By Diane Daniels
Truro Raceway fans will be privy to an exciting double feature with both the Carl and Marg MacKenize Memorial and the Nova Scotia Stake for two-year-old pacing colts being contested tomorrow.
The MacKenzie Stake for three-year-old Maritime-bred pacing colts and fillies is a signature event at the Bible Hill oval.
It celebrates the life and times of Carl and Marg MacKenzie, a husband and wife team who were instrumental in guiding the raceway forward in a fresh direction during the formative years. Carl served as general manager of the complex and, along with Marg, operated the Wayvue Stables Breeding Farm.
This edition of the MacKenzie Memorial will showcase 36 of Atlantic Canada's fastest and richest colts and fillies in five divisions for a lucrative total purse in excess of $39,000.
Prince Edward Island filly Malabrigo, owned by Buntain Wood Farm and bred by Nova Scotia horseman Denny Baxter, leads the way for 2012 with 14 consecutive wins, $113,655 in purse winnings and a career best of 1:54.4 taken at Truro in the Stanfield Stake during Atlantic Grand Circuit Week.
Three-year-old colts topping the charts this year include Touch of Lightning for Peter Smith of Charlottetown and First Art Down who is fresh off a 1:54.4 victory in the Island Breeders Colt Stakes. First Art Down is owned by Bruce Wood of Charlottetown.
These young horses bring lots of class to the table and boast early speed and late stamina.
The Nova Scotia Stake, meanwhile, is growing in popularity among both breeders and horse owners.
It was developed by the Nova Scotia harness racing industry and is supported by provincial tracks and breeders to promote and sustain the breeding of standardbreds in the province.
On tomorrow's card, nine quality colts from prominent breeding farms will hit the track in a single division.
Local contenders include Arleen Gillis' Electric Feel and The Rev for Robert and Jeffrey Skinner and Stephen Tufts.
Both of these rising stars are graduates of the 2011 Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition (NSPE) select yearling sale held in Truro.
Post time is 1:30 p.m. with qualifiers programmed for noon.
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Eighteen-year-old Paul Langille will be making his driving debut tomorrow in Race 7 and Race 9 with Longn Winding Road and Jenakam.
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The race office advises that the new edition of the NSPE yearling select sale catalogue is now available.
Pedigrees of this year's consignment are also offered on the Truro Raceway website.
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The 50-50 ticket from Sept. 16 remains unclaimed. It is number 222310 and is worth $109.
Unless claimed prior to noon tomorrow, the outstanding winnings will be added to tomorrow's 50-50 cash prize.
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Top Of The Turn Diner located in the grandstand turf room will be serving a roast beef dinner tomorrow with all the trimmings as the special of the day.
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Today's simulcast schedule is packed with fast paced entertainment televising both thoroughbred and harness action from tracks including Belmont, Flamboro, Woodbine, Yonkers and Mohawk.
The afternoon kicks off with a 1 p.m. card from EPR in Saint John and continues through out the afternoon with Red Shores Charlottetown commencing the evening program.
Diane Daniels is the race office supervisor at Truro Raceway.
