Nova Scotian harness horses haven’t always been recognized as such when they have reached major milestones. These Bluenose bluebloods left a lasting impression on the sport, with today’s Nova Scotian colts and fillies ready to follow in their hoofprints.
Did you know:
The first Maritime-bred pacer to break the 1:55 barrier on a Maritime track was a Nova Scotia-bred? Kilkerran Ingle (p, 5, 1:54.4h; $125,787), bred by Doug Ferguson of Tatmagouche, NS, reached this milestone when he took his lifetime-best mark in line to Clare MacDonald at Truro Raceway in 1992.
The first Maritime-bred trotter to break the 2:00 barrier on a Maritime track was a Nova Scotia-bred? West River Exotic (4, 1:55.2m; $377,296) was bred by Clare and Ken MacDonald’s West River Stock Farm, Antigonish, NS. He set the historic 1:59.4h mark in a 1994 Atlantic Sires Stakes Three-Year-Old Trot at Exhibition Park Raceway, for owner/trainer/driver Clare MacDonald.
The first Maritime-bred female trotter to break the 2:00 barrier on a Maritime track was a Nova Scotia-bred? Dunmore Skye (3, 1:59.4h; $36,333) was bred by Ralph McCully of Antigonish, NS. The filly and driver Clare MacDonald broke the distaff record in a 1997 Atlantic Sires Stakes Three-Year-Old Trot at Truro Raceway.
The first-ever Atlantic Post Calls Horse of the Year, chosen by readers in 1979, was a Nova Scotia-bred? Kilkerran Ella (p,4,2:02.2f; $47,994) was voted top choice over eventual USTA Horse of the Year Power Baron. Her breeder was Charles Elmer Bragg of Collingwood Corner, NS.
The richest Maritime-bred to race exclusively at Maritime tracks was a Nova Scotia-bred? Kilkerran Fury (p, 7, 1:57.0h; $230,918) was bred by Doug Ferguson of Tatmagouche, NS and raced for Wathan Piers of Pugwash, NS. The stallion raced from 1987-1995 and still held this record at the time of Ferguson’s passing in 2009.
For over a decade, the top-priced Maritime-bred yearling to sell at public auction was a Nova Scotia-bred? Kilkerran Robbi (p, 6, 2:00.2h; $67,778) was bred by Doug Ferguson of Tatamagouche, NS. The Newport Robbie half-brother to Kilkerran Ella sold for $16,000 in 1984, the equivalent of nearly $41,000 today (2021).
The richest-ever Maritime-bred pacer is a Nova Scotia-bred? The Rev (p, 8, 1:50.2s; $634,742) was bred by Arnold Fitzgerald of New Glasgow, NS. A winner of 46 races in a 219-start career which has taken him to the sport’s top tracks, the stallion is owned by Jeff Skinner of Hammonds Plains, NS.
The fastest-ever Maritime-bred pacer is a Nova Scotia-bred? Rancousy (p,7,1:49.1f; $487,246) was bred by Donald Charles Smith of Brookside, NS. He raised the bar with a 2018 win at the Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, for driver George Napolitano Jr.
A decade earlier, another Nova Scotia-bred pacer held the title of fastest-ever Maritime-bred performer? Kid Carson (p, 4, 1:50.2s; $316,650) was bred by Dennis Baxter of Lower Sackville, NS. The stallion raced from 2008-2016, taking his record at Mohawk Raceway.
The winningest two-year-old of 2008 in North America was a Nova Scotia-bred? Deep Finesse (p, 6, 1:49.3f; $236,016) was bred by Donald Porter of Belmont, NS. Named Atlantic Canadian Horse of the Year in 2008, the pacer won 15 of 18 starts in his first year on the track, while establishing a new earnings record for Maritime-bred two-year-olds ($85,600). Deep Finesse was owned, trained and driven by Phil Pinkney of Lower Onslow, NS who won an O’Brien Award of Horsemanship for the record-setting season.
A Nova Scotia-bred became Pompano Park’s fastest-ever aged horse in 2012? The six-year-old Deep Finesse (p, 6, 1:49.3f; $236,016) broke a record shared by three other pacing stallions when he captured the February 18, 2012 Open Handicap Pace for driver George Napolitano Jr. While his lifetime-best and track record has since been eclipsed, it remains one of the fastest miles ever paced at “The Winter Capital of Harness Racing.”
A Nova Scotia-bred filly rewrote the records for three-year-old trotters at five different Maritime tracks and the set all-age trotting record at Charlottetown Driving Park in 1978? Maple Leaf Scooter (4, 2:00.3m; $48,686) was bred by Capt. Jack Cruickshank’s Maple Leaf Stable, Halifax, NS and foaled in Ashdale, NS. During her Maritime Horse of the Year season, she was trained and driven by Roy “Red” Clarke of Parrsboro, NS.
A Nova Scotia-bred pacer matched the great Cam Fella’s 28-race win streak? Firms Phantom (p, 4, 1:51.3f; $169,562) was bred by Joseph Basil Kennedy of Halifax, NS, and foaled in Antigonish, NS. The gelding was trained and often driven by Danny Romo of Shubenacadie, NS in his undefeated two- and three-year-old Maritime seasons.
A Nova Scotia-bred pacer became the first gelding to break the 2:00 barrier on a Nova Scotian track? Heels Lad (p, 5, 1:58.4f; $99,537) was bred by Henry J Smith of New Glasgow, NS, foaled in Shubenacadie, NS, and raced for his breeder’s nephew, Brad Smith of Pictou, NS. In 1985 at Truro Raceway, he paced the province’s first sub-2:00 winning mile by a gelding. He retired in 1989, sharing the honour of fastest-ever Maritime-bred gelding with PH Terminator and Knightly Glib.
A future Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame trotting stallion was purchased for breeding by the Nova Scotia Agricultural College? Captain Aubrey proved to be a very successful sire in Nova Scotia, travelling from Bible Hill to Sydney, Amherst, and New Glasgow for stud duties between 1917-1929. He was inducted to the Hall as a Legend in 2001.
Nova Scotia was home to the stallion who stood for the Maritime provinces’ highest-ever stud fee? Winners Accolade (p, 5, 1:57.3h; $234,853) was owned by George Canning (Opinion’s Farms, Shubenacadie, NS) and syndicated by a Halifax firm for an estimated $500,000 in 1984. Winners Accolade’s introductory stud fee was $2,000 for the 1985 season.
The first horse to break the 1:55 barrier in the Maritimes began his stud career in Nova Scotia? Waveore (p,5,1:54.2f; $376,280) was owned by Eric Whebby of Dartmouth, NS. The World Champion stallion returned to racing after siring his first crop of eight foals, and resumed stud duties at lessee Donald Porter’s farm in Belmont, NS starting in 1987.
Nova Scotia was where the Maritime provinces’ most successful pacing sire of the last decade built his legacy? Western Paradise (p, 5, 1:49.0m; $434,342) stood at owner/breeder Tony Zuethoff’s Pictonian Farms, Pictou, NS from his first season (2004) to 2013. From Western Paradise’s 341 registered foals, he sired 278 starters who collectively earned more than $11.6-million, including the fastest and richest Maritime-bred performers ever (Rancousy and The Rev).