Sports Royalty looks to start Old Home Week a winner

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Sports Royalty has been sharp so far in 2022 and has set his sight on the David MacDonald Memorial pace on Friday night (Aug. 12) harness racing opener of Old Home Week at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The capital oval has 12-dashes on tap for a 7 P.M. opening post time with Sports Royalty (Sportswriter) selected on top in the race 4 David MacDonald Memorial pace for $2,700. Wendy MacRae trains the eight-year-old that she co-owns with daughter Beth MacRae of Belfast.

The 17-time winner is fresh off a second-place finish pacing in 1:54.3 in line to Kenny Arsenault, who retains the drive Friday, while the pacer won the start previous in 1:55.4 for driver Corey MacPherson.

The MacDonald Memorial is in honour of the late David MacDonald, a Halifax area businessman originally hailing from Eastern P.E.I., with deep ties into harness racing. MacDonald owned a number of top-level horses during his time in the business including Cat Four, Townline Lily, Art Of Illusion and Henschke A.

MacPherson will drive the post 2 entry in the MacDonald Memorial in Selkirk Echo from the Ron Matheson barn after pacing his last three miles in 1:55 and change.

Driver Michiel Vanderkemp making his first Island start in the race bike aboard the post 5 entry Panimal Kingson for trainer Colin Johnson. A winner of 463 races and $7.4 million in earnings, Vanderkemp and Panimal Kingdom are installed at 6-1 in the morning line.

Doc Darryl (Colin Sheppard) has the rail along with post 3 starter Chocolate Swirl (Jason Hughes) making his 2022 debut and Justcallmedoc (Keith Ford) leaving from post 6.

The Post Time Picks will lean on Selkirk Echo for the win position.

“Selkirk Echo missed the ticket in his last assignment but did fire home in 27.3. Just a reminder that was from post seven and now he gets a much better starting point so expect a big time bounce back.”

The Fillies and Mares Preferred 3 pace lines up in race 9 with JM Sportsfan the top choice from the rail for driver Steven Shepherd, trainer and co-owner Harold Shepherd and co-owners John Birt, Maurice McCabe and Wayne MacPherson. The Sportswriter four-year-old was a runner-up her last start in 1:54.4. Her top rivals on Friday are slated as The Lady Sheriff (Marc Campbell) and Rock The Baby (David Dowling).

For a complete racing schedule, race programs, live video and more go to Redshores.ca. Online wagering is available at HPIBet.com.

For Friday race entries, click here.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores