Hon. Mitch Murphy, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry for Prince Edward Island, is the Man of the Year in Maritime Harness Racing as selected by Atlantic Post Calls, the region's only harness racing publication.
The Amherst, Nova Scotia-based newspaper presents the award each year to the individual who has made a major contribution to the harness racing industry in Atlantic Canada.
"Through the efforts of Minister Murphy, we are starting to see some real growth in the sport on Prince Edward Island," said editor Doug Harkness, who cited the minister for his leadership and financial support for harness racing. The Prince Edward Island government continued to provide financial assistance for the purse pool at Island tracks and for such grass root programs as the matinee tracks and also introduced a new stakes program, The Lady Slipper, designed to assist standardbred breeders.
Harkness said Murphy's support for the harness racing industry is made possible by the assistance he receives from Premier Pat Binns and his cabinet. "The Prince Edward Island government recognizes the economic impact the harness racing industry has on the province, not only in agriculture, but in the tourism segment," said Mr. Harkness.
One of the highlights of the 2001 racing season was the Atlantic Breeders Crown weekend, which was hosted with government support by the Charlottetown Driving Park. The CDP won the right to host the event again in the fall of 2002.
The minister will be presented with the award at a Maritime regional harness racing conference and awards banquet at Saint John, New Brunswick, on January 26, 2002.
During the 2001 season, there were 33 Maritime-bred horses who took 1:55 records, many of them bred on Prince Edward Island. Harkness said the Maritime harness racing industry needs the support of governments and said Atlantic Post Calls felt it was important to recognize the contributions made by people such as Mitch Murphy.