Opening Day Delivers Excitement at Northside Downs

Opening Day at Northside Downs on May 9th proved that harness racing is alive and well on Cape Breton Island, as fans, horse people, and supporters packed the small Maritime oval for an exciting afternoon of racing and community spirit.

The featured event of the day saw Thunder Alley deliver the performance of the afternoon, capturing the top class in a blazing 1:58.4, the fastest mile of the day. Driver Kevin Bailey guided the talented pacer to victory for trainer Heather Hawkins and owners Angus MacEachern, Terri Morrison, Kirk MacRae, and Irwin Claener. The impressive effort gave the crowd plenty to cheer about and set the tone for a memorable opening card.

One of the biggest moments of the afternoon came in Race 5, when Colin Rankin earned his first career victory as a trainer with Candid Cameron in 2:00.4. Driven by Larry Snow, the win was made even more special as Rankin co-owns the horse alongside Roy Dixon and Logan Woodill. First wins are always unforgettable, and this one will certainly be remembered for years to come.

Roy Dixon and Logan Woodill weren’t done there. The pair doubled up later on the card when Cold Creek Guerrero captured Race 7 in 2:01.3. Making his first career start at the Downs, the youngster delivered an impressive performance for driver Jake Jacobs and trainer Warren MacKinnon.

Race 4 provided one of the most exciting finishes of the afternoon, featuring an incredible stretch drive where all five horses crossed the wire within a length of one another. The thrilling battle had fans on their feet right to the finish line.

The day’s first event also featured a memorable milestone, as Sunshine Lucas earned his first career victory in 2:03.3. Even more impressive, Kevin Bailey handled all the duties as owner, trainer, and driver in the winning effort.

Off the track, fans also enjoyed plenty of excitement with the on-site 50/50 draw reaching a whopping $500.00. Lucky winner Peter MacKinnon took home the prize, proving that even when your horse finishes second, you can still leave the track a big winner.

The strong community support was evident throughout the day, with total wagering for the May 9th card reaching an impressive $17,088.00.

Opening Day was a fantastic start to the 2026 season at Northside Downs, and if May 9th was any indication, fans are in for an exciting summer of harness racing in Cape Breton.