Jody Jamieson Natural HAT TRICK+ at Woodbine Racetrack

Continuing his efforts to set a Canadian record for wins in a single season, currently held by Mark Macdonald, Jody has just drove the natural hat trick, winning the 3rd, 4th and 5th races in succession.

Results Woodbine Harness Racing November 30th

I'll try and provide an update after the races and will follow Jody's wins in December to see how it's going.

BULLETIN: Jody has now won the 6th race with world away, making it FOUR IN A ROW!

PEI Trainor Family Hockey Links

Harness racing fans please excuse me for using this post to share some hockey links with my family. I plan to provide additional links here in coming weeks.

PEI Sports Hall of Fame Weston Bucko Trainor

Buck Trainor inducted Newfoundland and Labrador Hockey Hall of Fame

Wes "Bucko" Trainor career stats on HockeyDB.com

Wes Thomas Trainor on LegendsofHockey.net


NHL.com New York Rangers Wes Trainor


Jim McCabe (nephew of Bucko Trainor) career stats on Hockey Database

Jim McCabe selected in 8th Round 1974 NHL Draft by California Seals



Jim Baxter (Grand nephew of Bucko Trainor) career stats on Hockey DB

Drafted by Boston Bruins in 7th Round 1997

Drafted by Carolina Hurricanes in 1999


List of 26 PEI-born NHL Hockey Players

You may notice that Gordie Drillon and Rick Vaive are absent from that list, and though both are associated with PEI as Rick grew up in Charlottetown and Gordie lived on the island for some time, Rick was born in Ottawa and Drillon in Moncton, NB.

Standardbred Sire Lines - Dominant and Outcross

98% of Top Sires now trace to Hal Dale, Volomite or Speedster

The 20th Century provided harness racing fans with three foundation sires that brought the speed to the modern game, Hal Dale, Volomite and Speedster. Hal Dale is the foundation sire for the dominant pacing lines, Volomite has provided outcross pacing lines while emerging as a co-dominant force in trotting, while Speedster has provided the bulk of trotting stallion speed in recent decades.

The only prominent pacing line still going that doesn't trace to Hal Dale or Volomite is the Big Towner line which brought us Apaches Fame. The line traces back to Hal Dale's grandsire, The Abbe.

Hal Dale line dominant sires:

Western Hanover, Abercrombie / Artsplace, Cam Fella - Most Breeders Crown level performers have top lines from one of these 3 Hal Dale branches.

Western Hanover line - Western Ideal, Rocknroll Hanover, Western Terror, The Panderosa, Badlands Hanover, American Ideal, Shadow Play, Armbro Deuce, Allamerican Ingot, Rustler Hanover, Badlands Nitro, Western Maverick, Metropolitan, Kilowatt, Rambaran, Well Said and If I Can Dream.

Abercrombie line - Artsplace, Artiscape, Art Major, Astreos, Real Artist, Mister Big, Modern Art, Art Official, Life Sign, Real Desire, Artesian, Peruvian Hanover, I Am A Fool, Albert Albert, Sportsmaster, Dream Away, Dream Work and Grinfromeartoear.

Cam Fella line - Bettors Delight, Camluck, Four Starzz Shark, Cams Card Shark, No Pan Intended, Blissful Hall, Allamerican Native, Presidential Ball, Million Dollar Cam, Cambest, E Dees Cam, Aces N Sevens, Sir Luck, Northern Luck, DM Dillinger and Cammibest.

Other Hal Dale branches still going include Meadow Skipper line sires like Jennas Beach Boy, who traces back through French Chef, and Dragon Again, who is from the Tyler B line, Tyler being a son of Most Happy Fella, like Cam Fella.

Volomite - The Ultimate Outcross and Crossover line

Volomite made his mark in the pacing world through the progeny of Bye Bye Bird, but after that line died out the torch was picked up by Direct Scooter and his son Matt Scooter, grandsire of Somebeachsomewhere via Tara Hills Farm stallion Mach Three.

In trotting, Volomite was the major player through Star's Pride (Super Bowl / Supergill, Chocolatier), Nevele Pride (Bonefish, Kadabra) and Hickory Pride (SJS Photo / SJS Caviar).

