Governor’s Plate Week 2022 will start up with a bang with the first annual Gamester-Pinkney Cup for rising driving stars on Tuesday evening  (July 12) at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway. 

The Prince County, P.E.I. oval will present a 10-dash card on Tuesday evening with a 6:30 p.m. (AST) opening post time with two divisions of the Gamester-Pinkney Memorial Cup for drivers 30 years old and younger with less than 100 wins in Races 2 and 4. The event is named in honour of two late stalwarts in supporting young people advancing in Atlantic Canada harness racing, Byron Gamester of Glen Valley, P.E.I., and Phil Pinkney of Lower Onslow, N.S.  

Rookie driving sensation Damian MacLellan is favoured in the first dash with Ruby Rae Crow slated to overcome Post 6 in the first Gamester-Pinkney event in Race 2. Kyle Williams trains the Well Said mare for Rebecca Blaisdell and Krista Bulger after she won her most recent outing in 2:02 in line to Gilles Barrieau. Cinder Angelina has Post 2 for Prince County Horsemen’s Club 2021 Rookie driver of the Year Jaycob Sweet while Pleasing Pink is third choice in line to driver Brady Sweet, who boasts the fastest maiden-breaking driving win of all-time in Atlantic Canada. Brady kicked off his career in 2021 visiting the winner’s circle for the first time with Burn Out Hanover in 1:54.1. Also in the first division are Bugtown Superstar (to be driven by Taylor Doyle), Brookdale Maggie (Kyle Mason) and Private Dancer (Zach Conway). 

In the second division in Race 4, Jaycob Sweet is favoured from Post 3 with the Clair Sweet-trained Sports Zipper. His top rivals are JK Cowboy (MacLellan) and Applecorp Hanover (Mason). Other entries include Arnoldthepaperboy (Conway), Sharks Play (Brady Sweet) and Stonebridge Sting (Taylor Doyle). 

A point system will be used to determine the top driver, who will receive the Gamester Memorial Trophy as well as a certificate for a new driving suit sponsored by Wendy MacRae of Belfast, P.E.I., and Dunsan Farms of Warren Grove, P.E.I. The top three drivers in the competition will then join the top three pilots from the July 19 leg at the Truro Raceway in Bible Hill, N.S., in the final set for August 16 at Red Shores Charlottetown during Old Home Week to determine the overall 2022 winner.

The first leg is presented by the P.E.I. Harness Racing Industry Association in partnership with Meridian Farms of Calgary, Alta.

The Tuesday program also features the Atlantic Sires Stakes for two and three-year-old trotters with Race 1 hosting a five-horse $17,360 division for freshman trotters. Irish Ray is the top choice for trainer/driver Marc Campbell and owner Three Wisemen Stable of Kingston, P.E.I. 

The three-year-old trotters have a pair of divisions in Races 5 and 8. Headline Howie (Mike McGuigan) is top choice in the first $9,800 split while Up Helly AA (Ken MacDonald) looks to extend his rookie win streak to 10 straight in the second division. 

Watch the worldwide broadcast at Redshores.ca and wager online at HPIBet.com. 

To view Tuesday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Tuesday Entries - Summerside Raceway.

(Red Shores)