Horseperson’s Day at Charlottetown

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Horseperson’s Day, presented by the P.E.I. Standardbred Horse Owner’s Association is the main harness racing event on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 18) at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park. 

The day features a 14-dash card starting at 12:30 P.M., with the eight-dash Paul MacDonald Memorial Driving Championship taking place in races 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11. 

Corey MacPherson recently registered the richest season driving in Atlantic Canadian Harness Racing history as he eclipsed Marc Campbell’s record $700,561 season from 2021. MacPherson will look to continue his momentum as he defends his 2022 MacDonald Memorial title. 

The competition includes MacPherson, Campbell, Jason Hughes and David Dowling as the top dash winning drivers in P.E.I. Gilles Barrieau and Adam Merner get the nod in the competition as top percentage drivers over 75 drives and Steven Shepherd and Mark Bradley are the top percentage drivers with under 75 drives. All drivers must be members of the P.E.I. Standardbred Horse Owner’s Association. The driver with the most points at the end of the eight-race competition will receive the trophy. 

The featured pace outside of the championship is the race 13 Cardigan Feed Services Pace, which is carded as the $3,500 Fillies and Mares Preferred Pace. Chelski (To be driven by MacPherson) is the favourite from post 6 for trainer Jennifer Doyle and owners Jeffrey and Robert Skinner of Nova Scotia. Other top contenders are Redlandbethanyjean (Brodie MacPhee) and Tobins Brownie (Dowling). 

The day will also feature second chance prize draws as well as a miniature horse race with some up and coming youth talent. 

Play at the track or from home through HPIBET.COM. For the Race Day broadcast, race programs and more go to the new player portal at Redshores.ca.    

Top flight harness racing continues Sunday afternoon (Nov. 19) with a rock solid 15-dash program at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park. 

The day features a 15-dash card starting at 12:30 P.M. with the $3,800 Preferred Pace hitting the track in race 14. 

American Risk has rail control in the field as the Truro Invader gets Gilles Barrieau in the bike for trainer George Rennison and owner Risky Bizz Group of Truro, N.S. The American Ideal seven-year-old was a winner his last start in the top event at Inverness Raceway. 

Island Beach Boy, a winner in 1:52.4 on Oct. 28, two-fifths of a second off the all-time fastest October winning mile in Charlottetown, gets post 2 Sunday with Brodie MacPhee aboard. Ian Smith and Arnold Hagen share ownership of the Somebeachsomewhere pacer while Tom Weatherbie handling the training duties. 

From post 3 is Stash It Away. Ken Murphy will drive the son of Pang Shui for trainer Kevin MacLean and owner Reg MacPherson of Stratford as the horse looks for win number 21 of his career. 

No Plan Intended returns to the East Coast with post 4 fresh off a 1:57 qualifying win in the mud on Nov. 11. Jason Hughes will sit in the race bike for trainer Jennifer Doyle and owner Danny Birt of Vernon Bridge. 

Time To Dance rounds out the field with post 5 for driver Marc Campbell,  trainer and co-owner Brent Campbell and co-owners Brady Doyle, Kent MacDonald and Ryan MacLeod. The son of A Rocknroll Dance won this class his last two starts and gets assigned the outside post for Sunday. 

Stash It Away gets top billing from the Post Time Picks.  

“Stash It Away has been knocking on the door the past few weeks and not that far away. Slides into post three and with the way he can fire home don’t be shocked if he sweeps them late.” 

Catch all the action at the track or check out the Player Portal at Redshores.ca for race programs, live video and more.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores