Marc Campbell made Atlantic Canada harness racing history on Thursday, Oct. 23 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park as he became the first driver to reach $1 million in earnings in a season in the region.

Campbell entered the card needing $793 to reach the million-dollar mark, and he entered the history books emphatically in the opener. The 40-year-old Orwell, P.E.I. native took the lines of Couldhavebeenalady ($2.50), got the rookie filly to the front at the quarter, and kept her to task through a 2:01.1 maiden victory by 5-1/4 lengths for trainer Paul Langille and owners Debbie Francis of Sweets Corner, N.S., Phonsie MacEachern of Port Hood, N.S., Wayne MacRae of Fall River, N.S., and Karen WIlliams of Hants County, N.S. Spinelli (Langille) was second, followed by Palmetto Rose (Ken Murphy).

The reinsman secured the achievement with more than a month to spare after he missed it by $1,299 last year. Campbell, dubbed the "King of Island Harness Racing," has won 3,529 races in 15,680 starts in the sulky since his debut in 2004 and is less than $200,000 away from $10 million in earnings. He is a three-time Gold Cup and Saucer champion and has won the driving title for 15 straight seasons at Charlottetown. And he is now the first driver to put up seven digits in earnings in a season in Atlantic Canada.

Little Louis ($2.10) starred in Home Hardware Maritime Breeders Stakes action as he extended his winning streak to 10 in the $19,500 two-year-old colt trot division in Race 7. Corey MacPherson sent the Kuri White pupil to the engine in the first quarter of :30.2, and the gelding did the rest. He cut out 1:00.2 and 1:31.2 middle splits, opening up by 4-3/4 lengths at three-quarters, and he stopped the clock in 2:01.2 to outlast a flying West River Karuna (Clare MacDonald) by a half-length, with Hoponarocket (Mike McGuigan) third. 

Little Louis, a homebred for East Coast Captains of Cornwall, P.E.I., is 10-for-11 with $80,959 in earnings. The son of E L Rocket-Go With Her has won 10 straight stakes races, including his Atlantic Breeders Crown.

Dusty Lane Kahlua ($5.20) sprinted up the pylons in the stretch to capture the $18,000 three-year-old filly trot split by a half-length in 2:01 over pacesetter Supreme Rockette (McGuigan). Majian Mystery (Jim Ripley) was third in the three-horse race. Adam Merner mapped out the winning trip behind the daughter of E L Rocket-Kims Pjs for trainer Lenny Myers and owners Garry MacDonald of Dundas, Ont. and Ronnie Gass of Cornwall. Dusty Lane Kahlua is now three-for-25 lifetime.

Dusty Lane Margo ($21) sprung the upset in the $19,500 two-year-old filly trot division in Race 4. Jason Hughes had the Ashley Gamester trainee sitting fourth to three-quarters before the daughter of E L Rocket-Muscle Mannequin kicked home in :29.3 at the inside and edged out Emberlees Rocket (Campbell) by a quarter-length in 2:03. Roseys El Girl (Ken Murphy) was third. MacRae owns the winner, who took her second win in 11 starts.

West River Jet ($2.10) put the exclamation point on the stakes action in the $18,000 division for three-year-old trotting males in Race 10 with a 15-length victory. He blasted to the lead for driver Ken MacDonald and extended his advantage throughout the second lap, stopping the timer in 1:58.2 for trainer Clare MacDonald and owner Haley MacDonald of Stratford P.E.I. Marcus Down Ridge (Clare MacDonald) finished second, and Dusty Lane Gus (Merner) was third. The winning son of E L Rocket-Kaddys Angel, who became a two-time Atlantic champion on Oct. 12, is now 13-for-22 lifetime.

Buckhead Ridge ($2.40) bounced back from a break in his last start with a front-end victory in the $4,200 Open Handicap Trot. Marc Campbell hustled the gelding to the lead in an overland march through the first quarter, urged him clear of the marauding Fight Song (Hughes) nearing the final turn, and got him home to a 1:58.4 victory by 1-3/4 lengths. Fight Song, the Island's fastest ever trotter, was second, three lengths in front of Rocket Blast (MacPherson). Landon Campbell trains Buckhead Ridge, a five-year-old son of Nuncio-Tuonela, for Brady Doyle of Stratford. The gelding's victory was his 21st in 58 lifetime outings.

Gamester, Landon Campbell, and Jenn Doyle all scored training doubles on the 14-race card, while driver Ken Murphy bagged four wins.

Live racing continues on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at Red Shores Charlottetown.

To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.

(With files from Red Shores)