Going four-wide at the finish, Talk Some Smack and driver Jason Hughes were in sixth place at the top of the stretch, coming back to win the $3,500 38th Annual Johnny and Margaret Allan Ian Memorial pace in 1:57.3 on Sunday for owner-trainer Kevin MacDonald.
-by Bill Dunphy
Not even the threat of rain on Wednesday or the lure of the Broad Cove Concert or the beach on Sunday could stop harness racing fans from flocking to Inverness Raceway last week.
Two of the biggest race cards of the season not only enjoyed big crowds, but also some of the best racing you will see anywhere.
The rain did hold off on Friday, and except for a bit of wind, it turned into a perfect night under the lights.
The card was highlighted by the $20,200 Phil Pinkney Memorial for two-year-old pacing fillies, which saw Lady Of Malice full of venom for her opponents in a dominant victory.
With a :28.2 final quarter, Paul Langille held off brief challenges by Here For The Party (Keith Legge) and Fox Harbour Filly (Marc Campbell to win by five lengths in 2:00.1.
In the $2,000 winners-over feature in the final race of the nine-dash card, Hugh Heff joined the 50-win club with a gritty victory.
He slid into the pocket early for Randy Getto but left the pylons after a :28.2 first panel and hooked up with Whats Up Doc (Redmond Doucet) through :56.4 and 1:27.1 fractions.
Mcland (Walter Walker), winner of two straight in the winners-over, came off the helmet of the first-over challenger to form a three-across melee into the stretch. Hugh Heff entered the straight on top, and he fought on to defeat Whats Up Doc by a half-length in 1:57.2. Mcland hung on for third.
Hugh Heff, a six-year-old son of Betterthancheddar-Danika Patrix, achieved his 50th victory in his 108th start. He has been a mainstay of the top pacing level at Northside Downs since moving to the Maritimes in August 2024 for trainer Dana Getto and owners Randy Getto of New Waterford, Susan MacSween of River Ryan, and Wayne Hardy of Sydney. He won his first eight races in Nova Scotia and took that year’s Governor’s Cup Series final, part of a season in which he won more races than any horse in North America. He was named the Horse of the Year at Northside in 2024 and 2025.
The gelding has a 2-1-5 card in nine starts this season, contributing to a $126,016 career bankroll.
Wednesday’s card also saw an exciting finish in the fourth race that ended in a dead heat for first between Effie May Cay (Walter Walker) and Drink Up Mouchacho (Redmond Doucet), both hitting the wire in 2:01.1, followed by ABs Future (Rodney Gillis) a fraction of a second behind for third.
Native son Damian MacLellan was home from Ontario to pick up some catch drives on Wednesday.
He had a 2:02 win aboard Dirty Bobby for owners Redmond Doucet and Andy Stewart and two second-place finishes – one with La Playa Deo for owner-trainer Madison Poirier; and one with Hippyjohn, owned by the estate of Roderick (Colonel) Smith.
Sunday’s card featured the 38th running of the Johnny and Margaret Allan Ian Memorial pace for a purse of $3,500.
In a stunning stretch drive, Talk Some Smack went from last on the final turn to first at the finish in the overnight feature.
The Kevin MacDonald-trained gelding dropped back to sixth for Jason Hughes, taking the pylons to the quarter in :29.2 before moving third-over in the six-horse field approaching the half in :58.2.
Talk Some Smack remained on cover to three-quarters in 1:28.3, swooped five-wide at the bottom of the final turn, and steamrolled past fellow closer Stay Pumped (Danny Gillis) and pacesetter Whats Up Doc (Redmond Doucet) to record a 1:57.3 score. The surge of Stay Pumped, beaten a quarter-length, was enough to snag second from Whats Up Doc.
With his victory in the winners-over-class event, Talk Some Smack is two-for-seven this season. MacDonald, of Port Hood, owns the seven-year-old Artspeak-Astraean gelding, a 16-time winner in 114 starts with $31,817 in the bank.
There were also five Atlantic Sires Stakes races for two-year-old pacing colts, including two $12,800 A-division events which saw both winners leave from post six – not an easy feat to accomplish.
Undefeated Woodmere Rock It and Malicious Benny took the spotlight with resilient performances.
Woodmere Rock It, hindered early, rocketed home with a final quarter in :27.2 and finished in 1:58.3 for driver Adam Merner to maintain his perfect record.
Much More Malice (Gilles Barrieau) gained for second over Woodmere Dougal (Corey MacPherson).
The other A-division contest saw Malicious Benny show grit down the stretch after going a long way uncovered to take the first A-division race.
Away fourth to the quarter in :30.2 for Clare MacDonald, Malicious Benny pulled out turning towards the stands and was up to the wheel of leader Kingstown (Jason Hughes) going by the half in :59.4. Malicious Benny encroached further to three-quarters in 1:29 and trudged alongside the leader through the last turn, then finally wore him down in late-stretch and reached up to win by a nose in 1:58.3. Camco Kolton (Corey MacPherson) finished third.
