by Chris Lomon

The pride of Port Hood is keeping her wheels in motion.

A picturesque seaside community nestled on the West coast of Cape Breton Island, and the capital of Inverness County, NS, Port Hood is home to roughly 1,300 inhabitants, and the hometown of Maritimes horsewoman Monica Sutherland.

In the early stages of her driving career — 2023 was her rookie campaign in the race bike — the personable 24-year-old has already made a name for herself competing on Canada’s east coast.

“My main goal is to just keep improving and getting better at what I do,” she told HRU. “You learn a little something new every day. I want to take all that and try to be the best I can be.”

Sutherland, who drove in the Nova Scotia amateur ranks ahead of her debut, a third, on May 28, 2023, at Inverness Raceway, enjoyed a banner first season in the race bike.

There were several highlights to speak of, including her milestone first win, the victory coming courtesy of Eastcoast Ms Haney, a daughter of Arthur Blue Chip—Manhattan Delight, who she trains for her father, Todd Sutherland.

The win, on June 11, did not come without some late-race dramatics.

In fact, it took a photo finish to decide whose nose hit the wire first in the opening dash that Sunday.

Initially, Sutherland didn’t think she was the winner.

“I wasn’t too sure,” she said. “Coming through the stretch, she was rolling, but I thought we would get second or third. My dad told me he thought we got it, so when we did, it was a great feeling.”

The day would prove to be twice as nice for Sutherland.

Five races after the dramatic score, Eastcoast Invader, a bay son of Rollwithitharry—Manhattan Delight who she trains and co-owns with her father, pulled off the 16-1upset.

This time, however, there was no doubt who had won.

“We opened up in that one and didn’t have to worry that time,” said Sutherland, of the 2½-length win that produced a $34.30 win ticket. “It was a big effort from the horse. So, winning a close one and then an easier one made for an interesting day.”

The biggest moment of her first driving season came on Aug. 26.

Again, it came with Eastcoast Ms Haney.

Sutherland and the slight 9-5 choice were at North Sides Downs — a half-mile track in North Sydney, Nova Scotia — for an Atlantic Sires Stakes B Division dash.

A length and a half behind leader Weather The Storm at the three-quarter pole, Eastcoast Ms Haney and Sutherland worked overtime to eke out the narrowest of wins, crossing the line a nose in front.

“Another close one,” she said with a laugh. “I didn’t think I got that one either. It was by a hair. That was an amazing moment, and it was so nice to be able to share that with my family. We named her after my grandfather, so that is another reason why it was so meaningful for us.

“We had five wins together last year and this horse has helped me so much. To get that first stakes win with her was extra special.”

By year’s end, there were 20 wins and 56 top three finishes to Sutherland’s name.

Sutherland, who launched the training side of her standardbred life in 2020, had also posted a career high 11 training wins and 34 top three results from 55 starts.

Recently, she reached the 200-drive mark.

“I never expected any of this,” said Sutherland, whose great uncle, Alex Sutherland, owns and trains several of Todd Sutherland’s horses. “It has been so much better than I believed it would be.”

Her approach to the sport has been shaped by many, including her father.

Advice has been plentiful and welcomed.

“It’s important to pay attention in this sport, to listen to helpful words, and to keep an open mind,” Monica said. “There is always something you can take and put into what you do.

“The support I have had, both in racing and in my life, has been amazing. My family is always there for me, and it helps with your confidence. I feel very fortunate.”

A short memory has also helped Monica succeed.

“Whether you win or lose, you can’t dwell on what happened in the race before,” she said. “You have to stay within the moment. You never want to get too high or too low. You just need to be prepared for the next one.”

Which is why Monica is meticulously prepared ahead of each card.

“I do quite a bit of homework, studying the program, looking at what could possibly happen,” she said. “But no matter how you prepare, once the race starts, things rarely go to plan. You try to play it out in your head, but that’s not how it typically goes. You have to be able to adapt in a split second.”

As for goals, both present and future, Monica is looking to add some horses to her barn and more wins to her stat sheet.

“This year, I haven’t had as many wins as I did last year,” she said. “But we have been consistent, getting a lot of seconds and thirds, so there is always reason to be optimistic. I am getting more opportunities to drive, which has been nice. I would like to get on a roll and get some more wins.

“I am training three horses right now, so down the road, I would like to add a few more. It’s nice when you can drive your own horses because of that familiarity – you know everything about them. But overall, I am very happy with where we are.”

When she isn’t in the race bike or in the paddocks and shedrows, Monica is hard at work as an electrician.

She learned the skill from her grandfather.

“I am doing my apprenticeship,” she said. “It’s something I really enjoy. With that and the horses, it definitely keeps me busy throughout the year. I don’t have much time for anything else. Horse racing, it might be a hobby, but it is a full-time job, but that’s okay with me.”

As to where her horse racing life will lead, Monica, much like she approaches each race, will be prepared for wherever it might take her.

For now, there is no place like home.

“I just want to keep improving and see what happens,” she said. “You never know where it will lead, but I’m excited to find out.”