Maritime champ Marc Campbell drives Time to Dance to the Kelti Burnett Memorial winners’ circle
A large and enthusiastic crowd turned out at the Connell Park Raceway and Grandstand Friday night, Aug. 5, to enjoy an eight-race night.
As they watched a live harness-racing card for the first time since 2019, the fans provided an electric atmosphere.
The program included the New Brunswick Breeders Stakes for two-year-old fillies, colts, and geldings, an Open Trot and the Kelti Burnett Memorial pace as the premier event.
Friday’s Open Trot, which hasn’t been hosted in the province for a long time, was named in honour of long-time Woodstock horseman John H. Davies, the father of Ivan and Owen Davies, long-time horse-industry leaders.
In the first race of the night, a two-year-old pacer Nanny Bernice, owned by Jane Hubbard of Saint John, NB, set a new track record for her age group. John Davidson drove her to a time of 2:02.
The second race saw two-year-old colt pacer Brookdale Seb, owned by Douglas Polley of Amherst, grab the win with a track-record time of 2:03.2.
Stephen Trites of Fredericton, driving Huggies Spirit, smashed another track record on Friday evening with a 1:58.4. She is owned by Fredericton residents Don Bishop, Charlie Mile and Bruce MacDonald.
Pick Pocket Princess, owned by Wayne Hubbard out of Saint John, earned a win for Woodstock native Ivan Davies.
Maritime driving champion Marc Campbell stole the show on the night as he captured the Open Trot in 1:59.3, setting a new track record. He then won the featured race of the night, taking pacer Time To Dance to the winner’s circle for the Kelti Burnett Memorial with a time of 1:55.3.
The win earned Time to Dance, trained and driven by Campbell, a purse of $8,000. It was the horse’s fifth win in nine races on the season.
The six-year-old gelding, owned by Brent Campbell and Matthew McDonald of Charlottetown, has won 37 of his 80 career starts, including the Gold Cup and Saucer, for career earnings of $187,399.
The Kelti Burnett Memorial honours the beloved champion show jumper from Woodstock, who died in a riding accident in 2009 at 16. Corey Ford sponsored the race.
Horse Racing New Brunswick hopes to be back in Connell Park Raceway in 2023. Harness racing is a long-time featured event for Woodstock’s Old Home Week festivities.
Horse Racing NB officials thanked local sponsors Corey Ford, Woodstock First Nation, Culbert Farms, Fire Ready Extinguisher, Graystone Brewing and the family of the late Clayton and Shirley Dickinson.
