GARY “SHACK” SMITH MEMORIAL SERIES
ELIMINATIONS: MAY 28
$2,500 EACH
FINAL: JUNE 4
$5,000
NO ENTRY FEE AND NO STARTING FEE!
CONDITIONS
FOR HORSES THAT HAVE STARTED FOR $4,000-$6,000 CLAIMERS IN 1 OF THEIR LAST 5 STARTS
AE: NON-WINNERS OF $1,001 IN LAST 5 STARTS OR $2001 LAST 10
AE: NON-WINNERS OF $200 PER START IN 2021-2022 OR JUST 2022 (MINIMUM 6 STARTS REQUIRED)
AE: NON-WINNERS OF $5,000, 2021-2022 COMBINED, MINIMUM 15 STARTS
NOT ELIGIBLE: ANY HORSE THAT HAS RACED AN INVITATIONAL EVENT IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS
ENTRIES MUST BE DECLARED ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 25 BETWEEN
8:00-10:00 AM
ELIMINATION WINNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE ONE FREE NIGHT AT THE BEST WESTERN SAINT JOHN, COURTESY OF GARY’S FRIENDS AT THE BEST WESTERN, WHICH WAS HIS FAVOURITE PLACE TO STAY
Bremner Stakes Highlight Saturday's Card
Horse Racing New Brunswick will play host to seven-dashes of horse racing action this Saturday at Exhibition Park Raceway, highlighted by three divisions of the prestigious Dawn & Ted Bremner stakes.
Fans won't have to wait long for the first division for three-year-old colts as it is programmed as race two. Brumby, fresh off his 1:59 win this past Saturday in the N.B Breeders stake draws, will have Adam Merner on board from post-two.
Race three also has some other top contenders including Alldawaytocardigan who has drawn post-one for Myles Heffernan. He comes in off a quick qualifier in 1:58.3 last week, and the aggressive Heffernan will look to use the post to his advantage.
Soul Assassin will leave post-four in line to David Dowling, and is the richest pacer in the division as he made over $ 24,000 last season and nine top-three efforts as a freshman.
In the lone filly stake, there will be a competitive six horse field battling for the $ 8000 purse. Half of this group are New Brunswick owned fillies. KCS Starlight will be seeking back to back glory after her N.B Stakes triumph last Saturday for her connections.
New Brunswick fillies didn't fare well as they drew 4-5-6. Elm Grove Quest and Allan Jones will leave from post five, while Orrsterror and Steve Mason will have to contest with the outside six position.
Fern Hill General is the morning line favorite in the colt & gelding division for regular pilot Brodie MacPhee. He has drawn post two in the $ 8000 and was a winner last year of over $ 38,000. Right next door looks to be his biggest challenge as Stash It Away leaves the rail for Corey MacPherson.
Post time for Saturday's card is 1:00 P.M with wagering available at H.R.N.B simulcast venues in Fredericton and Moncton and live in Saint John. For all the latest news, please visit http://www.horseracingnb.com
Frontier Cruise Impresses in New Brunswick Debut, Orrsterror Shows Promise
Frontier Cruise Impressive in N.B Debut
It appears that the Belliveau's may have another good one. Jean. R & Jean C Belliveau have enjoyed success over the years bringing in horses from other regions and their new acquisition Frontier Cruise, looks the part.
Competing in Saturday's $ 2500 top-class, the big strapping pacer by Sunshine Beach turned a perfect pocket trip into a 1:59.3 victory for catch-driver John Davidson.
Frontier Cruise, a winner of over & 62,000 was claimed by the father-son duo in 2021 and they have been patient with him guiding him to the races here in the Maritimes. They plucked him out of a $ 8000 claimer ( with allowances ) in October of 2021.
Leaving the gate from post-four Davidson briefly took the lead as G A Speed Sammy and Mark Bradley came calling and took the lead before the first station in :29.1. Bradley kept Sammy rolling by the half-mile in :58.3 with Davidson biding his time in the pocket.
Three-quarters were reached in 1:29 with G A Speed Sammy still leading as they turned for the stretch drive. This is where the big, strong Frontier Cruise lunged from the pocket and caught the pacesetter at the wire in the 1:59.3 victory.
Another newcomer from the Bob MacNeil stable, Thats Some Plan was solid in his debut with a third place effort. He had been racing stateside for former E,P.R leading dash winner, Mike Stevenson.
