Walter Dale Memorial glory up for grabs

Saturday at Exhibition Park Raceway, seven harness racing starters will battle for the right to be a Walter Dale Memorial champion. Made famous in New Brunswick’s capital city of Fredericton, the $6,000 invitational has attracted a stellar field.

Horse Racing New Brunswick is pleased to host the annual event that is known as one of the most sought after wins on the Maritime invitational circuit. Leading the way is no stranger to the circuit as Time To Dance (A Rocknroll Dance) and trainer/ driver Marc Campbell bring their impressive credentials to Saint John on Saturday.

Owned by Brent Campbell, and Matthew McDonald, the pacer was the undisputed champion of the free-for-all ranks in 2021 in the Maritimes and was a finalist in the Gold Cup & Saucer for Marc Campbell. He is two for three on the young season including a win in 1:55.1 over his home track at Red Shores. He will bust the gate from post-five.

He has won many races in the Maritimes but has never competed in the Walter Dale and will be looking to add that to his impressive resume. He made over $48,000 in the Maritimes last year and his fastest in the Lindsay Cup at Truro in 1:51.3, a track record. He will leave from post-four on Saturday.

Blood Money (Sweet Lou), owned by Dr. Mitchell Downey and now under the watchful eye of Campbell, will leave from post-two on Saturday. He will be looking to improve his performance in last year’s Walter Dale where he was fifth to National Debt. He is coming off an ultra impressive win at Red Shores, blasting a final quarter of :27.2 at his rivals and was under wraps doing it.

George Rennison, one of the leading trainers in the Maritimes this season always will harness up two starters in this year’s event. Bettim Again (Malicious), owned by Jeff Lilley, Ian Donald and Bruce MacLauchlan comes off a 1:58 qualifying tune-up at Truro Raceway and will have Todd Trites in the bike. He has drawn the rail spot, and has a win over Dover Downs this season of 1:52.1.

American Risk (American Ideal), owned by the Risky Bizz Group of Truro, N.S was a winner over Exhibition Park Raceway two weeks ago in 1:58.2 for Todd Trites and will pick up Mark Haig on Saturday from post three. He was third in his last outing in Truro to Sock It Away, charting his own mile in 1:55.1. He reeled off five straight wins before that.

Highly touted Batterup Hanover (Betting Line), owned by the partnership of Debbie Francis, Chantel and Rosanne Langille, Dough Lowthers and trained and driven by the talented young reinsman Paul Langille will score post four. He was an impressive second last week in his first 2022 start, pacing his mile in 1:54.2 including a :27.2 closer.

Mike Downey and Father Ofthe Year (Royal Mattjesty) will give owner Dr. Mitchell Downey his second starter in the field. He was a winner last week for trainer Ellen Stevenson in 2:00 as a tune-up for Saturday. He is a comeback story as he took all of 2021 off and was a Gold Cup & Saucer finalist in 2020.

Rounding out the solid field is Screen Test (Vertical Horizon) from the hot hands of trainer/ driver Corey MacPherson. He has a win this season over P.E.I in 1:55 and has two wins and two seconds in six starts on the year. He has post seven for the Kicking Horse Stable, but he’s a versatile pacer, and MacPherson had thirty-wins on the season at press time.

There are a total of five races on the day with post time slated at 1:00 P.M. Horse Racing New Brunswick would like to thank those who answered the call for the invite to the classic event, the oldest free-for-all in Canada.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Scott Waddell, for Horse Racing New Brunswick