MacGuigan’s Win is One for the Industry’s Smaller Players
Horsetalk
By
Hal Hennessey
Barney & Family with Gail MacDonald presenting Most Dedicated Horsemen Award.
Thanks to Tom Clark of the PEI Standardbred Horse Owners Association, we had the
award winners immediately following the banquet at the Dutch Inn Saturday night. As
always Mr. Clark’s efforts are appreciated. I was also pleased to see some of our local
horse people were on the list of those honoured. First though, I want to congratulate an
old pal Leonard ‘Barney’ MacGuigan and his family, on the recognition he received for
his long years of contribution to the PEI industry. His Most Dedicated Horse Person
award couldn’t have happened to a better guy. Barney is one of the old school types and
this honours his long years of labouring in the trenches, sometimes for little reward. It’s
also a fitting recognition of his status and popularity with fans and fellow horsemen. In its
way, it pays tribute as well to the smaller players in the industry, who are so often
overlooked in the rush to honour the stars. Way to go Barney – couldn’t be happier for
you, Brenda and the family.
--------------------------Locally, two of our veteran horseman, Doug Roloson and Ralph Annear also received
major recognition. Doug was named the association’s Man of the Year, while Ralph
picked up Trotter of the Year and 3 YO Trotting Colt awards for Sweetwater Rukkus.
Grandson Jack Panting was named the Rookie of the Year. The Aged Trotting Horse
presentation went to Cindy MacDonald and Tanya MacKinnon’s Saulsbrook Balance,
while Jen Trainor’s Le Fugueur was named Claiming Horse of the Year.
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Malabrigo and Marc Campbell continue to reap honours.
Kyle Burton photo.
It won’t surprise you to learn that Buntainwood Farm’s Malabrigo was Three Year Old
Pacing Filly and Pacer of The Year. Her driver and trainer Marc Campbell was the 2012
leading dash winner and leading percentage driver. He was also recognized with a special
tribute to acknowledge his winning of The O’Brien Award for Horsemanship. Earl Smith
was named Active Horseman of the Year, while Kathy Carragher was the Horsewoman
of the Year in recognition of her commitment to the industry. Earl Watts nabbed top
Trainer honors. PEISHOA President Dr. Colleen Dickie also made a special presentation
to the PEI tracks’ Chief Operating Officer Tom Mullally, recognizing his contributions to
Island racing on the eve of his announced retirement.
-----------------------Other award winners & owners included:
2 Year Old Trotting Colt : Taliesan - Buntainwood Farms
2 Year old Trotting Filly: Irish Lullaby - Boyd MacDonald and Dan Ross
2 Year old Pacing Colt : Forever Paradise - Reg MacPherson, David and Aaron
MacKenzie
2 Year old Pacing Filly Don’t Tell Cindy - Tom McGrudd and Geoff MacNeish
3 Year Old Trotting Filly: Est Non Ila Duleis - Buntainwood Farms
3 Year old Pacing Colt: Touch Of Lightning - Don and Peter Smith, Gerald Morrisey, and
Larry Chappell
Claiming Mare of the Year : Kaitlyn Rose - Ralph Sweet
Aged Trotting Mare : Warrawee Jade - Blake Andrew and William Andrew
Aged Pacing Horse : Oakrock Almighty - owned by Jack Keenan and Joseph Dahl
Aged Pacing Mare : J K Special - Joe Smallwood
Other presentations:
2012 Johnston’s Home Style Mr. Trot Challenge – Marc Campbell
Grooms of the Year: Rachel Andrew and Brian Hicken.
Standardbred Canada Owner of the Year: Buntainwood Farms
Appreciation Awards: Ronota Baglole and Gail Myers.
-------------------------It was quite a shock when we broke the story last week, that Tom Mullally, ALC ‘s
managing director on PEI and COO of the Island racing & gaming facilities was leaving.
Initial reaction from the net chatterers and my correspondents was that he had run into
problems for refusing to go along with those Standardbred Canada directors and others on
the Island, who were involved in that attempted simulcast shuffle in Newfoundland. Tom,
to his credit, knew the rules say you can’t have simulcasting without live racing and he
didn’t intend to help circumvent them. Mullally has since told me the incident had
nothing to do with his retirement. He said his relationships within the Island industry and
at ALC are fine. It was simply that entering his fourth year, with many of his goals
accomplished and a strong team in place – the time had come. After years in the
hospitality industry Mullally says he just wanted to retire and spend a little more time
with his wife and family. He and his partners also have a couple of colts in training that
he plans to spend more time around. We wish him the best. Tom did a fine job, put an end
to amateur hour at the tracks and brought a sense of professionalism to the Island racing
scene. Now the hunt is on for his replacement, hopefully one who can build on what
Mullally has accomplished.
