Driver Marc Campbell swept both featured events on his way to a six-pack to top all drivers on the opening card of 2023 on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 7) at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Blood Money was the best in the $3,500 Preferred Pace winning off the front in 1:57.1 over Mantario (David Dowling) and Stash It Away (Gilles Barrieau). Dr. Mitchell Downey of New Brunswick owns the Sweet Lou stallion with Campbell training and driving.
Dreamfair Zenfire used a rush to the lead to notch her first win of the year in the $3,000 Fillies and Mares Preferred Pace for trainer-driver Marc Campbell and owners Ryan and Everett MacLeod of Souris, P.E.I., stopping the clock in 1:57.1 over a track rated one second off. The 49-time winner won by three lengths over Maggiesdelight (driven by Corey MacPherson) and Acefortyfour Dome (Jason Hughes).
Campbell’s other wins came with Truckem (2:04.2 winning mile) in a maiden score for trainer Colin Johnson, Poplar Artie (1:59.2) for Lenny Myers and Zack The Men (2:02.2) from the Michael MacDonald barn. Filly Forty Seven won the final dash of the 15-race program for Campbell’s sixth driving win and third training win with a neck decision in 1:58.1.
If Campbell can maintain his lead in the driver’s standings throughout 2023 it will be his 14th year on top at the historic Charlottetown oval.
Driver Barrieau teamed up with trainer Ron Matheson for a pair of open-length wins on the day with Topville Angelina (2:00.1) and The Time To Win (2:00.4).
Live racing continues on Jan. 14 at Red Shores Charlottetown at 12:30 p.m. (AST).
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(Red Shores)
April racing vs. Jan. racing
I would like to know why Charlottetown ends its racing season every year in late January and then resumes racing in early May. Wouldn't it make more sense to end its season in late December, perhaps on Boxing Day, and reopen for racing in early April? The weather is much more pleasant in April than it is in January, plus if racing resumed in April, 3yo's that didn't race at age 2 could start their racing careers one month earlier.