Paul MacKenzie, at age forty-six, is one of the national success stories in harness racing and this talented gentleman happens to have his roots in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Paul is the all-time leader in driving wins at Flamboro Downs and received the President's award in recognition at their Awards night in February 2007. He also has become a regular catch-driver at both Woodbine and Mohawk racetracks for some of the leading trainers in Canada. Paul trains approximately a dozen horses and travels the circuit in Ontario for Gold and Grassroots stakes in addition to invitational and overnight events. However, he always makes time each year to return to P.E.I. for a week in August to participate in the prestigious Gold Cup and Saucer and Old Home Week activities. Somehow the Gold Cup and Saucer would not be the same without an entry from this accomplished driver who has become one of P.E.I.'s great ambassadors.

Paul MacKenzie was introduced to the world of standardbreds at age seven mainly because he lived only a stone's throw from the Charlottetown Driving Park and his relatives were very involved in harness racing. As a youngster he would sit on the lap of Elmer or Jack Ferguson and take the reins as they jogged Hurrah or Caledonian Scott. He fondly remembered the thrill and enjoyment of these early experiences and he still gets the same rush when he gets on his bike for a race at Flamboro or Woodbine. In retrospect, Paul is appreciative to have had a number of talented and experienced mentors during his early years in the industry. He stated, "I started out with Elmer Ferguson then I used to hang around a lot with Jack Ferguson. I learned from Buddy Campbell. Garry MacDonald and Earl Smith taught me a lot when I was going up through the ranks." He related that Buddy Campbell could shoe a horse and hang one out. He taught you what to do when a horse had certain problems. He remembers that Garry MacDonald was the first to allow him to don his colors and warm a horse up on race nights. He received invaluable experience and advice while in the employ of Earl Smith. Paul explained, "Some of these guys could do some things better than others. I admired all of them."

Paul was working with Earl Smith when Earl moved his stable from the Charlottetown Driving Park to Sackville Downs in the early 1980's. Shortly after this move, Earl and Ronnie Gass moved to Montreal and they left Paul some horses that weren't good enough for Montreal. This was Paul's first experience at operating his own public stable and he had four good years at Sackville Downs before it closed. Royal Receipt A was one of his star borders at Sackville Downs. In 1983 the then twenty-two year old teamster captured the Maritime Driving Championship at Sackville Downs, edging Phil Pinkney, displaying the talent that would lead him to establish himself outside the region. In 1986 after Sackville Downs closed Paul would leave the Maritimes for Ontario. He worked his way up from groom, getting some catch-drives at Flamboro Downs, to training horses with the John Burns Stable. He began getting catch-drives on the competitive Ontario Jockey Club (now WEG) circuit before opening his own public stable.

Like all horsepeople, this talented southpaw will never forget his first drive in a race. It was at the C.D.P. and owner-driver Gerald “Mick” Dunn from Summerville had two entries in the same race. Mick would drive the roan free-legged Bay Byrd and Paul would team Guy Norris. Paul remembered, "I was all excited. Mick won the race and I finished third. I was glad to have that one over without an incident." Paul MacKenzie's familiar red, black and white colours have visited the winner's circle over 5,700 times with earnings approaching 30 million, but he still remembers his first win like it was yesterday. It was Old Home Week and he was working for Earl Smith at the C.D.P. Earl had a horse, Jonsey for Boyd Bernard from Tignish. Paul related, "I took Jonsey down to the Hillsboro River and swam him all week. I raced him at the end of the week and he won by about thirteen lengths in 2:08. I was still nervous coming around the final turn. I thought they were going to get me." They didn't catch Paul on that memorable occasion. Today only highly respected Wally Hennessey, a member of the US Living Hall of Fame, has more victories than Paul MacKenzie among all Prince Edward Island drivers. They join another Hall of Famer, Joe O'Brien, as Island natives who have earned membership in the exclusive 4000 driving win club.

The son of the Myrna and the late Gordon MacKenzie has been involved with thousands of horses over the past three decades. I asked him to name five or six of his most memorable horses. It was a difficult chore but he did list Little Black Book, Terrible Semalu, Armbro Warranty, Rock Music, Gold Enzyme, Jerry Hal and Avon Ellen. Each had specific reasons for making this list and Paul stated there were many others that could have been named. The Puslinch, Ontario resident brought Millar Farm's Little Black Book home for the 1993 Gold Cup and Saucer where they set a Canadian record for a mares on a half-mile track, that stood for ten years. She had great gate speed and won her trial in a track record 1:54 mile. He travelled to Alberta for trainer Harry Poulton and won a heat of the Nat Christie with Terrible Semalu who was funny-gaited but could go fast. Fred Logan's Armbro Warranty gave Paul a thrill in winning a 0.S.S. Gold Final in 1:53 at Flamboro Downs. This fast tough colt could take a little air. Paul raced the competitive Rock Music for Doug Arthur in the Free-For-Alls at Mohawk and Woodbine with good results. At Sackville Downs he co-owned Gold Enzyme with Chuck MacAulay and this fellow gave them quite a few thrills until they retired him at age twelve. For Earl Smith he had Jerry Hal who was a fast classy little horse and nice to drive. He also had Avon Ellen for Earl Smith and this nice old mare was funny behind the gate but fine once you got her going.

