A Truro Raceway tradition continues Sunday with the annual Fathers Day Pace.
The race is dedicated to fathers with a tribute for the horsemen who work with sons and daughters at the Bible Hill half-mile oval.
Built on the dedication of families, Truro Raceway is among a few Canadian racetracks able to boast family participation is the cornerstone of the stock housed on site.
Such family surnames include Laffin, Smallwood, Ramsay, Pinkney, Ellis, Gillis, Rennison, Daniels, McCallum, MacDonald, MacKay, White, Parker, Carey, Graves, Isenor, McNeil, Saunders, Toole, Johnson, Lowther-Francis and Merner.
The Father's Day Pace, sponsored by the Truro Harness Horse Owners Association, is slated for Race 11 with early attention going to Kendal Courageous, owned by Clayton Stevens, and five-year-old Real Simple for New Brunswick owner Dwight Lamkey. With Saulsbrook Quick, owned by Ross Toole, and Maddie G, with veteran Emmons Mackay at the controls, the race could be the one to watch.
Post time is 1:30 p.m. with qualifying at noon.
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Danny Romo was held winless last Sunday and continues searching for the 3,500th win of his driving career this weekend.
Tonight in Charlottetown the talented reinsman will be behind five horses including three-year-old filly A As Glory.
He also has the rail in Race 11 with Oakmont, owned by Paul Gray.
On Sunday at Truro, Romo will get the call on seven horses.
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Defending driving champion Ryan Ellis holds an eight-win cushion over nearest rival Ernie Laffin.
Ellis has 19 victories so far this year while Darren Crowe holds down third place with 10.
Laffin remains sidelined with a back injury sustained in a racing accident on May 20. Conditioner Blair Laffin tops the standings for trainers with a .300 average in 54 starts.
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Harness Racing P.E.I. is launching the 2012 Invitational Circuit Saturday with the third annual Cecil Ladner Memorial Pacing Series.
Several of Truro's top guns have been nominated to start in the eliminations including Paul Gray's Oakmont, Barbara Pearl's Maritimer, fresh off a career-best 1:56.2 last Sunday, and pair of out of Dr. Shive's stable, Epanephrine and PH Best Man.
The Maritime Breeders eliminations for three-year-old pacing colts and fillies will also be featured
Race goers visiting Truro Raceway tonight will be able to enjoy the Island action live via satellite.
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In addition to the Charlottetown show, Truro Raceway will be covering the world's richest pacing event, the $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup from Mohawk Raceway.
This premier pacing classic features three-year-old colt Warranee Needy, co-owned by Wallace native Carl Jamieson and driven by his son and Bible Hill native Jody Jamieson. Local fans will recall June 14, 2008 when world champion Somebeachsomewhere captured the race in 1:49.
Post time for Charlottetown is 6 p.m. while things get underway at Mohawk at 8:10 p.m.
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The Steering Committee for the 31st edition of Atlantic Grand Circuit Week has been formed and is in the early stages of putting together the program for the week of harness racing at Truro.
Atlantic Grand Circuit Week is all about entertainment, fast horses and the best drivers in Eastern Canada. There will be five cards of racing from July 22 to 29.
Anyone wishing to volunteer is asked to contact the race office. A complete schedule of events should available on the Truro Raceway website early next week.
TAGLINE: Diane Daniels is the race office supervisor at Truro Raceway
