MacDonald Memorial Driving Challenge features at Charlottetown

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – The Paul MacDonald Memorial Driving Challenge will highlight Horse Person’s Day on a special Saturday evening harness racing card at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The 13-dash Saturday card was schedule for an afternoon start but has been delayed until 6 P.M., in anticipation of impending weather.

The MacDonald Memorial Challenge, presented by the P.E.I. Standardbred Horse Owner’s Association, will take place over eight dashes in races 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11.

Eight drivers will compete in the challenge with each driver sitting out one leg of the competition.

Criteria used to select the drivers had statistics combined from Red Shores Charlottetown and Summerside from 2024 with P.E.I.’s leading dash winning driver David Dowling getting the first nod in the competition. He is joined by fellow top dash winners Marc Campbell, Corey MacPherson and Adam Merner. The second category is top percentage drivers with over 75 drives that is populated by Jason Hughes, Brady Sweet and Gilles Barrieau while Steven Shepherd will represent the 25-75 drive category with the top percentage. All drivers must be a member of the P.E.I. Standardbred Horse Owner’s Association to be eligible to compete. The driver with the most points in the competition will win the Paul MacDonald Memorial Trophy. Campbell was the winner of the MacDonald Memorial Trophy in 2023.

The final dash of the card has the top trot of the day with Fight Song favoured for trainer Ashley Gamester, driver Hughes and owner Donald MacRae from post 7. The $3,300 event also includes Curadh (To be driven by Ryan Desroche), Whole Nother (Merner), Glider Man (MacPherson), New Legacy (Dowling), Labero (Barrieau) and Chasin Dreams (Campbell).

Catch all the action live at the track or tune into the worldwide broadcast at Redshores.ca.

Roll Em, High Voltage Deo Face Off Sunday

The top pacers in Eastern Canada will meet up again Sunday afternoon in the Preferred Pace.

The 10-dash Sunday presentation has a 12:30 P.M., opening post time.

High Voltage Deo is the morning line favourite in the $4,200 top event with Corey MacPherson back at the lines after driving him to victory in his last two starts for trainer Brendan Curran and owners Alby Curran and High Voltage Deo Group of Alberry Plains. The 11-time winner scored five of his lifetime victories in his last six starts on P.E.I., including knocking off the Preferred Pace last start in Charlottetown. High Voltage Deo has post 2 to work from this week.

Blood Money (To be driven by Gilles Barrieau) has rail control from the Ron Matheson stable after finishing third at this level last time.

Roll Em (Marc Campbell) was the defeated favourite in the Preferred Pace on Nov. 9 to High Voltage Deo, and has post 3 on Sunday for trainer Brent Campbell.

Red Shores Charlottetown co-track record holder Bee Two Bee (Jason Hughes) will leave from post 4 for trainer Ashley Gamester.

Rollwithhottytoddy (Myles Heffernan Sr.) is back in action after making his last start on Oct. 13. Owned and trained by Trevor Hicken, the son of Rollwithitharry was an eight-time winner in 2024 including a 1:53.1 victory over Truro Raceway.

Wind Blown (Paul Langille) completes the field from post 6 from the Phil Sizer barn with four wins to his credit this season.

The Post Time Picks like Roll Em to land back on top.

“Roll Em He was in an early tussle last week and did make the front but was collared at the wire by High Voltage Deo. We’re betting Marc will want to boss it again and go right down the Red Shores highway for win number ten in 2024.”

Go to Redshores.ca and check out the Player Portal for live video, handicapper selections, free race programs, driver profiles and more.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores