CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Harness racing far too often places drivers and trainers on pedestals and unintentionally neglects the real movers and shakers of the business – the owners.
Owners pay the bills and invest in the dream of having the next great horse and quite often treat their four-legged friends like family. The 2020 racing season will come to a close tonight at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park, and there is no better time than now to celebrate the individuals who put their money where their mouths are and place product on the track.
Barring anything unexpected tonight, Perry Burke of Iles de la Madeleine, Que., will be the top owner of the 2020 season in Charlottetown. He has 14 wins from 68 starts led by top performers Pillage And Burn, Adkins Hanover and Painted Desert.
The duo of Jennifer Doyle and Danny Birt of Earnscliffe is in second place for wins with 11 victories from 64 starts at the capital oval in 2020. That pair has invested heavily in overnight stock this season and has been rewarded with a deep barn of talent currently racing.
There is a four-way tie for third place. Donald MacRae, Daniel Ross, David MacDonald and the partnership of Ryan and Everett MacLeod all have 10 wins.
MacRae of Vernon Bridge has been a bastion of the Jason Hughes stable for a decade with a large group of young talent in that barn and another promising crew waiting in the wings after some top purchases at this year’s Atlantic Classic Yearling Sale in Crapaud.
Ross, a Belfast resident, has been a top-end owner for countless years and was rewarded in 2020 with top stakes performers like Tobins Rebel and Red Dirt Star.
The MacLeods of Souris had a solid season with Dreamfair Zenfire flying their colours every week in the open mares ranks.
MacDonald, also of Belfast, had a strong year with overnight pacing mares Warrawee Ulla and Rocknrols Image.
In Prince County racing, the Ultimate Stable of Greater Lakeburn, N.B., had the most wins (seven in 33 starts) at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway. They were regulars at the Summerside oval with a trailer full of overnight stock every week.
Second place was a three-way tie between Riley Farms Ltd. of Summerside, Dale and Ronnie Rennie of Elmsdale and Valleygrove Farms of Kensington.
George and Earith Riley of Riley Farms campaigned top-class pacer Heart And Soul to an exception 2020 season.
Marvyn Webster’s Valleygrove Farms raced a number of talented pacers including Woodmere Chella and Khitam Image.
The Rennie brothers put together a high percentage season in Summerside with six wins from 13 starts with horses like Diamond Call, Mystery Phil and Red Magician.
The stats will reset at midnight, and the 2021 racing season will begin with a newly announced card on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 6 p.m., in Charlottetown.
Nicholas Oakes' column appears in The Guardian each Friday. He can be reached at [email protected].
