Greg Blanchard Leaves WEG for Western Fair

In a surprise move the popular Greg Blanchard will leave WEG and the Score for the Assistant General Manager’s position at Western Fair in London. Blanchard a communications and broadcast celebrity has managed racetracks, called races, worked in communications at racetracks, and hosted racing shows on The Score.

In this career move, Blanchard gets to work with one of the top people in the harness racing industry in North America, Hugh Mitchell. This is a real coup for Western Fair.  Mitchell and Blanchard have worked together before in Ontario.

Greg Blanchard with Jennas Beach Boy

All of Blanchard’s fans which includes me wish Greg good luck in his new position.

Anthony MacDonald Guides Giddy Up Delight to Gold Cup and Saucer Trial One Victory

Anthony MacDonald returned home from the bright lights of Toronto to guide Giddy Up Delight to a convincing win in 1:52.1 in Trial One of the Gold Cup and Saucer Eliminations.It was a wire to wire victory for the brother of famed driver Mark MacDonald, both of PEI.

The top three finishers in each of the trials will be competing next Saturday nite for $60,000 in the Gold Cup and Saucer final.

While the $60,000 purse can’t match the $1.5 million dollar Pepsi North America Cup dollar for dollar, it garners more interest in Atlantic Canada, and is a very important part of the essence of PEI history and culture.

The Sobey’s Gold Cup and Saucer this year is the 51st running of this great event. With racing almost every afternoon and nite for over one week at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino in Charlottetown, and large crowds, it qualifies as on of the most prestigious harness races to win in North America.

Giddy Up Delight Wins Gold Cup and Saucer Trial One

Note: The above photo was taken by Gail MacDonald the mother of Anthony MacDonald and the track photographer at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino in Charlottetown.

Stewart Tremere Wins Big on the Day of Kilts at Pinette

Stuart Tremere Wins Twice on Kilted Pace Sunday at Pinette Raceway

Hunter River’s Stewart Tremere had a banner day winning two races on a day when drivers at Pinette sported kilts honouring Scottish Heritage,and the PEI Highland Games.

There was a large crowd present, numbering about 250 people, on a beautiful rural PEI Sunday. This Matinee track is one of many on PEI, where the real roots of harness racing lie.  It’s all in friendly but serious competition. The fans loved it,the drivers loved it, and even the horses seemed to enjoy themselves.

Racing at Pinette is scheduled on Wednesdays during the summer, beginning at 6:00 pm. It’s well worth the visit,  the hot dogs are great too.

This year’s Gold Cup and Saucer girls took in the day at Pinette as well.

Jacques Hebert and Buckhams Bay Win Again

Once again, it was Jacques Hebert, who showed the world of harness racing why he’s a true Hall of Famer as he guided Buchams Bay to his fourth consecutive victory in The $130,00 OSS Finals for two-year-old trotting colts,last nite at Grand River Raceway.

And yes Greg(Blanchard), they did throw everything at Jacques and his trotting buddy, to throw them off, park them, disorient them, but they prevailed. And through a parked out trip for the entire mile, Hebert gently led his student to victory, never raising his hand to hurt his great horse,and knowing the soft spoken Jacques, probably never raising his voice either. It was a great example of a driver respecting his horse, and contending with some other drivers who simply put, did everything they could under the rules, to keep him from winning.

Young drivers and many older drivers in this great industry, could learn a lot from ole Jacques, about a style of driving, that would bring back the fans, not continue to drive them away.

Buckhams Bay and Driver Jacques Hebert Win Big

Congratulations to Jacques Hebert for guiding emerging trotting star Buckhams Bay to the winner’s portion of the $130,000 Ontario Sires Stakes for 2 year old trotting colts and geldings held Monday night night at Mohawk Raceway.

It’s no accident that Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Famer Hebert drove BB to victory in a flawless manner. He’s been doing it for over fifty years mostly at Blue Bonnets and Hippodrome in Montreal.

He’s a fine example for future stars of the sport, as he never lifted a rein in winning the big race. Leaving from the eighth post position, and challenged from start to midway through the lane, he and his horse showed why they are true champions. Congratulations to owner-trainer John Smith.

It would be nice to see more of Jacques Hebert, as he always brings a touch of class and dignity to the races in which he drives. The industry could attract more fans if they could see more drives like the one Jacques Hebert made tonight.

Buckhams Bay Wins $130,000 OSS Final for Trotting Colts and Geldings

Jacques Hebert Stuns them at Mohawk Raceway

Veteran Jacques Hebert Guides Buckhams Bay to Victory

Veteran Hall of Fame driver Jacques Hebert showed his younger counterparts a thing or two as he and Buckhams Bay won going away last night at Mohawk Raceway. The win was in the opening leg of the $40,000 Gold Eliminations of the Ontario Sires Stakes. The 67-year-old Hebert, once a mainstay of the Quebec racing scene, saw his beloved Hippodrome de Montreal (formerly Blue Bonnets) fade away, with racing in Montreal on the shelf. Hebert with over 6,000 wins to his credit, and a credit to the harness racing industry himself has always been a great example for younger drivers in the way he treats horses and people. Young drivers need good examples if the sport is to grow in North America. All they have to do is watch the Jacque Heberts, the Paul MacDonells, the Wally Hennesseys and the John Campbells, and they’ll be good for the sport, the horses and the fans. Next Monday night at Mohawk Raceway, Hebert and Buckhams Bay will try to win the final which goes for $130,000. They leave from post position 8. The owner, trainer, and breeder of Buckhams Boy is John Smith of Woodlawn Ontario.

Mark MacDonald Wins the Pepsi North America Cup and More

Mark MacDonald

PEI’s latest harness racing sensation Mark MacDonald teamed with trainer Casie Coleman to win both the $1.5M Pepsi North America Cup(Sportswriter) and the $666,000 Fan Hanover(Western Silk) Saturday nite at Mohawk Raceway in Campbleville, Ontario. It is the first time in harness racing history that the same duo has won both in one year.

MacDonald follows in the footsteps of legendary drivers from Canada’s smallest province, who have done well on the world stage,which include the legendary late Joe O’Brien and Wally Hennessey both members of the Harness Hall of Fame in Goshen, New York.

I wouldn’t be surprised if someday Mark Macdonald joins his fellow Islanders in the hallowed Hall of Fame.  Time will tell.