Four students will each be presented with a $1,000 bursary towards their post secondary education, courtesy of the 2010 Atlantic Bursary program tonight during the Gold Cup & Saucer Card at Charlottettown Driving Park

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Jillian Furness, Ben Hollingsworth, Matthew Montgomery and Katie Gene Miller are the bursary recipients.

This program is supported and funded by various organizations from the Atlantic Provinces and Standardbred Canada. Partners from the Atlantic Provinces include the Prince Edward Island Harness Racing Industry Association, the Nova Scotia Harness Racing Industry Association, and the 'Stretch Drive Fund,' a fund created by the Maritime Provinces Harness Racing Commissions race officials.

Katie Gene Miller of Inverness, Nova Scotia has been involved in the industry since she was old enough to walk. She is paddocking a Gold Cup Starter this evening and aspires to be a driver. She will be attending UPEI for pre-vet medicine this fall.

Ben Hollingsworth from Truro, Nova Scotia, will be attending the Nova Scotia Agricultural College for the pre-vet program. He started working alongside veteran horseman Phil Pinkney when he was 11 years old and has experience as a groom, trainer, driver and owner.

Jillian Furness is from Vernon Bridge, PEI and entering her first year at UPEI for the Bachelor of Science program. Jillian’s parents have been involved in harness racing for over 25 years. They had several broodmares and racehorses and Jillian’s mom currently has 3 racehorses and a retired broodmare which Jillian helps out with.

Matthew Montgomery is from Borden-Carleton, PEI and is entering his first year at Holland College for the Electrical Construction Wiring program this fall. Matthew has grown up in the industry and worked around the horses for many years. He’s been active as a horse owner for the past 5 years.

The bursaries were awarded based on participation in the industry, academics and financial need. Applicants were also required to submit a typewritten essay addressing 'what changes does harness racing need to make to appeal to a younger audience.'

Standardbred Canada and all of the partners from the Atlantic Provinces would like to extend their thanks to all of the students who submitted applications for bursaries.