The $6,000 ATSS “B” divisions for freshman male pacers were won by Elm Grove Verybest in 2:00 for trainer-driver Landon Campbell; Pour Me Another in 2:00.3 with Jason Hughes aboard; and This Guns For Hire for Clare MacDonald in 2:00.1.
Mark MacQuarrie was also home from Ontario and got to spend some time with his dad, Angus, before he passed away on Tuesday of last week.
He had the opportunity to drive Woodmere Novak, the last horse his dad owned in partnership with Mark’s sister, Angela MacArthur, and trainer Zach Mullins, who thought of Angus as his grandfather.
Live harness racing goes back to Wednesdays, beginning tonight. Post time is 7 p.m.
The orca at the causeway is causing quite a stir as people travel from near and far to catch a glimpse of him
-by Beverley Phillips
“There he is! There he is!” called out some excited children at a parking lot in Auld’s Cove on Sunday evening.
A steady stream of visitors stopped at the Canso Causeway over the weekend in hopes of catching a rare glimpse of an orca.
The orca was first captured on film late last week, and video clips and photos of the large marine mammal have been popping up on social media ever since.
Because orcas are rare in this part of the ocean, a number of people reported the animal to the Marine Animal Rescue Society (MARS). Tonya Wimmer, founder and co-executive director of MARS, said, “We aren’t doing any onsite work at the moment, just monitoring reports, as the animal is free-swimming and not seemingly in harm’s way.”
Orcas are found in all of the world’s oceans, from the Antarctic to the Arctic. Nova Scotia is within the range of the species, but they are rare to the waters off western Cape Breton.
While commonly called killer whales, orcas (Orcinus orca) are actually dolphins. The common name happens to come from ancient sailors who saw them attacking and eating whales. As the largest of the dolphin family, males can grow up to 10 metres long and weigh 10,000 kg. Females are smaller, growing up to 8.5 metres and 7,500 kgs. Orcas form matriarchal pods in which the oldest female passes on her knowledge to the younger generations.
The social nature of orcas is one reason the public showed concern for the lone animal at the causeway. Though the orca has shown no evidence of being sick, the idea was raised that this may be why he has been alone in the area. Wimmer said the dolphin is likely a male given the size of his dorsal fin.
While the whale part of their common name is misleading, the killer part is deadly accurate. They are an apex predator and feed on fish, squid, seals, seabirds, and as those ancient sailors observed, whales. They can travel up to 160 kilometres a day, so the visitor at the causeway must have found an adequate food source to keep him in the area for several days.
Over the weekend, boats were spotted approaching the animal. This led to concerned members of the public calling MARS again. Wimmer said, “We passed on the information to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, as it is their responsibility to enforce the Fisheries Act. We understand they were on site yesterday afternoon (Sunday) and are back on site this morning to keep an eye on the situation. Without a permit, people cannot approach these animals within 100 m.”
In a statement from DFO, they said:
“Fishery officers were on the water in the Auld’s Cove, Nova Scotia, north of the Canso Causeway on Sunday evening, July 26th, until roughly 9:30 p.m., and again on Monday, July 27th. The officers spoke with several vessel operators and reminded them that under the Marine Mammal Regulations vessels must maintain a minimum distance of 100 metres from whales, dolphins and porpoises, and at least 200 metres if the animals are with a calf.
‘While officers were on scene, no vessels were observed chasing or otherwise disturbing the orca.”
‘On Monday, July 27th, officers met with members of the Marine Animal Response Society to discuss the situation. Our officers flew a drone to gather footage of the whale, which may help assess its condition. Using the drone can also provide an opportunity to capture footage of any potential regulatory violations. A DFO vessel is in the area and ready to be deployed if needed.”
‘Officers are monitoring the situation and will patrol the area as needed. They will also continue to speak to vessel operators and observers on shore and inform them of regulations regarding approaching marine mammals.”
DFO regulations state that it’s against the law to disturb a marine mammal. Along with keeping at least 100 metres away, you cannot:
– feed, swim or interact with a marine mammal;
– move a marine mammal (or entice/cause it to move);
– separate a marine mammal from its group or go between it and a calf;
– trap a marine mammal or a group between a vessel and the shore, or between a vessel and other vessels;
– tag or mark a marine mammal.
Drones are discouraged for viewing marine mammals unless appropriate permits are obtained.
If you see anyone harassing any marine animal, you can call Crimestoppers at1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or 1-800-565-1633.
-by Beverley Phillips
Festival Antigonish invites young audiences into a joyful world of puppetry, theatrical magic and play, July 29th to August 8th.
Give a child an empty room, a blanket or a cardboard box and it can become almost anything.
Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre celebrates that same limitless capacity for imagination in The Biggest Little House in the Forest, a joyful family production filled with puppetry, theatrical transformation and play, running July 29th to August 8th at the Bauer Theatre.
Based on the book by Djemma Bider and adapted for the stage by Rosanna Staffa, the play begins when Bernice the Butterfly discovers a little abandoned house in the forest and decides to make it home. Soon she is joined by a mouse, a frog, a rabbit, and a rooster. But when one very large bear arrives, everyone must decide whether there can possibly be room for one more.