Super Bowl line sires - Supergill, Chocolatier, Striking shabra, Malabar Man, Credit Winner, Texas, CR Commando, American winner, Royal Troubadour, Super pleasure and Joie De Vie.

After being eclipsed by Speedster / Speedy Crown line sires, Volomite experienced a major revival with the success of the Garland Lobell sons Angus Hall, Andover Hall and Conway Hall. Volomite grandson Noble Victory was the sire of Balanced Image in addition to being grandsire of Garland Lobell, whose other grandsons include Windsongs Legacy, Majestic Son, Broadway Hall and Holy Guacamole.


Speedster to Speedy Crown to Valley Victory to Muscles Yankee to Muscle Hill

All other top trotting stallions trace to Speedster, primarily through the Valley Victory / Muscles Yankee (Muscle Hill) trunk of the Speedy Crown line. Speedster son Arnie Almahurst lives on, through offspring of son Florida Pro and grandson Pine Chip.

There is tremendous diversity along the top line of high level Speedster line trotting stallions as indicated by the main three branches:

A) Valley Victory line - Muscles Yankee, Muscle Hill, Yankee Glide, Glidemaster, Deweycheatemnhowe, Self Possessed, Cantab Hall, Donerail, Valley Victor, Ken Warkentin, Lindy Lane, Like A Prayer, Strong Yankee, Tom Ridge, Mutineer, and Southwind Lustre

B) Speedy Crown line - Speedy Somolli, Valley Victory, Mr Lavec, Royal Prestige, Crowning Point, King Conch, Inconchnito, Prakas, Defiant Yankee, Incredible Abe, Armro Goal, Rule The Wind,

C) Speedster line - Speedy Scot, speedy Crown, Arnie Almahurst, Speedy Count, Arndon, Pine Chip, Florida Pro, Enjoy Lavec, Dream Vacation, Magna Force, Spellcaster, Dream Of Glory, Speed In Action, Overcomer and

Those interested in preserving diversity in top line choices should consider breeding at least one mare to pacing stallions (or sons of these studs) like Falcon Seelster son McArdle, who traces to Bret Hanover and Adios via Falcon Seelster's sire Warm Breeze, Apaches Fame, Dragon Again, Cole Muffler (Tyler B son), Real Desire / I Am a Fool (who both trace to Abercrombie through Life Sign), Amigo Hall (a son of Balanced Image), Mach Three / Royal Mattjesty (Matts Scooter sons) and, if you have a world-class mare and are flush, Somebeachsomewhere.

Harrisburg Yearling Sale underway in Pennsylvania

Today at Harrisburg PA's Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex Sales Arena the legendary Black Book sale of standardbred yearlings got underway, running straight through until Saturday, November 7th.

Hip 99, The Queen, a full-sister to the spectacular Pampered Princess and a half-sister to O'Brien Award winner Was It A Dream, was purchased by Jeffrey Snyder for $360,000.

Hip 166, Rock Camroller (Rocknroll Hanover - Camadian), went for $310,000 to Thomas Cancelliere of Freehold NJ.

Hip 67, Look And Listen, the Rocknroll Hanover sister to pacing superstar Well Said, was purchased for $300,000 by Australian owner E.M. Rosat.

Hip 102, Valley High (Chocolatier - Carrigan Hall) was collared for $235,000 by Gregory Peck, Agent.

Hip 43, Johnny William, a bay Andover Hall colt who is the first foal of multiple stakes winner Solveig was purchased by Jimmy Takter for $190,000.


2009 Black Book Sale Results Standardbred Yearlings Prices

Commentary on Interview with Ron Pierce, urging rule

In a revealing and insightful interview with Standardbred Canada's Trot Insider, top harness racing driver Ron Pierce provides heartfelt and worthy reasoning on historical whipping rules versus the wider-ranging set of regulations out there now. I will present some of his words with commentary, then discuss how these rules help us protect the downside, and finish with a world of opportunity for standardbred racing fans, handicappers, breeders, owners, trainers, drivers and industry folk.

