SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — David Dowling registered a driving hat trick on Saturday night to claim his first Basil Whelan Memorial Award for leading driver of the Governor’s Plate Week harness racing meet.
Dowling also received the top percentage driver of the week award, presented by Xtreme Coatings Ltd and the Prince County Horsemen’s Club, with a sparkling .444 average.
Earlier on the card, Sodwana Bay won the $8,500 Governor’s Plate Fillies and Mares Open Pace final in a mile time of 1:55 for trainer-driver Gilles Barrieau and owners Howmac Farms of North Wiltshire and Wayne MacRae of Fall River, N.S.
Half Cut scored a 1:54.4 win in the $5,000 Governor’s Plate consolation. Mark Bradley drove for trainer Tom Weatherbie.
The two $12,700 Atlantic Sires Stakes A divisions for three-year-old pacing colts were won by Purple Poet (Kenny Arsenault) in 1:56.4 and Red Dirt Rocknroll (Dowling) in 1:58.4.
Track record
Star Photo scored a new track record for aged trotting males – 1:58.2 – in the $2,500 Andrew Perry Memorial Trot for driver Jason Hughes, trainer Kevin Gillis and owners Robi Hughes, Eric MacLauchlan and James Perrot of Stratford and Blair MacLauchlan of Charlottetown.
The total wager for Saturday’s card was $96,651.
Live racing continues Thursday and Saturday in Charlottetown and Sunday, July 21, in Summerside.
With files from Nicholas Oakes.
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