Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park will resume hosting live harness racing, but without on-track customers, on Thursday, June 4.
"The safety and well-being of Islanders is our top priority," said Red Shores in a release on Saturday (May 2). "In consultation with the PEI Harness Racing Industry Association, public health officials and other stakeholders, Red Shores has developed a detailed plan to support the return of live Standardbred horse racing on Prince Edward Island. This plan incorporates government and public health guidelines in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19."
No fans or spectators will be allowed on the Red Shores property during live racing events until further notice. Fans from across North America will be able to watch and wager from the safety of their homes through the Red Shores Race Day broadcast and online betting platforms such as HPIBet.com. Post time on June 4 will be 6:00 p.m. (AST)
Red Shores and the PEI Harness Racing Industry will be enforcing COVID-19 restrictions for all race participants, including physical distancing and the use of personal protective equipment. The full list of policies and procedures, including protocols for the industry to follow while preparing for and conducting live racing, will be made available at redshores.ca
Qualifying dates will be released soon.
(Red Shores)
If Charlottetown is the only
If Charlottetown is the only harness track operating in North America when it reopens on 6/4, I bet that it will set an all-time handle record that night, and if it's still the only track operating on Sat. June 6, I bet that night's handle will top $1 million.
Sure glad to hear that Red
Sure glad to hear that Red Shores Charlottetown will give it go on June 4th. Being a horse racing fan I've been watching thoroughbred racing from Gulfstream Park in Florida. It passes the time but it is not Harness Racing. Can't wait till we once again hear Vance say "BOOM JUST LIKE THAT!!!!!" Be safe everyone and Good Luck Red Shores.
Mike Mobley I agree with your
Mike Mobley
I agree with your comments but a large part of why they are able to operate and will operate successfully in this manner is the exact manner in which they have battled COVID already. The Island has had very few positive tests and they shut the Island off from outside contacts basically so it is part luck and good management that they have been able to "beat this".
Other areas aren't so fortunate to have physical distancing almost built in with small populations and an added bridge or ferry as the only means to get there so it may be awhile before others open or open and then have disasters like has already struck the harness racing world and area altogether in New York.
Hopefully they get large purse support there as it would be nice to see the Island benefit for awhile with large mutuel pools :)
Trevor Otterson
Harness racing is probably
Harness racing is probably more popular in PEI than in any other province or state in North America, so it makes sense that Charlottetown would be the first track to announce a reopening date.