It’s final two-program weekend of season
New board formed for P.E.I. Colt Stakes organization
Live racing continues this weekend at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park with the final two-program weekend of the season.
The capital oval will host 12-dash cards on Saturday and Sunday, both with 12:30 p.m. post times before switching to a Saturday-only schedule starting next week.
Winsloe driver Marc Campbell continues his grip on the driver’s standings with 119 trips to the winner’s circle while Gilles Barrieau is 14 wins back at 105 victories and David Dowling sits third with 84 wins. If Campbell pulls off another driving title he will have reigned as driving King for the entire decade as he has had the most wins every season since his first driving title in 2010. The only one to come close was Jason Hughes, who tied Campbell for leading driver in 2014 and 2015.
The trainer race has long been decided as Campbell also leads the way amongst conditioners with 59 wins this season.
Jackie Matheson takes up second place with 36 wins.
P.E.I. SCENE
The Island Harness Racing industry held a meeting for members of the breeding industry this past week with over 60 people with substantial investments in Island racing attending.
The main purpose of the meeting, other than addressing any challenges individuals are facing in the breeding sector, was to put together a new board for the P.E.I. Colt Stakes organization. A total of eight people were appointed to the board and they were Blaine Thibeau and Garth Cole of Kensington, Paul Walker of Donagh, Scott Roloson of Belfast, Bruce Wood of Marshield, Nicholas Oakes of Warren Grove, Wendell Williams of Ellerslie and Jamie Whalen of Avondale.
CANADA WIDE
Maritime invitational star Euchred makes his Central Canadian debut Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park in Campbellville, Ont., now under the care of Summerside native Terry Gallant.
Euchred was a 1:55.2 winner in the preferred pace on Nov. 17 at the CDP and will leave from Post 10 on Saturday evening in a $11,000 class with Jody Jamieson at the lines at 7-2 morning-line odds.
ACROSS THE CONTINENT
Maritime-champion Woodmere Oleksiak was a winner last week at Freehold Raceway in New Jersey. The daughter of Articulator scored a front-end win in 1:57.2 with Joe Bongiorno in the bike in a $6,300 conditioned class.
Triple Crown-winning threeyear-old colt Red Dirt Boomer made his U.S. debut in a qualifier at Yonkers Raceway in New York, pacing in 2:00.4 for new trainer Rene Allard and driver George Brennan.
Red Dirt Rocknroll was a second-place finisher in 1:59.3 in a qualifier at Batavia Raceway in New York for new trainer Joseph Skowyra. Neither Red Dirt Boomer nor Red Dirt Rocknroll are entered to race again as of yet.
Island-raised Mrs Browns Boy was a second-place finisher in a qualifier at The Meadowlands in New Jersey, pacing in 1:54.2 in the stable of Michael Russo.