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.

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.