Ron Pierce discusses new urging rules with Trot Insider

"I've been driving horses for 33 going on 34 years now and it is our job to know how to make horses go fast. Now, all of a sudden, they take that away from us, and now we have to learn how to make horses go fast all over again. I feel along with all the other top drivers -- except for maybe one or two…maybe just one -- that it puts us in a dangerous situation out there. I mean, there are a lot of loose lines out there now. It is just a matter of time before a horse trips because of a loose line and a driver isn't able to pick him up in time, and I think it is going to cause a serious crash.


"I think if a driver could talk to a horse after he races -- even after say the driver was licking on him pretty good in the lane -- and the driver could ask him what hurts, the horse would probably say that his feet are stinging him really badly after having raced on a hard track; or that its upper back hurts because the bike puts too much pressure on it; or that its knees are really stiff. I think the last thing that horse is going to complain about is that whip. I really don't think the horse would say, 'my side hurts from the guy hitting me,' or 'my back hurts from that guy hitting me.'"

Trot Insider asked Pierce if the urging clampdown is going to have a positive effect on the industry going forward

"I believe that it is not going to help us one bit," Pierce said. "It's great for mommy who brings her little girls down to the grandstand to watch her horses race, but for the gamblers -- the people who are our bread and butter -- we are losing them every day. Before the slots came [the gamblers] were all we had to live on, the people who came to bet on us. They are going elsewhere. It is just going to hurt us, and hurt us, and hurt us.

"What are we going to do when we don't have slots? If we don't have the gamblers and then we don't have the slots, it will just be a matter of time before we don't have racing."

- Ron Pierce, Interviewed by Trot Insider


Full article about whipping rules, Ron Pierce

I understand that many will just view this above pessimism as realism, but it is in fact the former. The loose lines are something that has to be dealt with, but the industry is not on the ropes to the degree portrayed in the last paragraph. I used to be an investment advisor and my biggest job, other than ensuring client diversification and quality of investments, was to help them fight their emotions. I'd say, next time the market is down 30% and you wfeel like you want to sell everything, call me and say Joe, what should we buy? And if the market is up 20% in seven months, maybe call and ask if we should rebalance something that just rose with the tide but wasn't really outperforming. I know I digress, but just keep in mind that the darkest hour is right before the dawn.

First, let's talk about downside protection. Even though race horses are probably the best treated mammals on the planet, getting better round-the-clock care than virtually all other domesticated creatures, possibly excepting dogs and cats though not necessarily so, standardbred horse racing is an exciting public event and so must be aware of the times. Decisions are not always made by people who live with and understand animals, so there is an aspect of transition that is inevitable. Younger drivers will be more used to the new rules and more consistent under them, as will younger horses. Some old horses may not go as fast but who is to say they would have stayed as sound? There's always another side to things that needs to be looked at.

Dog tracks have been closed down because of outside pressure, and though that is not the fate of the Sport of Kings, dwindling attendance at some tracks must be addressed. First of all, we haven't lost all of the gamblers, but have experienced a diminishing market share in a rapidly expanding gambling market, particularly among those under 30 years of age.

More input from horsemen, on a regular basis, is required on the urging issue, and the loose lines issue, but all horsemen must come to understand that there must not only be the appearance of improved rules, but they should exhibit more care and respect for the animals in the industry. Even though 99.9% of the time nothing untoward ever happens, it's because of the whipping rules that drivers are kept in line. Things must be kept in perspective, however, as there is a strong argument that in the Trevor Ritchie disqualification case, bettors and the horses owner were unfairly penalized for a minor infraction. Perhaps a warning or a warning and a fine for first violation, and fine and disqualification for 2nd violation (in trailing 18 months). Here we are not talking about excessive whipping that is alreadsy covered under the previous rules, but rather minor infractions from new rules.

So let's start talking about the many opportunities for harness racing to bottom out the handle and begin growing the industry again.

Celebrate Somebeachsomewhere and Muscle Hill


Yearling prices are firm in 2009 during a year of great economic tumult, and in Kentucky the median price at the standardbred sale was higher than that of the thoroughbreds, possibly for the first time ever.

Gambling is more socially acceptable than ever. When i was a child, horse racing was the only legal game going but that all changed with the massive debt of the Montreal Olympics, which launched LotoCanada and it was all giant downhill from there. Our handle has been dropping in recent years and market share for even longer. First it was lotteries and the NFL, now it is poker and slot machines. I don't have Ron's negative attitude about the slots. I believe they have kept harness racing and breeding healthy in troubled times because of the symbiotic nature of the industries. Most small casinos can't get the big name talent that Casino Rama gets, but if they can get a racetrack involved...