---------------------------------Short Shots;
Seems we put the cat among the pigeons when commenting on the upcoming Paddock
Meeting tomorrow (Thursday) evening at the Farm Center. Start time is 7 PM. I was told
that Maritime Provinces Racing Commission officials had called it and the purpose was
to inform CDP horsemen of what was expected of them this coming season. Fair enough that happens every year. But then I asked, in light of the failure by commission officials
to provide consistency in their racing calls last year, with regards to injectable penalties,
whipping rules, Old Home Week offences etc., would the horsemen be able to tell the
officials what was expected of them? That didn’t go over too well I gather. But let’s face
it – the MPHRC has never adequately explained its failures. Particularly egregious was
the difference in penalties levied for the same offences in 2011 and 2012 regarding
injectables. Seemed like outright discrimination to many. Until that is adequately
explained, I don’t believe the commission will enjoy any moral authority or respect at
Island tracks.
Racing is due to begin at the CDP on April 20th and still no Island stake dates have been
announced. Horsemen across the Maritimes have been asking for them for a couple of
months now. So what’s the problem? Apparently even the tracks can’t get the
information. I’m told the PooBahs have the answers, but are only providing them to the
‘in crowd’ – how typically PEI is that? There are those who think something’s up and it
won’t be good for the regular folks. We’ll see.
BTW, kudos to the executive of the Atlantic Sires Stake program – they have a least a
tentative schedule in place, although the NB portion is uncertain. View it here
www.atlanticsiresstakes.ca .
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-------------------------Horses for Courses
Not much action this past week although I see Jonah Moase’s Tagmaster won in 1:57.2
at Flamboro Downs. As well the former Island owned Wellthereyougo (Darren & Jen
Trainor) took a new mark for Wally Hennessey at Pompano Saturday night. He raced
home in 1:52.1.
-----------------------Questions/Comments? hal.al@sympatico.ca
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The Post Script
Just a reminder that the CDP Paddock Meeting is tonight (Thursday, April 11) at the
Farm Center. It’s due to start at 7PM. As we said above, it’s supposedly to allow the
racing commission to tell horsemen what is expected of them. I suggest horsemen should
be able to do the same. As a reminder once again, of the problems the MPHRC could
face in the future, here’s a little excerpt from a PS of a while back.
I’m told pointing out that the MPHRC set a precedent when they changed the rules in
December of 2012 regarding injectable penalties, didn’t sit too well with some. Hardly
surprising. Ask any lawyer though and he’ll probably tell you I’m right. Should any
horseman/woman be fined and/or suspended in the future for possession, that’s the first
issue an attorney would raise on appeal. And why not? Since the commission has refused
to offer any explanation for the 2012 reversal of policy, I don’t see how they would have
a leg to stand on. And that brings up another interesting possibility. Doesn’t this also
indicate other decisions may have been suspect and possibly not based on firm ground? In
other words, while rulings based on positive evidence, such as video, lab analysis etc.
would be one thing, all the subjective calls based on an official’s perception of an event
could be quite another matter. I won’t be surprised at all, should horsemen begin to
question a lot more of the commission’s rulings after this ‘Injectables Injustice’ fiasco.’
It’ll be interesting to see if there’s any discussion of this issue tonight, or the Brian
MacPhee affair, although I fully understand horsemen not wanting to risk ‘payback’ by
addressing it in a public meeting.
------------------------------------And another reminder: Qualifiers will occur at the CDP on Saturday April 13th and at
SRW on Sunday April 14th both with post times of 1pm. Entries for both qualifying days
are due to the race office by Friday April 12th at 2pm. An additional day of qualifiers will
occur at Charlottetown Tuesday April 16th with entries due by Monday April 15th by
2pm.
The Charlottetown Driving Park will hold its opening race card on Saturday April 20th
with a post time of 6pm.
----------------------------Finally, will fans and horsemen be told about the stake schedule anytime soon? Maybe
tonight?
And how about the purse structure? Any secret meetings yet – or even an open one?
Perhaps tonight as well?