The year that was

The year that was

FINAL CARD FOR 2007
The final card of 2007 is set for tomorrow with 12 dashes of exciting and entertaining action.
The feature is slated for the 11th showing eight on the gate in the $1,350 pace with Darren Crowe's Radiant Raider favoured on the early morning line. Ken St. John's Albert Rules and Devine Destination for Darren McDonald are sure to be in contention for the top spot. Post time is scheduled for 1 p.m. and qualifying rounds are on tap for noon.
69-68
Tomorrow is reminiscent of 2006 with teamsters Darren Crowe and reigning driving champion Danny Romo going head-to-head to decide this year's championship. Defending title holder Romo leads the way with 69 wins, while Darren Crowe has 68.

ROMO'S GRADUATES
Last week was a banner week for former Romo stablemates.
Paul Gray's Hilo posted his sixth consecutive win at Hippodrome de Montreal, Kevin Dorey's Sea View Storm scored a victory in a $7,500 claimer at Flamboro Downs and Danny Romo's own three-year-old Mystic Magnum picked up a win at Windsor Raceway covering the ground in 1:58.1.
Patrons visiting the raceway Sunday will have the opportunity to enjoy Hilo on the big screen vying for a $10,000 purse in Montreal.

50/50 WINNER
Kenny Arsenault of Hilden walked away with last Sunday's 50/50 prize of $55.50.


THE YEAR IN REVIEW
JANUARY - Jan. 7 kicked off the 2007 live racing season. Standout performer Dunachton Gale received "Horse of the Year" honours in Atlantic Canada for 2006 for owners David and Mitchell Fillmore and Jason Mullin and trainer/driver Phil Pinkney.
Hot Horse - Emmah Oneil for Ross Toole;
Cool Driver - Robert Laffin
FEBRUARY - Live racing took a five-week mid winter recess. The Truro Harness Horse Owners presented a contest for a gold chain with horsewoman Tammy MacKay winning the draw.
MARCH - Racing resumed March 11 with Event 5 of the meet.
Long time Truro Raceway employee Marie Marshall died March 13 after a brief illness.
Hot Horse - Ciao Lavros N for Angela Bearisto and Ouzo for Kevin Bailey;
Cool Driver - Mary Clare MacDonald.

APRIL - The Raceway ushered in the beginning of the spring meet with the annual Easter Bunny Pace seized by Doug Ferguson's five-year-old daughter of Kilkerran Ingle, Kilkerran Whisper.
In recognition of Earth Day celebrations, This Island Earth, owned by Steve Morton, was named Horse of the Week for April 15.
Hot Horse - Primiano for Kirk Parris;
Cool Driver - Danny Romo

MAY - Dixie MacKay was honoured as Mother of the Year with KPD Standardbred's three-year-old Force Ore Finesse winning the traditional Mothers Day Pace sponsored by Dawn Fraser of Mary Kay Cosmetics.
Admirals Express and Mike Hales visited Truro Raceway as part of the second annual Can Am Horse Extravaganza and Emporium.
Hot Horse - The Maniac, R.G. McGroup Ltd.;
Cool Driver - Darren Crowe.

JUNE - Winners of Atlantic Sires Stakes three-year-old pacing fillies included: Donna Wilson's Matter of Moments; Cushla Macree for Heather Hathaway of Fredericton; Claude Poirier's Southview Sally and Southview Special for Elwood Lawton and Tyler Shea.
Jus Feels right nabbed the annual Fathers Day Pace sponsored by A.J. Walker & Son for connections Ozzie MacKay, Ric McNutt, Emmons MacKay and the late Howard Borden. The Raceway celebrated the Fifth Annual National Equine Week. Truro Raceway and the THHOA teamed up to host the 2007 edition of yearly summer youth clinic with members of the Colchester Pony Club.
Hot Horse - Campress for Rachel MacDonald;
Cool Driver - Dave Carey.

JULY - Jack Ferguson's six-year-old mare, Precentor Frost, captured the Canada Day Pace sponsored by the Truro Harness Horse Owners Association.
Truro Raceway staged the 25th running of Atlantic Grand Circuit Week. The powerful pacer, Dunachton Gale, with Phil Pinkney between the wheels, combined to seize the $7,500 NS Provincial Exhibition Cup for the second consecutive year for owners David and Mitchell Fillmore and Jason Mullen.
Hot Horse - Fred ECB for Colin White of Kennetcook;
Cool Driver - Darren Crowe.

AUGUST - Truro Raceway hosted the 31st leg of the Mildred Williams Ladies Driving Challenge with local gals Tammy MacKay, Clare MacDonald and Ambyr MacPhee participating in the international event.
The organizing committee in conjunction with corporate sponsors, friends, and survivors raised about $5,000 to be donated between the Halifax branch of the Canadian Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the Shortts Lake Dragonboat team.
Hot Horse - False Statement for owner David Livingstone;
Cool Driver - Robert Laffin.

SEPTEMBER - Duc De Leonard owned by Ken St. John and Harvey Timmons of Ontario picked up the Blueberry Festival Pace.
Russell Newman's Box Car Billie and Imps Finesse for Morah Kerr each earned a win in a division of the Nova Scotia Stake for two year olds. The Carl and Late Marg MacKenzie Stake for three-year-old pacing fillies went to James Burton's Gracie Girl, Woodmere Galfriday for owner Daniel Ross of P.E.I., Jennifer Murray's Western Dexter out of New Brunswick, KPD Standardbreds' Force Ore Finesse and Country Estate for Wesley Patriquin of Debert.
Paul Grays Hilo captured the historic Johnny Conroy Memorial Invitational on Sept. 23.
Hot Horse - Frank N Murr for Debbie Denney;
Cool Driver - Dave Carey.

OCTOBER - Saulsbrook Balance claimed the two-year-old Trot Maritime Breeders Futurity Final for Russell Newman of Cape Breton with Emily J Down wiring up the filly final for the Downey Stables, while Gilles Barrieau and Accelerated Force were successful in the Colt Division.
Winners of the 50th running of the signature Donnie and George Turner Memorial Stake event included Island Hurricane for Bluefin Stable, Jennifer Murray's Western Dexter and Force Ore Finesse out of the KPD Standardbreds.
Driver/trainer Henry Smallwood suffered a broken leg as a result of a horse-related accident at the colt sale on P.E.I. Thanksgiving weekend.
Hot Horse - Race On Star for Doug Polley;
Cool Driver - Danny Romo.

NOVEMBER - A Bible Hill power outage forced the Nov. 4 program to be run on Nov. 5.
Winners Arrow grabbed the Remembrance Day Pace for owner Chantel Gillis. World Champion Somebeachsomewhere returned to Truro and the raceway together with the proud owners of this stellar two-year-old threw a November "Beach Party" in appreciation of local support.
The "Super Dave" Amateur Driving Challenge grew into two divisions with participants including Heather Gatti, Haley MacDonald, Kathy Atkinson, Carrie Saunders, Shelley Burton, Ben Hollingsworth, Gordon McCabe, Dylan Andrews, Rhea Chase and Chris Davies.
Just prior to the untimely death of horseman Scotty Kane the raceway supported the "Friends of Scotty Kane Pace" won by Blair Laffin's JYL Spartacus.
Hot Horse - Winners Arrow for Chantel Gillis;
Cool Driver - Danny Romo.

DECEMBER - Grampys Miss Chloe showing 16 wins on her stat sheet out of 39 starts for the year is one of the most winningest horses on the grounds.
This six-year-old $2,000 claiming mare is owned by Robert DesChamp of Kennetcook and conditioned by Brookfield trainer Dana Wry of Winners Row Farm.