WOODSTOCK, New Brunswick (WAGM) – Harness racing fans in Woodstock spent part of Canada Day afternoon at Connell Park for seven dashes of harness racing. Woodstock is the only track in New Brunswick and they will be hosting 11 cards of Harness racing over the next two months.
This is the third race on the card and Emporer with Shawn McClellan in the bike picking up the win. The track conditions were excellent and there were some very fast times. All Bets off with Brett Leblanc in the bike picked up the win in the Walter Dale Memorial. The pacer picked up the win in a time of 1:55 and three fifths.
Leblanc won two races on the card, he also guided Ubettimagoodone to the winners circle.
Also the mare pacing record at the track was equaled when Flip the Script with Brodie MacPhee driving finished in 1:56 flat.
Other winners on the seven dash card were P J Spudland with Colin Decourcey in the bike, Littlestitious with Paul Langille in the sulky picking up the win. Todd Trites guided Privilege to the win in the fourth race. The next card of racing is set for Saturday.
A longtime driver and trainer in the Woodstock area is very happy to see the track continue to host harness racing events. Mark Grant was a very successful driver who raced on both sides of the border including in Presque Isle was at today’s races and said he is very glad they are keeping the tradition alive.
Mark Grant:” It’s great it is very great. If you see the crowd here and in the stable area and everybody coming out and enjoying themselves. It is a great industry and I was very fortunate to be involved with it for years.”
While Grant retired from the sport he is still involved in keeping harness racing alive in the River Valley area.
Grant:” I come up now in the mornings and volunteer and help out around the grounds.”
Grant drove some very good horses during his career and had a lot of success throughout New Brunswick and at the Northern Maine Fair. He is glad that Horse Racing New Brunswick and others are able to keep the tradition and history alive.
Grant:” There is a lot of history here. There’s a lot of great horses and horsemen who came from this area. It’s just nice to see it back.”
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