CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – The rivalry was renewed in the Saturday night preferred pace at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park and it didn’t disappoint. 

Mr Irresistible and Adkins Hanover hooked up in the top pace and threw down speed usually reserved for the middle of the summer. Mr Irresistible captured the $2,400 event in 1:55.1 for driver Jason Hughes, conditioner Jennifer Trainor and owner Danny Birt of Stratford. Adkins Hanover laid down torrid front end fractions of 27.1, 55.4 and 1:25.1, in line to Corey MacPherson, and fought off a late challenge from Junebugs Baby (Ken Murphy) before Mr Irresistible rallied late to land in the winner’s circle. Adkins Hanover was second with Junebugs Baby finishing third.

Twin B Shadow was victorious in the $2,200 preferred 2 pace with to give driver Ken Murphy a driving double and trainer Nicholas Oakes a training double. The mile time was in 1:59.2 with Pictonian Storm (Wade Sorrie) second and D Bs Rosco third. Twin B Shadow is owned by Doug Matheson of Mount Albion and Stewart MacDonald of Charlottetown. 

Gary Chappell had a pair of wins in the driver’s seat as he scored with Beau Seelster in 1:58.2 for trainer Kyle Wilkie and Lexis Mandy in 1:59.2 for Chris MacKay.

Live racing continues next Saturday at Red Shores Charlottetown.

By Nicholas Oakes for Red Shores

 

 

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Mr Irresistible made it clear that he is a force to be reckoned with in his Island debut and gets rail control this week in his second East Coast outing at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

First race post time is 6 P.M. for the 12-dash card.

Jason Hughes gets the call again on Mr Irresistible in the race 11 feature from post 1 for conditioner Jennifer Trainor and owner Danny Birt of Stratford. The $2,400 event has Adkins Hanover looking to settle the score after doing all the roadwork last week to be nailed at the wire, finishing second for driver Corey MacPherson and trainer Trevor Hicken. Junebugs Baby has post 2 with Ken Murphy subbing into the driver’s seat in lieu of regular pilot and trainer Myles Heffernan. 

Race analyst Les MacIsaac sees no reason rail control won’t lead to a repeat of last week’s result.

“Mr Irresistible cruised to an easy victory last week in his local debut and that was after being off for three weeks and going through the relocation process,” MacIsaac said. “You would have to think he can only be better tonight which spells trouble for his opposition.”

Other entries in the feature event include Eagle Jolt (Marc Campbell) and Starcastic (Ron Matheson). 

The back-up pace lines up in race 9 for a $2,200 pot with Simon Said riding a win into the rail position for driver Adam Merner, co-owner and trainer Joey Squires of Charlottetown and co-owners Jack MacGillivray of Charlottetown and Albert MacGillivray of Nova Scotia. The five-year-old son of American Ideal will face off with a compact field including Twin B Shadow (Murphy), D Bs Rosco (Kenny Arsenault), Pictonnian Storm (Wade Sorrie) and Give Em Heck (Colin Sheppard).

Race 5 will see a newcomer to Island racing with grey campaigner Thebestofme leaving from post 2 for the sister duo of Mallory Lewis and first time owner Megan Lewis, both of St. Peter’s Bay. The Kyle Wilkie trainee was racing the claiming ranks in Buffalo, New York, and now gets the services of driver MacPherson in his Charlottetown debut.

By Nicholas Oakes for Red Shores

 

 

2017 marks the eleventh consecutive year that Standardbred Canada and the Atlantic provinces have partnered to offer the Atlantic Provinces Bursary Program. This project could award up to five students in the Atlantic Provinces bursaries towards their post secondary education this year.

If you are a student residing in the Atlantic Provinces and attending a post secondary institution (trade school, community college or university this fall), this is an opportunity that could help you pay for your tuition.

The bursaries will be awarded based on participation in the industry, academics and financial need. Applicants will be required to submit a typewritten essay on one of the following topics:

1. What unique ways can Standardbred Canada and the host tracks promote the WDC events to the general public in 2017?                      
2. How can racetracks/associations celebrate the 250th anniversary of horse racing at their track or in their community in 2017?

Applicants must be Canadian citizens and be a child or spouse of an active Standardbred Canada member or an SC member themselves. Applicants must be currently enrolled in a post secondary institution as of September 1, 2017.   Past recipients of the Atlantic Bursary are not eligible and students pursuing graduate degrees are not eligible.

A maximum of five bursaries worth up to $1,000 each will be awarded. Applications are available now and must be received at Standardbred Canada by June 26, 2017.

The successful applicants will be announced in early July.

This program is supported and funded by various organizations from the Atlantic provinces and Standardbred Canada. Partners from the Atlantic Provinces include the Nova Scotia Harness Racing Industry Association, Prince Edward Island Harness Racing Industry Association, and the ‘Stretch Drive Fund,’ a fund created by the Atlantic Provinces Harness Racing Commission’s Race Officials.

Presentations to the successful applicants will be made during Atlantic Grand Circuit Week at Truro Raceway and Old Home Week at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at Charlottetown Driving Park. For a bursary application, email kwvlaar@standardbredcanada.ca

Charlottetown, PE – Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park and Red Shores Summerside will be holding qualifying sessions to prep for the season openers scheduled for Charlottetown on April 22 while Summerside starts their campaign on May 22, 2017.
Red Shores Qualifier Schedule:
Charlottetown – Saturday April 15th at 1pm, entries due to race office Thursday April 13th by noon
Summerside – Monday April 17th at 6pm, entries due to race office Thursday April 13th by noon
Charlottetown – Tuesday April 18th at 1pm, entries due to race office Monday April 17th by noon
Opening race card of the season will be Saturday April 22nd at 6pm. Draw will take place Wednesday April 19th and entries are due to the race office by 9am. Race office can be reached at 902-629-6634.