Moonwriter fired to the lead and never looked back in the featured pace on a special Canada Day program Thursday as Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway celebrated 135 years of racing.

In rein to Marc Campbell in the $2,900 featured event, Moonwriter hustled to the lead from Post 4 while race favourite Soccer Hanover (Driven by Corey MacPherson) tried a move to the front heading to the initial 28.2 quarter. Soccer Hanover’s early bid was repelled as he was forced to settle back in the three-hole while Moonwriter continued to lead and found the half-mile marker in :57 then got a breather in the third split of 1:27. Theycallmedude (Ken Murphy) and Soccer Hanover came calling in the stretch drive but Moonwriter hung on for a 1:56.2 win. Theycallmedude was second with Soccer Hanover third.

Colin Johnson trains the winning pacer for owner Debbie Element of Village Green.

The program also featured a trotting match-race won by Hop Up (Keith Campbell) in 2:01.2 over Windemeredontutworry (Lloyd Hannah) in commemoration of the inaugural match-race held at the oval in 1886.

The Canada Day Pace saw a dominant performance by Flash In The Pang in 1:57.1 with MacPherson in the bike for owner/trainer Hughie Murphy.

Live racing continues Saturday at 6 p.m. at Red Shores Charlottetown and Sunday afternoon at Red Shores Summerside with the kickoff of Governor’s Plate week racing. To view the results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Summerside

(Summerside Raceway)