Last-race drama seals Paul MacDonald Memorial Driving Championship

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – It all came down to the final harness racing dash of the eight-race Paul MacDonald Memorial Driving Championship Saturday (Nov. 19) at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park as Corey MacPherson came out on top.

Consistency has proven to be key in the long running Horse Person’s Day competition, presented by the P.E.I. Standardbred Horse Owner’s Association, and this year was no exception as MacPherson only finished out of the top four once during the tournament.

The personable Cornwall reinsman finished the day with 62 points to win the competition after trailing most of the day to eventual second place finisher Ambyr Campbell, who scored 60 points. David Dowling was third with 55 points with Gilles Barrieau fourth (52 points) and Mike McGuigan and Marc Campbell in a tie for fifth (48 points) ahead of Jason Hughes (48 points) and Steven Shepherd (45 points).

The top female driver in P.E.I. harness racing, Ambyr Campbell, was quick to take control of the leader board winning the first dash in race 3 with Ma Rebelle (2:02.4) for trainer Jansen Sweet then doubling up in race 4 with Psili Ammos (2:00) from the Kenny Arsenault barn.

MacPherson then briefly took control of the leaderboard after the third leg in race 5 as Dusty Lane Zendaya (1:59.1) went all the way for trainer Alexis Gass. Team Purple grabbed the lead again in race 7 as Ambyr Campbell garnered the triple, steering Melanies Magic to a perfect pocket riding victory in 1:59 for trainer Saul Lanigan.

Howmac Dragonator (2:00.2) then won the next leg in line to Barrieau from the Ron Matheson barn in race 8 then JK Express won race 9 in 1:58.2 for trainer-driver Dowling.

MacPherson teamed Poplar Artie to victory in race 11 stopping the clock in 1:57.4 but was still trailing Ambyr Campbell by four points heading into the final leg. Fortune was smiling MacPherson’s way in the final competition dash in race 12 as Phil Dorleans (1:57.2) won the race for driver Hughes with Catchme If Lou Can (MacPherson) second and Ambyr Campbell a non-factor in seventh to move her to second place overall.

Mr Rielly won the $3,150 Vernon MacDonald Memorial in the featured dash in 1:55.1 for trainer-driver MacPherson and owners Jim Gorman and Darlene Compton.

Live racing continues Sunday afternoon at 12:30 P.M. at Red Shores Charlottetown.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores