses, and in 2008 led Fraser Downs in driving wins (159) and purse earnings ($1,124,021), and training wins (138) and purse earnings ($959,575). This put him sixth in Canada for training wins, and leading Canada for UTRS with a sparkling .456. Those numbers would make it fairly clear that he wouldn’t have much time left on his schedule, but he says he tries to do as much as he can, including watching his favourite hockey team, The Montreal Canadiens.

“The odd time we used to play ice hockey with the track, but now it’s a little bit of ball hockey, little bit of golf, little bit of fishing.”

A win in the national driving competition at his home base of Fraser Downs is easy for Bill to put into words.

“(It would be) a great honour, biggest thrill of my life I’d think.”

The closeness of the Davis family wasn’t hard to see while talking to Bill. When he couldn’t think what his favourite restaurant was, a family member in the background was quick to tell him it was Red Robin, whether or not it really is, only Bill knows, but he does attribute that family spirit to his success on the track.

“I’ve had a lot of support from my family to get where I am.”

Gilles Barrieau

By Nicholas Oakes

The Barrieau family has a storied history in Atlantic Canadian harness racing, with talented horsemen like Marcel and Ruffin Barrieau. The latest page in the Barrieau story is undoubtedly 44-year-old Gilles Barrieau, a multiple Maritime driving champion.

Gilles, grew up in Dieppe, N.B. His father, Alfred, always had a few horses while he was juggling jobs.

“I guess he really had three jobs on the go. He was a hard worker,” Gilles said.

Gilles obviously picked up on this work ethic, as he has recorded over 100 driving wins in the Maritimes every year since 1996.

He now calls Saint John, N.B. home, which is where he met his wife of 14 years, Kelly, in a way that is fairly common among horsemen.

“I was in Saint John working here with Marcel (Barrieau, Gilles’ uncle), I believe she sold tickets at the grandstand.”

The couple have one daughter, 13-year-old Devon, who is a grade eight student.

When asked what he would like to do besides train and drive horses, Gilles had trouble answering.

“You got me there, that’s all I ever wanted to do. I guess I’d want to be a professional hockey player.”

When he isn’t busy with his stable of 12 (which includes 10 two-year-old’s) at Exhibition Park Raceway, Gilles likes to golf and play hockey.

Gilles stated without a hint of conceit that he couldn’t think of a stakes or invitational race in the region that he hasn’t won.

“I think I’ve got every one here in the Maritimes. As far as I know.”

He cites some career highlights as winning the Gold Cup and Saucer in 1997 with his favourite horse Comedy Hour, and winning the National Driving Championship in 2007 at the Charlottetown Driving Park Entertainment Centre. He says he didn’t feel 100 per cent when he represented Canada in Australia and New Zealand.

“I was just diagnosed with diabetes, and I really wasn’t up to that trip, but I pretty well had to go.”

He says he’s just beginning to feel better.

“Im feeling better, but it still bothers me alot. It’s a lot of nerve damage, just sore everywhere, especially the cold, the cold really bothers me. The doctors told me it’ll be two or three years before I’m back to normal.”

He’s looking forward to going to Fraser Downs to compete in the Nationals, but says it will be different.

“I expect it to be totally different then last time, it’s a different environment. I won’t know the horses as much, and the people involved. It’s going to be a bigger challenge but I’m looking forward to it.”

It’s just back and forth between the track and home for him, but he says he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I love it, can’t wait to get there in the morning. Just everything about it, especially going with the babies.”

P.E.I. will not feel the brunt of economic storm

By Nicholas Oakes

When it comes to the Canadian recession, P.E.I. is a small player, an economic expert says.

Alan Buchanan, a strategic enrollment management consultant with Holland College, said because P.E.I. is heavily dependant on government expenditure, the recession’s effects have been lessened and delayed on P.E.I.

Don Wagner, a business professor at UPEI, agrees.

P.E.I. is not feeling the impact of the financial crisis as much as the hard hit provinces of Ontario or Alberta, he said.

“We seem to be somewhat insulated from the brunt of the crisis.”

The definition of a recession is two consecutive quarters, three-month periods, of falling gross domestic product, which measures the value of economic output in a country or province, Wagner said.

Information for P.E.I. is not yet available to determine whether or not we’re in a recession, he said.

However, there are steps the government will have to do to deal with the current financial uncertainty, Buchanan said.

“The province will have to abandon notions of a balanced budget.”

Wagner said governments tend to deal with economic trouble in the same way.

“Conventional wisdom says that when the economy falters, the government should increase spending to kick-start the economy and to create a willingness to invest for the future.”

Ottawa has already made an honest attempt to kick-start the economy, he said.

“The federal government is certainly taking those steps, and much of its

spending is subject to the condition that provincial governments

contribute a share of the costs.”

Some would argue P.E.I. should dip into the federal pot at this time, but Wagner said it doesn’t have to do that.

“P.E.I.’s economic downturn, if any, is not as severe as that of the rest of the country.”

Georgetown getting a leg cut off: Mayor

By Nicholas Oakes

The Mayor of Georgetown is not going to let his school close without a fight but the superintendent of the Eastern School District says it will have to be a good one.

Georgetown Mayor Peter Llewellyn is fighting tooth and nail to keep Georgetown Elementary open, in spite of an Eastern School District report recommending its closure, along with 10 other schools.

If the school were to close it would be a major blow to Georgetown, he said.

“Health, education, and security are the three legs of a community. If you take one of those legs out you see a decrease in economic activity and in the retention of population.”

Llewellyn has asked for a judicial review in the P.E.I. Supreme Court into why the closure is being asked for.

“Because the report was so poorly done we don’t know if it is from an economic or education standpoint.”

Sandy MacDonald, superintendent of the Eastern School District, stands by the report, saying Georgetown Elementary is too small, having just shy of 100 students.

“What’s happening here is to properly deliver our curriculum we need a certain number of students. We settled on around 250 – 275 students.”

The report was released to deal with the third of Island students who are struggling academicaly, MacDonald said.

He said Georgetown will have to make a strong case to keep the school open.

“They would have to make a compelling argument to the board of trustees to keep the school open.”

Llewellyn has a hard time understanding why budget cuts should be at the school level when so much money is being spent on administration in the Eastern School District.

“When you do a review of a company you don’t say ‘you’re going to just look at the forklift driver,’ you look at everything.”

Through it all he still believes Georgetown elementary can be saved if residents continue to take a stand.

“What we have is a fundamental shift in how rural P.E.I. is acting. Rural P.E.I. is saying we don’t want the five per cent of the respect you’re giving us but an equal 50 – 50 split.”

The Eastern School District has not ruled out making changes to the report reflecting the financial hardship involved in keeping schools operating.