The PEI Colt Stakes Association and Pedigree Matching Globetrotter are pleased to announce that they will co-sponsor a series of races at Island matinee tracks this summer.

The series will be called The Globetrotter Goodwill Racing Series, named after the annual Goodwill races that were the original venue for the PEI Colt Stakes racing back in the 1930's. The PEI Colt Stakes is the oldest stakes racing program in Canada and will celebrate its 75th anniversary next year.

Preparations are underway to celebrate the anniversary and it is expected that the Goodwill Series will be expanded to all Island matinee tracks in 2009 based on the 2008 experience.

The series of three race events will take place at Alberton Exhibition on July 31st, Kensington Community Days on August 24th and Pinette will host the final event on August 31st on the occasion of the Grand Opening of their rebuilt facility.

The races will be for two and three year old pacers and trotters that are non winners of a parimutuel race at time of declaration with separate classes based on age and gait.

Declaration for each event is one week prior to the event to allow for preparation of a program and to determine the prize allocation based on the number of entries. A prize pool of $500 will be available for each class in addition to coolers, gifts and special awards and a minimum prize of $50 per entry is guaranteed should any class draw more than 5 entries or is required to split due to track limitations. The horses participating in the series will also be eligible for a trophy and additional prizes provided by Pedigree Matching Globetrotter at the conclusion of the series at Pinette based on their performance over the three events.

Norman Hall is pleased to be associated with the grassroots matinee program on PEI. "Matinee racing represents the foundation of the sport, just as the pedigree of the horse represents the foundation of the breed itself. I strongly believe that the future of this great sport lies in supporting the industry at the ground level where our young people have the opportunity to get involved at an early age."

PEI Colt Stakes President, John Clarey, echoed these sentiments saying " Our experience at Pinette this year, with the renovations, and with the support of the PEI Government's matinee program, has been very positive to date. Attendance and racing participation, particularly among the younger people, are way up and I encourage other sponsors to consider being part of this rebirth in interest in our racing heritage on Prince Edward Island and elsewhere."

To be a co-sponsor of any of the scheduled races or to provide prizes for participants or attendees please call one of the following for information.

Scott MacPhail, Pinette, 902-659-2736

Scott Gamble, Alberton, 902-853-3853

Eddie Doucette, Kensington, 902-836-5665