Youth racetrack review: Inverness Raceway

Nova Scotia is a province steeped in harness racing tradition. It also home to many of the sport’s youngest participants and fans. Lily Watson is a 19-year-old horsewoman and newly-minted Atlantic Post Calls columnist, covering racing action and community news at 94-year-old Inverness Raceway, Cape Breton. 

“I have been coming to the races with my friends since I was 10 years old,” she said. “I started paddocking when I was 13, and I bought my first horse at the end of that summer. This year is my sixth year as an owner, and my third year as a trainer.” Although there are families with many generations in local racing, Watson’s story is a little different. “I do not have an extensive family history in the sport like many others do,” she explained. “I got involved as a kid and my dad quickly took an interest too. He’s now an owner, groom, and president of the track’s executive committee.”

Watson takes pride in being a racehorse owner and trainer, adding that she has plans to pursue driving within the next few years. Her role model? “That’s easy, Mary Clare MacDonald. Not only is she a female in the business, but she’s the best, and she does it all.” Lily also spoke highly of the reinsman who drove both of her horses to victory at Inverness October 8th, 2017, giving Watson her first career training wins: “I’ve been a fan of Gerard Kennedy’s driving for a while, and now he drives for me regularly, which is awesome.” The owner of Im Indigo and Tymal Torrance said that apart from her own horses, she had special appreciation for a well-known local favourite: “Cam Cool was my favourite horse to watch.” 

Young participants are active in keeping Inverness Raceway moving forward. Watson, who begins coverage of her home track in the May issue of Atlantic Post Calls, wrote about the level of youth involvement—and enjoyment—at the scenic half-mile treasure on Cape Breton’s west coast: 

“We have lots of fundraisers that go on here, including 50/50 and Tri-cash draws and bingo on a regular basis to keep our track going. [Inverness does not simulcast its live races.] Every year we have a ‘Kiddie Day’ where we fill our grandstand with games and prizes for children, which I think helps them associate our track as a fun place to come to. A couple of years ago, one of our young horsepeople, Melanie Leblanc, organized youth dances at the track to fundraise for a new set of saddle pads that have been a great upgrade for us that everyone has benefitted from and that we will be able to use for years to come. 

It can be hard sometimes, as a young person, to understand the importance of the role we play here. But I think it’s safe to say that if Inverness didn’t have the youth involvement that it does, there wouldn’t be enough fans and horsemen to keep the game alive. On any given race day, there are young people around everywhere you look, as grooms, owners, trainers, fans, and staff. That’s something that truly makes our track special, we have got to have more young people involved here than any other Nova Scotia track. 

People don’t come to Inverness to make big money, and they probably don’t look forward to driving all the way here or racing around our sharp first turn. They also probably don’t love it when they’re in a full field and draw the 6 hole as Inverness is only 6 wide. But we get some big crowds regardless! Something Inverness does have is a strong, family-oriented community with a lot of dedicated fans that never miss a race. The barn side is full of friendly horsemen, young and old who share a passion for the game. We love when people come to visit our track, any day of the week! We especially love to have the chance to show our ‘Cape Breton Hospitality’ at special events like stake cards that bring even more people and horses to our big blue barn. Inverness Raceway is a place for everyone to visit and feel welcome, we’re all here to have a good time.”