Trey’s Two Cents Worth: New era in western Canada

I had a fantastic weekend watching harness racing at Century Downs with both on and off-the-track events.

Off the track, Mental Health Day was a complete success and saw over $4200 raised for the Canadian Mental Health Association. The fans were treated to seven stake elimination races and a new chapter in the history of harness racing in western Canada.

Shark Week (Vertical Horizon) shattered Century Downs’ track record by over a second. He posted a time of 1:50.1, which now stands as Western Canada’s fastest time.

The previous record was 1:50.2 and held by both Clintons Escape (Clintons Cigar) and Sterling Cooper (Camluck). Clintons Escape set the mark at Alberta Downs on July 25, 2010. Sterling Cooper tied the record at Fraser Downs on March 29, 2015.

It took over eight years for another horse to come along and secure the record for itself. Shark Week did the unthinkable, but now it is time to look ahead to see what the repercussions of the feat might look like. Shark Week has been stalky, his prey in the murky waters that is Century Downs. He has now eight wins in twelve starts this year and has accumulated over $57,000 in earnings. Shark Week is at the top of the food chain in Alberta. However, another apex predator has been laying domain over his territory.

Outlaw C My Shadow (Shadow Play) was the king of Fraser Downs before the spring meet ended. He is a perfect nine for nine in 2023 and has a 12-race win streak from November. Outlaw C My Shadow has earned $45,000 this year alone and has a lifetime mark of 1:50.4 which is not too far off of Shark Week’s personal best.

Shark Week and Outlaw C My Shadow’s potential matchup could easily see a time sub 1:50 if the track is in great shape. However, Outlaw C My Shadow has been off for over a month now, and it is unclear if and when he will return to the oval. Nevertheless, having these two horses be the Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal of harness racing in western Canada is still significant, especially if you considered the other great Open class horses like Ernesto Delacruz (Vertical Horizon), who was scratched last weekend, or Redstone Arsenal (Huntsville), whose lifetime mark of 1:50.3 rivals that of Outlaw C My Shadow’s personal best.

Not only is there an abundance of talented four-legged athletes, but some talented two-legged ones sit back and enjoy the ride.

The stats that Brandon Campbell has been putting up lately have been understated. He already has over $833,000 earned as a driver and has 143 wins. He is on pace to smash last year’s totals, making him the first driver to reach over $2 million in a year.

You also have drivers like Nathan Sobey and Michael Hennessy, who consistently add to their totals. Sobey has over $216,000 earned with 26 wins. At the same time, Hennessey has just over $242,000 in earnings with 31 wins.

There also is a guy like Kelly Hoerdt, who was doing his best to keep up with Campbell at Fraser Downs before he was sidelined a few weeks ago. He has over $264,000 in earnings as a driver with 43 wins, and if you consider that he has been sidelined for over a month, those numbers aren’t too bad. His numbers as a trainer continue to increase, as he has 61 wins and over $374,000 in earnings.

Plenty of more deserving drivers and trainers, too, continue to show why western Canada has some of the best horse people in the world.

Looking at other aspects surrounding racing, western Canadian tracks have continued to improve in many fields.

Century Mile broke its all-time handle record on New Year’s Eve. The 13 races on the program saw $512,308.32 in the handle, which was over $200,000 more than their previous best. The success of the last few meets has now seen the harness racing schedule in Edmonton expand. Harness racing will start on September 9 at Century Mile this year, two months earlier than last year.

Fraser Downs also had an increase in handles during the spring meet. Reportedly Fraser Downs saw an 18% handle increase compared to the 2022 spring meet and a 62% increase over the 2021 spring meet.

Things are indeed looking up for the racetracks located in Canada’s most western provinces. The talent of the four and two-legged athletes has been something to marvel at lately. Also, the increased handles indicate that Western Canadian harness racing is a good place.

Time will tell if Saskatchewan can get back involved in hosting racing and Manitoba can find some solid footing once the new Loop opens in Winnipeg.

by Trey Colbeck, for Harnesslink