Top pace heads Old Home Week at Connell Park

Friday night in New Brunswick, the spotlight will be shining brightly on Connell Park in Woodstock as the town celebrates Old Home Week and live harness racing will kick-off at 6:00 P.M.

Horse Racing New Brunswick will feature a ten-dash card at the half-mile track and race secretary Brent Briggs has assembled a quality field for the night’s premier race.

There is a non-betting race as the Standardbred Canada Aged Pacing series attracted just two starters and is sponsored by Standardbred Canada and H.R.N.B.

Friday night’s premier event is the annual Kelti Burnett Memorial featuring last year’s winners back to defend his title, Fredericton owned American History. He has drawn post-three in the five-horse field.

Corey Ford of Woodstock is back as a major sponsor for the Kelti Burnett Memorial and has been a great partner for Old Home Week racing at Woodstock.

Owned by Patrick Hill of Fredericton, N.B he will be driven by Saint John, N.B native Dale Spence who will pilot for his wife, McKenzie who trains the horse. Friday night’s race is a tune-up for the 2024 Gold Cup & Saucer trials happening in August on P.E.I.

He has been racing on the tough Woodbine Mohawk circuit in Ontario and has been a winner this year in 1:48.2. He’s the winner of over $ 1.8 million dollars and sports a 1:47 lifetime record. He was a finalist last season in the prestigious aforementioned Gold Cup & Saucer in 2023.

American History captured last year’s Kelti Burnett at Woodstock, N.B in 1:55.1. He will be eyeing the track record that belongs to Chewy Gross taken in the Robert Mccain Memorial way back in 2006. This track record still stands today.

Owner Patrick Hill says he’s been looking forward to getting the horse home and settled and excited about Friday night.

“It’s a great field to prepare for the Gold Cup elimination. It is great to bring American home to N.B first so the NB fan base can watch him go here at home.” 

Coming back to try and repeat in the Burnett Memorial was something he’s been planning for the horse.

“Why not defend his win from last year? I’m hoping the weather cooperates and if it does you are going to see some speed. Great field and obviously the rail horse (Twin B Tuffenuff ) is a game horse. ”

When asked for some thoughts on Friday night, Hill is confident in both American History & Dale Spence whose wife Mackenzie Spence trains the rich pacer.

“We didn’t bring him all this way to hold back. I say let’s get it on and good luck to all the horses and their connections. Remember, anything can happen in a horse race.”

Hall of Famer Gilles Barrieau is in town on Friday night and will pilot Governor’s Plate winner Twin B Tuffenuff for trainer Ron Matheson from P.E.I. He has drawn the favorable rail position and will be looking to provide an upset to the defending champion.

Rollwithhoddytoddy,. a winner of one of the Governor’s Plate elimination ships for Island trainer Trevor Hicken. Rounding out the field is a relative newcomer to the Maritimes, Tony Too Tall making it two entries for Hicken and Blood Money and Dr. Mitchell Downey will score from the post-five slot.

Friday also features the New Brunswick Breeders stakes that will go in three divisions. One filly division will carry a purse of $ 15,000. Two colts and geldings in two legs for a purse of $ 8000 each.

Dusty Lane Dixie and Gilles Barrieau have been given top billing by the race office at 7/5 and she’s owned by Moncton’s David Lund. She’s a daughter of Pang Shui and has made over $ 42,000 in just eleven starts.

In the first colt division, it appears a two-horse race with Resuscitate and driver Todd Trites and Barrieau with New Brunswick owned Majestic Mason. He is owned by Steve Downey of Quispamsis, N,B.

Barrieau will also be guiding the likely favorite in the other N.B Breeders colt stake as he has the outstanding House Edge Hanover, owned by Everette Hanson of Maugerville, N.B. He took a new record this season of 1:54.2 in his last outing.

Please note that post time for Friday night’s program is at 6:00 P.M which features over $ 40,000 in purse money. If fans can’t make it to Connell Park in Woodstock, wagering is available through the HPI platform and at participating simulcast venues including Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton.

Horse Racing New Brunswick would like to extend their gratitude to all participants on Friday night’s program and a big thank you to all the volunteers and sponsors for their support of horse racing in New Brunswick.

Sponsors for the night include Corey Ford who are sponsoring the Kelti Burnett Memorial, Woodstock First Nations, Exit Realty, Percy Jones family, Antworth family for the Dickinson Memorial, McLennan Strawberry Farm, Town of Woodstock, Standardbred Canada & H.R.N.B for Atlantic mares series race, and Horse Racing New Brunswick for N.B Breeders stakes.

by Scott Waddell, for Horse Racing New Brunswick