Arsenault wins Driving Championship

Charlottetown, PE – Kenny Arsenault is the 2015 driving champion and the winner of the Paul MacDonald memorial trophy taking the harness racing competition with a victory aboard Idealic Life in the final leg of the contest during Horseperson's Day Saturday at Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

Arsenault opened the event, presented by PEI Standardbred Horse Owners Association, with top honors with Zanzibar for trainer Paul Morrison and also rallied back into contention with a score with DBS Rosco, owned by Wendell and Robbie Shaw and Derek Folland, to keep him near leaders Ron Matheson and Jason Hughes going into the final race. It was very close right until the end but the win with Idealic Life, owned by Blair Hansen, Charlottetown, PE, put it away with 63 points and a hat-trick for Arsenault. Matheson, who also had a big day with a driving triple, was the runner-up with 61 points. Veteran driver Gary Chappell finished third with 59 points with Corey MacPherson and Jason Hughes tied fourth with 58. The other competing drivers were Vince Poulton (55), Marc Campbell (53), Jack Panting (48) and Terry Gallant (42).

In other action, Ramblinglily, with Walter Cheverie in the bike, stopped Sam's winning streak at seven taking the mares open in 1:59.4 for trainer Allan Jones and his co-owner Norman Leger, Shediac, NB. Kims PJS claimed the trot class in the Emmett and Albert Bernard memorial for catch driver Marc Campbell and trainer Lenny Myers and co-owner Paul Murphy, Charlottetown, PE.

Bazillion recorded back to back victories in the afternoon's top class. Brian MacPhee supplied the drive for owner Kent Livingston, Cornwall, PE and trainer Trevor Hicken. Painted Desert (Mark Bradley) and Nogreatmischief (Walter Cheverie) completed the triactor. The time of the mile was 1:58 flat.

For complete results go to www.redshores.ca

By Lee Drake