March 13, 1985 is a date that this horseman will never forget and with good reason. He was working for Earl Smith at Sackville Downs and Earl was unable to drive on this date. Paul drove eight horses that night and amazingly won six dashes! The track presented him with a beautiful plaque inscribed with the names of the six winners which he still cherishes to this day. He proudly explained that that was indeed one of the most memorable dates in his career. In the first Gold Cup trial in 1983 he set a season's record at the C.D.P guiding longshot Miracle Report to an upset victory in the 2:00.1 mile. Another highlight in his career took place on August 15, 1993 when he accomplished something that many desire but few attain. He won the prestigious Gold Cup and Saucer with the talented Little Black Book with a 1:54.1 mile. In 2006 Paul reigned Silent Swing to a track and Canadian record mile of 1:51.1 en route to capturing the Gold Cup trial. The pair were upset in the Gold Cup and Saucer over an off track by Carl Jamieson and Banner Yankee who kept the charging favorite at bay as they hit the wire. Since joining the elite but small group that have won this coveted race, Paul remains determined to join the very select few who have won it more than once. So no matter what his busy schedule in Ontario dictates, Paul always returns for Old Home Week on Prince Edward Island. His wife Kathy and daughters Hillary and Tayler also enjoy the return visit with family and friends each August on P.E.I.

In 2007 Paul will make his return visit home just a bit early. In April he finished second to Mario Baillargeon in the Ontario Regional Drivers Championship at Western Fair Raceway in London, earning the right to represent that province in the National Drivers Championship at the CDPEC on August 9th. The winner will represent Canada at the World Drivers Championship in New Zealand in November, with hopes of joining Jody Jamieson, Sylvain Filion and Herve Filion as Canadian winners of the event. Many in the crowd will certainly be cheering for the hometown boy who describes earning the right to compete as among his career highlights.

One of the biggest changes that Paul noticed in harness racing has been in breeding. He explained, "The blood lines are so fine and so close. Now they come out pacing right away and they breed them for speed. A big change in the industry has been the introduction of the slots. The slots have revived the industry in Ontario. They are keeping the small tracks alive. They continue to bring in new horse owners and help to keep the present ones. Simulcasting is also helping but the slots are number one. The Maritimes need a new gimmick like the slots to get new faces and to generate money for the industry." The CDPEC opened the first racino in the region in 2005, which has helped begin a similar re-vitalization of the harness industry in P.E.I. Plans for a smaller scale racino for Summerside have been delayed, while New Brunswick continues to investigate gaming policy in that province.

What does Paul MacKenzie like most about horse racing? He answered without hesitation, "Good friends, good fun and good money. I enjoy the competitive nature of the game. I get keyed up for every race not just the big ones. Naturally you get pumped for the big ones a little extra like when they put the spot lights on you for the post parade in the Gold Cup and Saucer. The Island Hymn by Faith McKenney always gave me goosebumps. I have been in million dollar races but they don't put on a show like they do at the C.D.P. for the Gold Cup and Saucer." Every year he tries to take someone new down to P.E.I. for the big race and he states that every one that comes always wants to return and this includes some big names like Bill Robinson. Paul continued, "It's done up right. From the time of the Trials till the big race, it's all they talk about all week. When I brought the Millars down, they couldn't believe how well they were treated. They were treated like royalty. They would stop at a corner store and hear people talking about Little Black Book. Jody Jamieson, Mark Megens and Paul Cameron came down and I am sure they will return."

What Paul liked least about the game was the fact that you have to be at it seven days a week. You can't shut it down on Friday for the weekend like many other jobs. Your quality time with family suffers because the horses require a total commitment. In 2006, this busy horseman had 2642 starts as a driver and 169 starts as a trainer. His 385 driving victories once again ranked him among the top 10 in the nation. A routine day for Paul would be to race eight or nine at Flamboro Downs in the afternoon then travel to Georgian Downs or Mohawk to participate in four or five races. He also travels the Ontario circuit for stakes and other engagements as a popular catch-driver. In addition, he usually has ten to fifteen of his own to train and race in the Paul MacKenzie Stable. A horseman's career can be depicted by a bell curve and Paul is near the top of that bell curve. He has realized that there will be peaks and valleys in his career. A driver's best years will only last so long and Paul MacKenzie intends to make hay while the sun shines.

- Paul Murphy, Jerry McCabe