The 2023 harness racing season got underway at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway on a special Victoria Day Monday afternoon card with Soccer Hanover capturing the top event. 

Jason Hughes picked up the catch-drive aboard the Leith Waite trainee and came wide at the head of the stretch to track down all challengers in a 1:58.2 victory in the $3,600 Preferred 2 Pace. Waite co-owns Soccer Hanover with Les and Spencer Waite for the horse’s 30th lifetime victory. Plain Jane (Marc Campbell) was second ahead of Screen Test (Corey MacPherson). 

MacPherson was the most popular driver of the day as he sprints to the lead in the Red Shores Summerside driving standings with four winners. MacPherson won with Tobins Future (2:02) for trainer Marvyn Webster in Race 1 then Shifting Views (2:00.2) for Paul Conway in Race 2. Now Showing (1:57.3) was an open-length winner in Race 5 for driver MacPherson and trainer Waite for the three-year-old Captaintreacherous colt to remain undefeated on the Eastern Seaboard. MacPherson then teamed up with Sauble Attack (1:57.4) from the Paul Biggar barn for his fourth win in Race 6. 

Driver Ken Murphy and trainer Chris Davies teamed up for two victories on the card. Murphy was the 2022 driving champion at Summerside.  

Live harness racing continues Thursday and Saturday evening at 6 p.m. at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park and Sunday afternoon (May 28) at Red Shores Summerside with P.E.I. Colt Stakes action for three-year-old pacers.

To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Summerside Raceway.

(Red Shores)