Still going to post
The historic Gold Cup & Saucer Race is scheduled to go to post on Saturday, Aug. 22, although it may look a bit different this year.
Festivals and exhibitions across the province were cancelled on Monday due to the ongoing pandemic and even though Old Home Week
was one of them, Red Shores is still proceeding with plans to host a program of harness racing from Aug. 13-22 as per normal, thanks to the green light from the public health office.
The difference this year is that because of the restrictions around the coronavirus (COVID-19 strain), Red Shores can’t say right now when, or if, spectators will be allowed in. Live racing is currently scheduled to return to P.E.I., at Red Shores in Charlottetown on Thursday, June 4, although people will have to watch it online.
“We were able to secure live racing, without spectators, on June 4. That’s huge,’’ said Lee Drake, manager of marketing and brands for Red Shores. “We’re the first standardbred racetrack in North America to be able to do that.
And, the signature race, which is sponsored by The Guardian, has grown so big over the decades that horses come from all over North America to compete. Where they’ll be permitted to come from this year will all depend on travel restrictions.
“There will be many scenarios on the table,’’ Drake said, adding that it could mean going ahead with a race open to only Maritime horses or even a P.E.I. -only scenario.
“Can you imagine the buzz of an Island horse or an Island connection winning the Gold Cup & Saucer and being a part of history?’’
There have been countless memorable names and races over the years with P.E.I. connections. Joe Smallwood drove Island-owned Saul’s Pride to the winner’s circle in 1980 and 1982, while Island driver Earl Smith entered the history books with Pownal Bay Matt in 2008.
“It’s not ideal, but nothing is ideal right now. We’re a very creative team (at Red Shores) and we’re looking for ways to be able to pull this race off.’’
Regardless of whether physical distancing restrictions keep the doors locked to spectators and prevent the big-name horses from coming in, Drake expects the viewership online, where all races are streamed on the Red Shores website, to be off the charts.
“(People) are just screaming for sporting content, and we have an opportunity to showcase not only this race, but we would like . . . to showcase many things about Prince Edward Island and tell our story.’’
Drake said no decisions have been made yet as to the fate of this year’s Governor’s Plate in Summerside, which normally runs in July.