The Inverness Oran

Dueling on the stretch drive, Galway Bay (inside) and owner-trainer-driver Monica Sutherland would edge Blazing Cays (Lewis MacDonell) by a head for the win in 2:01.3 during Sunday’s opening day action at Inverness Raceway.

-by Bill Dunphy

                With a snip of the scissors, Inverness Raceway’s Grand Dame of Harness Racing cut the ribbon to start the track’s 100^th anniversary season.

                Mary MacQuarrie, who is 89 years young and a licenced horse trainer and owner, did the honours with Inverness MLA Kyle MacQuarrie and Inverness County Warden Bonny MacIsaac holding the ceremonial ribbon.

                Sunday’s opening card had a festive feel to it with fiddle player Kyle Kennedy-MacDonald providing tunes in the parimutuel build and old friends reuniting after a long winter layoff.

                Track manager Meagan MacQuarrie said the big season got off to a good start and it’s only going to get better.

                “It was a good day, and the bet was $11,000, which wasn’t bad. Not everyone is home yet, but I think we’re losing the online bet with two races going at the same time in Ontario, so that’s something we may have to look at,” she said.

                “The ribbon-cutting was nice. Mary is an amazing woman, so spry and still active at the stable. And the fiddle was a nice touch. Kyle said he’d be happy to come back, and with so many tourists here in the summer, they would eat that up.”

                MacQuarrie said another change that will be coming soon is the addition of two new ways to wager: a superfecta (pick the first four horses in a race in the correct order of finish) and a Pick 3 or Pick 4 (select the winners of three, or four, consecutive races).

                “Those types of wagers are add-ons, where the money wagered is carried over to the next time with the potential for a big payout.”

                The next centennial event is Father’s Day, Sunday, June 21. The day will include a visit by the Six Little Farmers and their livestock, and free ice cream will be the order of the day.

                On the racing side of things Sunday, there were some sure bets and a few surprises with the majority of horses coming off qualifiers for their first races of the season.

                The biggest surprise came in race five when Sandy MacNeil guided Rankinville Shamus to the eight-year-old’s first win since 2023.

                Owned and trained by MacNeil, the Vintage Master gelding held off early challenges by Cruisin Again (Keigan Madden) and Onions Te Go (Redmond Doucet) to win race five in 2:04.2.

                Paying $22.80 to win, Rankinville Shamus keyed a  $137 exactor and paid a $419 triactor on a 2-5-All ticket.

                There were a trio of three-year-olds in the opening dash and it was Captain Tate who set a maiden mark of 2:06.3 with trainer Walter Walker on the reins.

                Going gate-to-wire out of two hole, the Captain Crunch colt by the Western Ideal mare Ginger Tree Nina is owned by James MacInnis.

                Johnny (Snag) MacDonald’s latest acquisition, three-year-old Shadow Play gelding Drink Up Mouchacho, finished second for driver Redmond Doucet.

                Driver Rodney Gillis and trainer D.F. Beaton teamed up for an opening day double with Nova Scotia newcomer Believe It Sea It posting the fastest mile on the seven-dash card in 1:59.1. The five-year-old by Downbytheseaside was trained previously by Rodney’s son Logan at Century Mile in Edmonton.

                And local award-winning claiming pacer Igot Socks, who won the most races at Inverness in 2025 with 10, was back for more with a 2:02.1 score in the fourth race. Beaton shares ownership with his sister Anita Gillis.

                Another three-year-old found his way to the winner’s circle when owner-trainer-driver Monica Sutherland left from post five with Galway Bay to lead at the half, dropping to second on a challenge at the stretch by Blazing Cays (Lewis MacDonell), but coming back at the wire for a win in 2:01.3.

                MacDonell and Route Nineteen Racing made it to the winner’s circle in the sixth when Southfield Sandy, winner of eight races last season as a $7,000 claimer, led from start to finish for a win in 2:02.2.

                And in Sunday’s go-home pace, American Risk headlined the track’s top $2,000 class, setting fractions of :30.4, 1:01.3 and 1:33.2 en route to the 3-1/4-length victory in 2:00.4 as the 1-2 favourite.

                Trained and driven by the father and son team of Truro’s George Rennison and Ryder Matthews-Rennison, the 10-year-old pacer has raced at Inverness on five occasions in his career, winning four times.