Other winners on Saturday included the promising three-year-old Orrsterror who looked impressive in her first start of the season, a winning effort in 2:04. Dale Orr owns and bred the filly, while Gordon White trains. She likely will see action in the Bremner Stake this Saturday.
K D Overdrive gave another father--son duo a win as Kyle Mason drove the ironsided pacer to a well-earned 2:03.1 first over grinded win for owner trainer Steve Mason. It was the pacers thirty-seventh career win and put him over $ 117,000 in his career.
KCS Starlight & Brumby Share N.B Breeders Stake Glory
Horse Racing New Brunswick launched its 2022 racing card this past Saturday at Exhibition Park Raceway with the running of the second annual New Brunswick Breeders Stakes in two divisions.
New Brunswick owned and trained KCS Startlight and Stephen Trites made every post a winning one in the filly division which garnered a purse of $ 5500. Mermaid Magic had gone into the race looking to repeat last year and was extremely game in her pursuit.
Trites had KCS Starlight firing off the wings of the gate and reached the first quarter with a two-length lead in twenty-nine second flat. Just before the half-mile, Meridian Magic made her move and was under Bradley urging and gaining momentum.
Half-mile was sixty-seconds flat and the fillies locked bridles from the five-eighths pole and were just a quarter-length apart at the third station in 1:30.1 still battling for the lead.
KCS Starlight had enough left in reserve to close things out in thirty-one seconds flat for the one and a half-length win with a game Mermaid Magic holding on for second. Another N.B owned filly Elm Grove Quest was third.
Fredericton's Bruce MacDonald, Don Bishop and Charlie Miles who trains the filly, share ownership of the daughter of Source Of Pride. Her lifetime earnings have now surpassed 10,000.
On the colt side, Brumby has now swept both the two and three-year-old first two years of the stake with an easy 1:59. Bradley had the son of Pang Shui on top at every marker, carving quarters of :29.2, 1:00, 1:29.1 with a final quarter of :28.4 thrown at his rivals for a 1:59 five-length win.
In just thirteen lifetime starts, the pacer now has north of $ 25,000 in the bank. Mike Downey had Big Time Brawler up tight to Brumby for a good portion of the mile but fell short on this occasion for driver Mike Downey and owner/ breeder Dr. Mitchell Downey. Theodore J Down and Steve Mason was third,
Horse Racing New Brunswick next stakes will be this Saturday with the Dawn and Ted Bremner Memorial for three-year-old colts and fillies. Post time is 1:00 P.M.
Breeders Stakes Headline EPR Opener
Sophomore stakes action was the main event for the 2022 season opener on Saturday (May 14) at Exhibition Park Raceway.
As expected, Brumby captured the $4,900 New Brunswick Breeders Stakes for three-year-old male pacers. Never better than he was on this day, Brumby towed driver Mark Bradley to the position of command and played catch-me-if-you-can through fractions of :29.2, 1:00, and 1:29.1 before rambling home in :29.4 for the 1:59 decision and a new speed badge in the process.
Jamie Smith trains Brumby (Pang Shui - Anatevka) for Five Guys Horses N Lies of Charlottetown, P.E.I. The bay gelding sports three lifetime wins in 13 tries, with two of those coming at EPR in N.B. Breeders Stakes competition.
The $5,500 N.B. Breeders Stakes for sophomore pacing fillies was also won on the front end, but in this case by one of the longest shots on the board as KCs Starlite and Stephen Trites posted a 23-1 upset over favoured Mermaid Magic (Bradley) in 2:01.1.
Charlie Miles owns and trains the daughter of Source Of Pride - Allamerican Shaina with fellow Fredericton residents Donald Bishop and Bruce MacDonald. The win came in her first start of the season, and was her third lifetime victory from eight attempts.
It took a photo to determine the winner of the $2,500 Winners Over Pace as pacesetter G A Speed Sammy (Bradley) tried to hold off favoured pocket-sitter Frontier Cruise (John Davidson, Sr.) in a 1:59.3 mile. The photo determined that Frontier Cruise got up in the final strides for the victory, with Thats Some Plan another three lengths back in third.
