This story appeared in The Daily Gleaner newspaper on
Saturday, June 29, 2013.
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By NICK MURRAY
For the past two years, Bo Sowers has tried to capture the premier race at the track dearest to him.
But he's finished in second place both times with Malek Hanover.
For the past two years, Bo Sowers has tried to capture the premier race at the track dearest to him.
But he's finished in second place both times with Malek Hanover.
 | |
| MALEK HANOVER |
Monday afternoon, Sowers will try again to win the oldest free-for-all race in Canada, as the Fredericton Raceway hosts the 58th running of the Walter Dale Memorial Invitational Pace. The 13-race card kicks off at 1:00 pm; with gates opening at 12:30 pm. Admission is free.
Sowers was born and raised in Fredericton and has become one of the premier harness racing drivers in Maine, earning nearly $1.3 million in winnings over his career. The purse for the Walter Dale is $4,000, but Sowers said he's not here for the money.
“Being from Fredericton and watching this race growing up, and as a kid saying, 'I'm either going to drive it and win it, or I'm going to have a horse in it and win it,' just to win that race would mean a lot,” said Sowers. “A lot of people around Maine here asked, 'Why are you even going; it's only $4,000?' It could go for nothing, it wouldn't matter - just to win that race.”
Sowers has two shots
to win it this year because he's entered two horses that he trains. Sowers is driving Grimsby, a five-year-old
grey gelding making his first appearance in the Walter Dale and leaving fourth
from the rail. The morning line has him
at 8-1 odds. The other, Malek Hanover,
has finished second in the last two runnings. He's on the outside in the six-horse field and
will be steered by local driver Todd Trites. Malek Hanover is listed at 3-1 on the morning
line.
 | |
| MALEK HANOVER |
The favorite is Carnivore at 5-2 odds, trained by Earl Watts of Prince Edward Island, and to be driven by Gordie Hennessey. Another Watts trained horse, Windemere Express, is listed at 7-2 odds with Mark Haig in the sulky.
The $4,000 purse is a drop from last year's $6,000, and Horse Racing New Brunswick Executive Director Jeff Malloy said it's been a battle to even run the race since the provincial government withdrew its financial support.
“Coming into July 1st, it's disappointing we don't have any Atlantic Sires Stakes races,” said Malloy. “Traditionally (Canada Day) at the Fredericton Raceway was the marquee event in the Maritimes, and we would have the Walter Dale as the feature then have the top three-year-old pacers from all over Atlantic Canada come. But due to the lack of funding we had to withdraw from that program. It's tough.”
All Atlantic Sires
Stakes races were scrapped across the province because of a lack of funding
from Horse Racing New Brunswick, which is a result of the provincial government
pulling its funding for the sport.
Malloy said last year, the government funded approximately $100,000 to Horse Racing New Brunswick, but that's less than half of what the Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia governments contribute. The Atlantic Sires program has been running in the province for the past 30 years.
Last year's Walter Dale winner, McApulco, broke a 19-year track record in the race, and Malek Hanover also beat the track record finishing in second place. This is the first time Trites has steered the two-time runner-up, but Trites has won the Walter Dale four times already. Malloy said a new record could be set Monday.
“The caliber of horses is getting better every year,” said Malloy. “If the fractions and the speed is early then there's a really good chance the track record could fall again.”
Malloy said last year, the government funded approximately $100,000 to Horse Racing New Brunswick, but that's less than half of what the Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia governments contribute. The Atlantic Sires program has been running in the province for the past 30 years.
Last year's Walter Dale winner, McApulco, broke a 19-year track record in the race, and Malek Hanover also beat the track record finishing in second place. This is the first time Trites has steered the two-time runner-up, but Trites has won the Walter Dale four times already. Malloy said a new record could be set Monday.
“The caliber of horses is getting better every year,” said Malloy. “If the fractions and the speed is early then there's a really good chance the track record could fall again.”
Sowers
said he's not alone in his run Monday, as he'll have his sons McKenzie and
McGwire, his wife Tammy, and his friend Shayne Wight by his side.
 | |
| Tammy and Bo Sowers |
"It's going to be a different style race, but it's going to be interesting,” said Sowers. “It takes a lot of hard work and dedication (to) have your horses ready and have yourself mentally ready.”
* * * * *
Malek Hanover (Western Hanover-Michelles Heart-Artsplace)
p.4,1:51.3f-1:53.3h ($238,418)
Lifetime record: 193-41-33-24
Owner: Ledgehill Farm, Arnprior, Ontario
Trainer: Bo Sowers
Career Highlight: Winner
2012 Kelti Burnett Memorial in Woodstock in 1:56 for Mike Stevenson
Career year: 2011 -
27-14-4-4-$73,709-1:53.3h
Malek Hanover fact: Raced as
a $4,500 claimer in 2008 prior to coming to the Maritimes. He has won 37 races and earned over $180,000
since then.
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