![['Vance Cameron']](https://saltwire.imgix.net/vance-cameron-at-the-track.jpg?cs=srgb&fit=crop&h=568&w=847&dpr=1&auto=enhance%2Cformat%2Ccompress)
Saturday marks the 50th edition of the prestigious Governor’s Plate.
This race has attracted some of the region’s greatest horses as we celebrate the golden anniversary of Summerside’s premier race. This year’s new format of having two Maritime starts to be eligible enables local horsemen and ladies a chance at some mighty big purse money.
I must say I was skeptical of the change, but after the eliminations I’m on board for the long haul.
Here’s a look at the field:
Elimination 1 winner Euchred has drawn the coveted rail. The six-year-old son of Shadow Play is out of the Camluck mare Tipsy Taters. He took his 1:52.2 record this year at Woodbine in Toronto.
Since relocating to the Terry Gallant stable, this horse has been stellar. The Kayla Habicht Walker-owned and Adam Merner-driven Euchred will have the entire backing of Cape Breton Island.
The 37-time winner has over $81,000 in prize money. He won his elimination in 1:54.
Click here for story on Governor's Plate 50:
Click here for related story on Governor's Plate 50:
Last week’s second elimination winner is Czar Seelster. His 1:54 clocking last Sunday equalled Euchred’s after mowing down the two race favourites in the stretch. He is the elder statesman of the field as a nine-year-old.
Ontario-sired by Stonebridge Regal, he is out of a Threefold Matron Cmon Mama Cass. He has a lifetime record of 1:51, and earnings of $173,000.
Owner Tammy Johnston and trainer Greg Weatherbee are appearing in their first Governor’s Plate. Driver Kenny Arsenault used one of his masterful steers to take this veteran pacer to the final. Arsenault has over 3,000 career victories – and one of them is a Governor’s Plate.
Click here for Vance Cameron's column on Friday night's card:
Scoring for Post 3 is the big and handsome son of Mister Big, Mr Irresistible. He’s out of a Mach Three mare named Ghost Whisperer. This horse won two races in three days, and both were season’s records for Truro and Saint John. He has a personal record of 1:52.3, and $95,000 in career earnings.
Owner Danny Birt and conditioner Jennifer Doyle are looking for their first Governor’s Plate. The Governor’s Plate doesn’t seem complete unless the Maritime Magic Man, Gilles Barrieau, is in it. So Doyle asked for his assistance, and Barrieau complied.
Click here for Vance Cameron's column on Thursday night's card:
Click here for story on Thursday night's card:
Keep Coming is the first of two hopefuls for the Andrew brothers, Bill and Brian. The son of Alberta-sire Mystery Chase is out of a Western Hanover broodmare Keystone Divine.
The horse just took his race record in Charlottetown in 1:55.1 for conditioner Brian Andrew en route to $71,000 in prize money.
Corey MacPherson has quickly become a sought-after catch-driver. This entire team is looking for its first Governor’s Plate from Post 4.
On the wings of the starting gate from Post 5 is Nogreatmischief. The seven-year-old son of the multi-millionaire winner Bettors Delight is out of the Real Artist daughter Latakia.
Walter Cheverie co-owns with Brian Thompson, and is the trainer/driver.
The horse has done most of his racing here on the Island, with a record of 1:55.2 and over $30,000 in his bank account. Walter pulled a surprise upset in the Governor’s Plate in the past, so you never say never in a horse race.
Click here for Vance Cameron's column on Wednesday night's card:
Click here for story on Wednesday night's card:
The reigning Governor’s Plate champion is Do Over Hanover from Post 6. A group of Islanders by the name of Red Isle Racing bought into this horse last year with Island owner Donald MacRae and top conditioner Rene Allard.
The five-year-old son of Western Ideal is out of Driven To Sin by Jenns Beach Boy.
Along with winning last year’s Governor’s Plate, he won more than half his races and over $127,000 in a single season. He has a career-best record of 1:52 over Saratoga’s half-mile surface, with over $263,000 in purse money.
The father/son duo of Chris and Jordan MacKay look after this stable star while on P.E.I. The Blue Knight, Jason Hughes, had a decision to make after getting two horses into the final, and he decided to drive the defending champ in search of his first Governor’s Plate.
Click here for Vance Cameron's column on Tuesday night's card:
Click here for story on Tuesday night's card:
The fastest horse in the Maritimes has Post 7. In Spades posted a 1:53.1 mile last month in Charlottetown for this distinction. The four-year-old son of Bettors Delight comes from an Astreos mare, Cinny Fever.
The 11-time winner from very minimal starts has accumulated over $108,000 in prize money in a brief career.
The youngest horse in Saturday’s classic gets the only rookie driver in the contest, Austin Sorrie. He’s owned by the longest-serving member of harness racing in Plate 50 – Walter Simmons. Simmons could have went to a more experienced reinsman, but loyalty to the Sorrie family came to fruition.
Click here for Joe MacIntyre's Hot Corner column looking at past highlights of the Governor's Plate:
On the grandstand side is the richest horse in the race with earnings of $467,000. He’s also the fastest with a two-year-old record of 1:50.1. Cartoon Daddy is William and Brian Andrew’s second horse in the Governor’s Plate.
Brian’s daughter, Rachel, trains the stallion by Art Major out of The Panderosa matron Ask Alice.
Rachel has quickly moved up the percentage ladder with a sparkling .417 average. Driver Dale Spence has put the Maritime driving colony on notice with a successful winning percentage in all three provinces.
Spence grew up in Saint John, and now calls the Island home. He’s on a quest to capture his first Governor’s Plate.
Click here for Vance Cameron's column on Governor's Plate eliminations:
Click here for story on Governor's Plate eliminations:
Click here for story on post positions drawn for Governor's Plate:
Jam-packed card
It’s a jam-packed card Saturday, featuring both pacing and trotting talents. The Atlantic-sired three-year-old pacing colts have multiple divisions, the Andrew Perry Memorial Invitational Trot will be contested, and the region’s top aged pacing mares are also featured.
Good bye Summerside
I have to wish one of my longtime colleagues a very happy semi-retirement. Sam MacLeod has been behind the camera lens of the photo patrol since the inception of race video.
I remember jostling positions in the old judges stand in Summerside as the position of the announcer's booth and video patrol locations would change. It took a few times over until they finally got it right.
Sam's passion for perfection and professionalism will not be matched. Lord knows, that between the two of us, we had quite a few discussions on professionalism and presentation.
Long gone are the black and white videos, and now the face behind the camera is changing as well. Sam will continue to be part of our Charlottetown show in a smaller capacity. Thanks Sam for all your decades of making harness racing on P.E.I. a sport to watch. Thank you Sam, you're a wonderful colleague and a better friend!
Picks
A look at Saturday’s picks:
Best bets – Mick Dundee in Race 3, and Holy Moly Maggie in Race 8.
Long shot possibilities – The Colonel in Race 9, and In Spades in Race 16.
Vance Cameron is the track announcer in Summerside and Charlottetown. Comments and suggestions can be sent to [email protected].