Our relationship with hockey can be deepened, as major harness tracks are usually close to thriving hockey markets. Hundreds of young standardbreds are named after Beatles songs and other classic rock tunes yet the harness racing industry has barely scratched the surface of co-branding and promotional opportunities with bands and artists. It doesn't always have to be a big show, it can be an indoor acoustic performance and an autograph signing, let's be creative here.

An upside of the new urging rule is greater potential for headcams, a la Nascar and Formula One. If the morning line favorite and fifth favorite were each required to have a driver wearing a helmet camera, some incredible imagery would be emerging on a daily basis. View the cleaning up of the homestretch as preparation for headcams, instant replays, highlights and video games and you are now understanding where the second and third decades in the first half of the twentieth century will take us.

We need a Canadian Harness Racing Channel, and a USA Harness Racing Channel. We can benefit from handicapping teams representing different tracks, possibly even some sponsored by larger farms, in league style play, with playoffs. More handicapping tournaments are required, for both individuals and teams, and we can learn a lot from the various poker formats.

The Internet is the future; note the new October 2009 Betfair deal with Breeders Cup as harbinger of better times ahead for us, mark my words.

Muscle Hill draws the rail, Well Said gets Post 9

Here are the entries for the three year old colt pacing and trotting divisions of the 2009 Breeders Crown at Woodbine in Toronto:

$617,880 Three-Year-Old Colt Trot

1. Muscle Hill (Sears) 1-5
2. Hot Shot Blue Chip (LaChance) 25-1
3. Tom Cango (Tetrick) 25-1
4. Striking Lindsey (TBA) 40-1
5. Neighsay Hanover (Campbell) 20-1
6. Triumphant Caviar (Ouellette) 25-1
7. Swan For All (Pierce) 8-1
8. Howthehaloareyou (TBA) 20-1
9. P J Clark (A. Miller) 20-1
10. Broadway Bistro (Brennan) 20-1

$617,880 Three-Year-Old Colt Pace

1. Keep It Real (Condren) 20-1
2. Mr Wiggles (post selected, Callahan) 9-2
3. Vertical Horizon (Morrill) 25-1
4. Dial Or Nodial (Sears) 5-1
5. Annieswesterncard (Palone) 25-1
6. If I Can Dream (Tetrick) 6-1
7. Carnivore (Jamieson) 15-1
8. Bay Of Sharks (Baillargeon) 10-1
9. Well Said (Pierce) 8-5
10. Vintage Master (Dube) 5-1


Muscle Hill is a freak of nature that appears invincible, while Well Said will face stiff challenges from an array of sharp pacers.

Legendary PEI Pacer Shadow Play retired to stud

"We are all anxiously awaiting the start of his new career. The many moments of enjoyment and all the time myself and family personally spent with Shadow throughout his training and racing career, will never be forgotten and we certainly thank him for that." - Doc Moore





David Miller driving Shadow Play - AP Photo


Shadow Play, the pride of Doc Moore and Maritimers everywhere (2008 will be remembered for the joy Beach and his Shadow gave us...), has ben retired to stud at Blue Chip Farms.

Dr. Ian Moore comments on Shadow Play's Retirement

Myself especially, but also my partners Ron and Gail MacLellan, Serge Savard and this years partner, Blue Chip Farm, have all enjoyed the ride Shadow gave us the past 3 years, and we are all anxiously awaiting the start of his new career. The many moments of enjoyment and all the time myself and family personally spent with Shadow throughout his training and racing career, will never be forgotten and we certainly thank him for that. When I was leaving Lexington a week ago Sunday, I stopped in to feed him one last time at 5 in the morning on my way to the airport, and I certainly shed a tear as I walked back to my car. Blue Chip Farm has a beautiful facility with excellent people there, and I do know he will be well looked after, and that's really all that matters. So long, Shadow.


Standardbred Canada article on retirement of Shadow Play to stand as a stallion

Wikipedia web page about racehorse Shadow Play

Shadow Play wins US Pacing Championship over Mister Big