Old Home Week racing does not officially start until this Friday evening, but the first leg of the Alpine $5,000 Claiming Series will unofficially kick off the biggest week of the Maritimes’ harness racing calendar Thursday evening (Aug. 9) at Red Shores’ Charlottetown Driving Park.

The 10-dash program has a 7 p.m. start time and will feature the first leg of the Alpine claiming series for $5,000 claimers in Race 8 and Race 10.

Macnamarra (Post 2) has shown over the years that he loves Old Home Week, and he has been installed as the morning line favourite for the first division. Kenny Arsenault will pick up the catch-drive for trainer Donald MacLennan and owner Megan Hinkley of Margaree, NS. The 13-year-old pacer had the biggest moment of his career six years ago during Old Home Week (in 2012) when he took his lifetime mark of 1:53.2. Young Man Matt (to be driven by Jason Hughes) is second early choice and is shipping in with the Patrick Shepherd stable from Ontario. Miss Sangria (Dale Spence) has been selected as third on the morning line for trainer George Rennison of Truro, N.S.

The second division will feature another member of Shepherd Stable, as Just Blitzed has been installed as the top pick and is set to start from Post 3 with Steven Shepherd in the bike for owner Carl Kuepfer of Newton, Ont. The five-year-old mare had been racing the $7,000 claiming ranks at Rideau Carleton Raceway. Beau Seelster (Adam Merner) will make a return to P.E.I. with Post 2 for owner Myah Wilkie of New Waterford, NS. Another Cape Breton pacer, Shanghai B G (Marc Campbell), has also been selected in the top three for trainer Jim Copley of Inverness.

The Thursday program will also feature the $1,950 Open Trot. Freddie is the probable top selection from Post 4 with Campbell in the bike for trainer Bo Ford and owner Three Wisemen Stable of Kingston. Other top entries are Hop Up (Corey MacPherson) and Ontario ship-in Stan The Man (Hughes).

For more information, head to redshores.ca.

To view the harness racing entries for Thursday at the CDP, click the following link: Thursday Entries – Charlottetown Driving Park.

(With files from Red Shores)