On Friday night, Connell Park in Woodstock, New Brunswick, will take centre stage as the town celebrates Old Home Week.
Horse Racing New Brunswick (HRNB) will host a 10-race card at the half-mile track, with race secretary Brent Briggs curating a strong field for the evening's highlight. The main program begins at 6 p.m., preceded by a non-betting race at 5:45 p.m. The second leg of the Atlantic Aged Mares Pacing Series, sponsored by Standardbred Canada and HRNB, will feature just two starters.
The marquee event of the evening is the $8,000 Kelti Burnett Memorial, where last year's champion, the Fredericton-owned American History, returns to defend his title. Drawing post three in the five-horse field, the seven-year-old son of American Ideal will be driven by Dale Spence, with his wife, MacKenzie, handling the training duties. This race serves as a preparatory run for the 2024 Gold Cup & Saucer Trials in August on Prince Edward Island.
American History, a former Breeders Crown champion with over $1.8 million in earnings and a lifetime record of 1:47, has been in top form, recently winning at Woodbine Mohawk Park in 1:48.4. Last year, he won the Kelti Burnett Memorial in 1:55.1 at Woodstock, N.B., and will aim to break the track record set by Chewy Gross in the 2006 Robert McCain Memorial.
Hall of Famer Gilles Barrieau will be present, driving Governor’s Plate winner Twin B Tuffenuff for trainer Ron Matheson from P.E.I. The horse has drawn the rail position and will be aiming to challenge the defending champion. Rollwithhottytoddy, another contender, will be driven by Todd Trites for trainer Trevor Hicken, while Tony Too Tall, a newcomer to the Maritimes, will also compete. Additionally, Blood Money, another of Matheson’s trainees, will start from post five with Dr. Mitchell Downey in the sulky.
The card will also feature the second leg of the New Brunswick Breeders Stakes, divided into three divisions. A filly division carries a $15,000 purse, while the colt and gelding divisions each compete for $8,000. Dusty Lane Dixie, trained and driven by Gilles Barrieau, is favoured in the filly division. Owned by Moncton’s David Lund, she has earned over $42,000 in just 11 starts.
In the first colt division, Resuscitate, trained by George Rennison and driven by Todd Trites, is expected to face strong competition from Majestic Mason, trained by Richard Armstrong and owned by Stephen Downey of Quispamsis, N.B.
Barrieau will also drive House Edge Hanover in the second colt division. Trained by Matheson and owned by Everette Hanson of Maugerville, N.B., House Edge Hanover set a new record of 1:54.2 this season.