DOWN THE BACKSTRETCH: Truro Raceway making changes

Truro Raceway in Bible Hill, N.S., has been making some changes for the coming 2023 season on the heels of hiring new general manager Steve Fitzsimmons.

The half-mile track has announced it will now have just seven horses on the starting gate in overnight races with the Post 8 starter leaving in the trailing spot. Stakes’ races will be run eight-wide as the track has historically done, as conditions for those races require eight horses with their noses on the gate.

“We think this change will allow the horse that draws Post 8 to win on a more consistent basis, which is good for competitiveness reasons and makes the horse more playable in terms of wagering," Fitzsimmons said in a media release. "It’s a formation I’m quite well acquainted with and I’m sure horse people and bettors will all appreciate this change."

Fitzsimmons came to Truro Raceway in March after serving as the manager at Hanover Raceway in his native Ontario the past few seasons. Since joining the team, Fitzsimmons has also announced a new Pick-5 wager with a very low 12 per cent takeout and a new broadcast team for the on-air show.

Truro has also announced the conditions for the newly-named Diamond Classic events with a division for two-year-old fillies and for two-year-old colts. The format was born out of Scott Bell’s idea highlighted in this column on March 2.

Bell’s idea for a mega-purse event was considerably trimmed down by Truro Management to a $50,000 race with $6,000 buy-ins for an eight-horse field. Whether it will fill is a question that will be answered on April 14 when entries close.

Regardless, Truro Raceway is an integral part of Atlantic Canadian harness racing, and it looks like Fitzsimmons has his sights set on making the operation viable for years to come, which is good news all around.

Across the continent

Steel Reserve has proven to be a good investment for Greenfield owner Amy Lakie, who shares ownership of the 11-year-old son of Credit Winner with Michael Arnold of Alberta. The connections claimed the veteran trotter for $12,500 on Feb. 21 and turned over the training duties to Stratford native Patrick Shepherd.

Steel Reserve won his last three starts at Western Fair Raceway in London, Ont., including a 2:00.4 victory on April 4.

Uncle Shank A turned in an incredible qualifier on March 31 at The Meadowlands in New Jersey as the Australian import won in 1:50.4 by 15 lengths with a 26.2 closing quarter for driver Scott Zeron and trainer Linda Toscano. The six-year-old son of Warrawee Needy was brought in from the other side of the world by Nova Scotia owner Kevin Harvey of Nova Scotia for a reported six-figure price tag.

Harvey has previously campaigned invitational pacers like Lisburn and Always B Sweet on P.E.I., so chances are this speedster could be under the lights at midnight in August at the Charlottetown Driving Park.