The festival’s season materials describe it as “a joyful puppet adventure about friendship, generosity, and the magic of making room for one more.” But the magic of this production also lies in how that story is told.
One performer – returning Festival Antigonish artist Rachel Lloyd – brings the forest and its many inhabitants to life, shifting between characters and working with puppets to create an entire theatrical world in front of the audience.
It is an approach that reflects something young children instinctively understand – that one person, given enough imagination, can become everyone in the story.
“I am thrilled to welcome Rachel back to Festival Antigonish as the solo performer (or solo human performer anyway!) in The Biggest Little House in the Forest. She’s a dynamic, unique performer with tons of heart. I am also delighted to be able to hire a former student from my Mount Alison days! I have followed her career since she graduated, and have been so impressed by her initiative, as well as her thoughtful and innovative approach to theatre creation. Both of these talented artists have trained extensively in puppetry, and they also embody the themes of this play – inclusion, belonging, and community. And let’s talk about those adorable puppets created by Cheryl Kelly!” – Andrea Boyd, artistic director – Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre
“I really enjoyed working with Rachel Lloyd as she brings to life so many distinct characters. Puppetry is very reminiscent of how we all played as children, we breathe life into our most beloved objects and set them off on adventures. I loved finding the moments in between the words.”– Franziska Glen, director
Glen is a co-founder of Gale Force Theatre and has worked with companies including Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia, River Clyde Arts, Satellite Théâtre, and Ship’s Company Theatre. Her directorial work includes While We Wait, a production for young audiences about navigating change.
At the centre of The Biggest Little House in the Forest is Rachel Lloyd, whose Festival Antigonish appearances include Gollum in The Hobbit, Marian in Robin Hood: The Great Escape and Crystal in Ben Hur. Her professional puppetry credits also include work with Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia and Theatre New Brunswick.
In this production, Lloyd has the unusual task of creating and manipulating a whole collection of personalities while remaining the single human performer carrying the story.
“It has definitely been a challenge to find and maintain seven distinct characters, it is a workout for the brain that had me mixing up their voices in rehearsal and focusing so much on who the puppet characters were that I forgot that I was a character too since often when I’m a puppeteer, I am not. It’s been a gift as well to get to discover who they are through the script and the puppets themselves. As a puppeteer there is no greater joy to me than when a puppet finally comes to life in my hands, when I find what they can do and how that particular puppet expresses themselves, so getting to do that with six puppets even though it was overwhelming at times was also so fun and exciting!”– Rachel Lloyd, puppeteer and narrator.
The visual life of that world is being created by set and puppet designer Cheryl Kelly, with costume design by Robyn Bixby, and music by Victor Zupanc. Savannah Borden serves as stage manager.
Together, the team is building a production intended to engage children through movement, character, colour, puppetry and the pleasure of watching seemingly simple things become something extraordinary.
Festival Antigonish has scheduled performances at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., making the production particularly accessible for families, summer camps, childcare programs, and youth groups.
The production is created with young children and families in mind and offers an accessible introduction to live theatre: a clear story, playful characters, puppetry, and an imaginative world that unfolds directly in front of the audience.
Festival Antigonish’s 2026 Season Partners are The Maples, MacLeod Group, and East Coast Credit Union.
As the Festival’s Season Youth & Engagement Partner, East Coast Credit Union also supports the East Coast Credit Union Youth Ticket, making tickets available for $15 for youth ages 15 and under.
The initiative is part of Festival Antigonish’s commitment to making professional live theatre accessible to young people and encouraging families to experience theatre together.
For The Biggest Little House in the Forest, that invitation feels especially fitting: a chance for children to enter a theatre and discover that a stage, a performer, a puppet, and an idea can become an entire world.
- Inverness Tournament week adds more fun to Gathering
- Harness Racing community mourns loss of Angus MacQuarrie
- Triathlon tradition continues at Belle Côte Days Festival
- Local track athletes perform well at Atlantic Championship
- Big races and bigger crowds highlight Gathering week cards
- A world of imagination in the Biggest Little House In The Forest
- Rare visit of an Orca draws big crowd to Causeway
- Orangedale water system in dire need of upgrades
- Mandatory Water Conservation Directive for users of Mabou water system
- From company house to Storytellers' Gallery
- We'koqma'q First Nation generating their own renewable energy
- Meet the 2026 Chestico Couple
- MARS gives tips on how to help stranded marine animals
- New truck and renovations for the Belle Côte fire station
- Recreational shellfish harvesting regulations
The Inverness Oran is a locally owned and operated newspaper publication with offices located in the county of Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada. Printed 52 times per year, The Inverness Oran caters to residents of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia as well as national and international readers.
Readers can take advantage of a flexible subscription package available for 3-months, 6-months or 12-months periods, available in a Print Version, a Digital Version, or both. First published in 1976, The Inverness Oran continues to serve and reflect residents and communities of Inverness County.