Frontier Cruise (Sunshine Beach - Cuzurinittowinit) was making his first start in New Brunswick for trainer Jean Belliveau and co-owner Jean Charles Belliveau after the tandem claimed the pacer from a start at Woodbine Mohawk Park last October. He now sports 11 wins and 20 top-three finishes from 51 career starts with earnings of more than $62,000.
Live harness racing continues at the Saint John half-mile oval on Saturdays through to the end of June, with a single date in July and two cards in September before concluding the season on October 15.
Three Newcomers Highlight H.R.N.B $ 2500 Top-Class
This Saturday will see the launch of the 2022 racing season at Exhibition Park Raceway, presented by Horse Racing New Brunswick.
Besides the second running of the New Brunswick Stakes, the final race of the afternoon will see three newcomers to Exhibition Park in the $ 2500 top-class for pacers.
Jean Charles Belliveau and Jean R Belliveau will debut their new pacer Frontier Cruise in the afternoon's fifth race. He's a son of Sunshine Beach who comes from the racing wars in Ontario.
He sports a lifetime mark of 1:52.3 taken over Woodbine Racetrack in Ontario. He has ten victories in fifty lifetime starts and an interesting note, the horse has been claimed four-times in his career, for an average price of over $ 75,000.
Frontier Cruise will bust the gate from post three for John Davidson. Another newcomer to the Maritimes is Thats Some Plan, a horse with some impressive lines in his career as well.
Owned by Bob MacNeil of Saint John, the much travelled pacer at eleven-years old, saw his most recent action under the guidance of Mike Stevenson in Maine. He had one win in Maine in 1:59.4. He sports a life's best of 1:52 over Sciota Downs.
G A Speed Sammy has shipped in for the afternoon for trainer Colin Johnson and owner Debbie Element. He has been a solid performer for his connections, and includes a nice win last season in 1:53.4 over Red Shores.
Other starters in the top-class Saturday Montrose Hope, Joes Beauty, and Father Ofthe Year. Post time is set for 1:00 P.M. Free admission, free parking, and why not bring a friend to the races for the first time on Saturday!
N.B Breeders Stakes Highlight H.R.N.B Opener Saturday
Horse Racing New Brunswick will lift the curtain on the much anticipated return to racing for the 2022 season on Saturday, May 14th.
This is an exciting year for the self-sustained industry here in New Brunswick and the second annual N.B Breeders Stakes for three-year-olds take center stage.
Established by Horse Racing New Brunswick, the second annual stake race will run in two divisions on Saturday, offering up total purse money of $ 10,400.
One of last year's two-year-old winners is back with Mark Bradley on board Brumby, who made his season's debut last week at Red Shores in P.E.I.
Owned by Five Guys Horses N Lies Stable, the pacer was razor sharp in his tune up for this week winning in 1:59.1 setting a new personal best. Mike Downey and trainer Ellen Stevenson will send out Big Time Brawler who was out for a qualifying trip last week pacing in 2:03.2 looking sharp.
In the second division, with $ 5500 there are five fillies that will go head to head in race. Another winner from last season will look to hold onto the filly crown as Mermaid Magic and driver Mark Bradley has been listed as the top choice.
Bred by New Brunswick's Dr. Mitchell Downey, the filly was ultra impressive last week in her return to the races after a runner-up effort pacing her mile in 1:58.4. David Kennedy and Ian Smith share ownership.
Her toughest test should come from New Brunswick owned K Cs Starlight. Owned by the team of Donald Bishop, Charles Miles and Bruce MacDonald she flashed some solid speed as a freshman and earned a record of 2:00.4.
Saturday's card will feature a total of five dashes. Earlier, Horse Racing New Brunswick announced a significant jump in purse money and the lowest purse on Saturday will be $ 1800.
Post time is slated for 1:00 P.M on Saturday. For all the latest news and information on New Brunswick including the updated website, please visit
http://www.horseracingnb.com
Wagering is available live on location in Saint John and also at our teletheatre locations in Moncton and Fredericton. As always, wagering also available through H.P.I
Race Date Changes for Horse Racing New Brunswick in 2022
Officials with Horse Racing New Brunswick (HRNB) have announced details for the start of the 2022 harness racing season in the province.
Qualifying races will be held this Saturday, May 7 at 12 p.m. Those who wish to enter a horse to qualify can do so by calling 506-663-5302 no later than 12 p.m. on Friday, May 6. The season will commence on Saturday, May 14 with leg one of the N.B. Breeders taking center stage.
