Red Shores celebrates record-breaking wagering in 2025-2026

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Red Shores is proud to announce that the 2025-2026 racing meet has concluded as the most successful in the organization’s history. Total wagering from all sources on live racing at Red Shores Charlottetown and Summerside exceeded $10.2 million for the first time, representing a 14% increase over last year and a 10% jump from the previous record set during the 2023-2024 season.

The season was defined by massive crowd engagement and historic performances on the track. The 2025 Governor’s Plate at Summerside set another wagering high, now the fourth year in a row, while the 2025 Old Home Week events in Charlottetown drew big crowds and over 20,000 fans on Gold Cup & Saucer night, creating an electric atmosphere for the region’s signature races.

Championship Highlights

• Miki Shan N: The six-year-old son of Always B Miki captured the 66th Gold Cup & Saucer, presented by Atlantic Lottery, in 1:51.2. This victory marked the first Gold Cup & Saucer win for driver Corey MacPherson. Miki Shan N also secured the 57th Governor’s Plate, presented by Summerside Chrysler Dodge. Jason Hughes was in the bike for his first plate victory. Miki Shan N also shattered the Red Shores Charlottetown track record with a blistering 1:49.4 mile in October. He is trained by Chris MacKay and owned by the partnership of Kap Singh Racing Stable, Stephen Klunowski, Earl Hill Jr., and Donald MacRae.
• Windemere Skye: Dominating the two-year-old pacing filly division, Windemere Skye finished the season a perfect 12-for-12. The daughter of Somewhere Fancy—Howmac Missy banked over $124,000 and set a new divisional track record of 1:53.3 at Charlottetown. Her stellar year earned her a spot as an O’Brien Award Finalist. She is owned by Windemere Farms and Matt Burke and trained by Earl Watts.
• Marc Campbell: The “King of Island Racing” reached new heights in 2025, becoming the first Maritime driver to exceed $1 million in single-season earnings. In September, Campbell celebrated his 3,500th career win, followed by reaching the $10 million career earnings milestone in December while securing his 16th consecutive driving title at Red Shores Charlottetown.

“We are absolutely thrilled with these results, which speak to the incredible health of harness racing on Prince Edward Island,” said David MacKenzie, General Manager of Red Shores. “I am deeply thankful to our entire team, from the backstretch to the front of house, whose dedication made this record-breaking year possible. I’m very proud of our relationship with the PEI Harness Racing Industry.  Our goal remains to evolve this product for both horse people and our loyal customers.”

“The energy we saw this year, especially during Old Home Week, was unlike anything else in the sport,” added Lee Drake, Manager of Racing, Marketing, and Sales. “We are already hard at work preparing to release plans for Governor’s Plate, Gold Cup & Saucer and Atlantic Breeders Crown in 2026. A sincere thank you to our fans, partners and sponsors; your support is the engine that drives this industry forward, and we can’t wait to welcome you back this spring.”

Looking ahead to 2026, the wait for the return of the action won’t be long. Live racing on The Island is planned to resume on Saturday April 25, 2026 with a special post time at 12:30PM, to coincide with the grand opening of the renovated casino featuring table games expansion,  new Red’s restaurant and bar along with a modern Playwise hub for the ultimate guest experience.   Fans can expect a full slate of stakes action, including the star attraction, the 67th running of the Gold Cup & Saucer scheduled for August 22, 2026.

Signature Event Dates:

Governor’s Plate Week – July 12^th-18^th, 2026

Old Home Week – August 13^th-22^nd, 2026 

Atlantic Breeders Crown – October 3^rd & 4^th, 2026

For more information on the upcoming schedule and latest news, visit redshores.ca/racing.

by Lee Drake for Red Shores