A slight change to the season schedule was made in order to accommodate the 2022 Maritime Stakes schedule and in the best interest of racing. The full 2022 racing schedule can be seen below:
May 14: N.B. Breeders (Leg 1)
May 21: Ted & Dawn Bremner Memorial
May 28
June 4: N.B. Breeders (Leg 2)
June 11
June 18: Walter Dale Memorial
July 1: Barrieau McIsaac Stakes eliminations, N.B. Breeders for two-year-olds (Leg 1)
July 8 (6:30 p.m. post time): Barrieau McIsaac final
August 5 (Woodstock, 6:30 p.m. post time): Kelti Burnett Memorial, N.B. Breeders for two-year-olds (Leg 2)
September 3: Maritimer Stakes, Rod Goguen Memorial, Milton Downey Memorial, Open Mares
October 15: N.B. Breeders finals for two and three-year-olds
(With files from HRNB)
Significant Purse Increases to H.R.N.B Racing in 2022
Officials with Horse Racing New Brunswick (HRNB) announced on Wednesday (May 4) a significant purse increase for the upcoming 2022 harness racing season.
With reduced race dates this year, HRNB felt it was important to give owners and trainers an opportunity to race for more money while keeping competitive with other tracks, like in P.E.I. and Maine.
This year, the minimum purse will be $1,800, which represents an 80 per cent increase from last year. The top class will race for between $2,500-$2,800 based on the number of starters, which is also a significant increase from last year. These increases come during yet another year of harness racing in the province without any government support.
Officials are hopeful that the eased travel restrictions along with the purse increases will help entice horsepeople to come to New Brunswick to race and that this will give local horses a chance to race for good money while also getting an opportunity to support harness racing in other places such as P.E.I. and Maine.
(With files from HRNB)
Earn Stall Rent with Horse Racing New Brunswick
Horse Racing New Brunswick has announced another incentive to race at Exhibition Park Raceway this season.
Horses racing at EPR this season will earn one free month of stall rent for every start they make this year at the Saint John oval. With 10 race days at EPR, horses will have the chance to earn up to 10 months of free stall rent. These credits can be used by owners and trainers for only the 2022 calendar year. There is no cash value for unused credits.
Officials hope this helps reward the loyal local horsepeople and maybe even attract a few new horses or even trainers to race at Exhibition Park this year. Anyone interested in stalls for the upcoming season should call 506-663-5302.
(HRNB)
Broodmare Grant Program Announced
Feb. 16, 2021
Horse Racing New Brunswick (HRNB) announced details of its new broodmare grant program. HRNB will offer 10 grants for the purchase of new broodmares. Stipulations for the grant program are as follows:
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Mares must foal in 2021 or be used for breeding to foal in 2022 to be eligible for the grant money. Payment will be issued when mare produces a live foal. Payments will be:
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Mares must be owned by a New Brunswick resident and reside in New Bruswick 183 days in the first year of foaling (2021 or 2022) and subsequent years of the program.
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Owners of mares are encouraged to keep current on mares reports for three years. Failure to do so may result in grant being suspended.
GARY “SHACK” SMITH MEMORIAL SERIES
ELIMINATIONS: MAY 28
$2,500 EACH
FINAL: JUNE 4
$5,000
CONDITIONS
1. FOR HORSES THAT HAVE STARTED FOR $4,000-$6,000 CLAIMERS IN 1 OF THEIR LAST 5 STARTS
2. AE: NON-WINNERS OF $1,001 IN LAST 5 STARTS OR $2001 LAST 10
3. AE: NON-WINNERS OF $200 PER START IN 2021-2022 OR JUST 2022 (MINIMUM 6 STARTS REQUIRED)
4. AE: NON-WINNERS OF $5,000, 2021-2022 COMBINED, MINIMUM 15 STARTS
5. NOT ELIGIBLE: ANY HORSE THAT HAS RACED AN INVITATIONAL EVENT IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS
ENTRIES MUST BE DECLARED ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 25 BETWEEN
8:00-10:00 AM
ELIMINATION WINNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE ONE FREE NIGHT AT THE BEST WESTERN SAINT JOHN, COURTESY OF GARY’S FRIENDS AT THE BEST WESTERN, WHICH WAS HIS FAVOURITE PLACE TO STAY
