Red Shores and the PEI Harness Racing Industry Association are announcing a slate of major events and changes for the 2026 racing season, highlighted by the introduction of a brand-new Old Home Week signature event, adjustments to the Gold Cup & Saucer post parade, and the continued growth of premier stakes and invitational racing on Prince Edward Island.

The 2025-2026 racing meet concluded as the most successful in the history of Red Shores. Total wagering from all sources on live racing at Red Shores Charlottetown and Summerside exceeded $10.2 million for the first time, representing a 14 per cent increase over last year and a 10 per cent jump from the previous record set during the 2023-2024 season.

The season was defined by massive crowd engagement and historic performances on the track. The 2025 Governor’s Plate at Red Shores Summerside set another wagering high, marking the fourth consecutive year of record wagering for the historic event, while the 2025 Old Home Week celebrations at Charlottetown attracted large crowds throughout the week and more than 20,000 fans on Gold Cup & Saucer night.

With a brand-new state-of-the-art video toteboard in the Charlottetown infield, the 2026 racing season will once again feature a strong lineup of major events. The action begins early in the campaign with the Cecil Ladner Memorial Invitational on June 13 at Charlottetown, the first invitational event of the season, showcasing Atlantic Canada’s top pacing stars. That night will also feature the kickoff of the first leg of the Atlantic Aged Pacing Mares Series.

The Atlantic Regional Driving Championship is scheduled for Tuesday, June 23 at Summerside and will mark the conclusion of the regional competitions, with the top two drivers advancing to the National Driving Championship for a chance to represent Canada at the World Driving Championship.

The drivers scheduled to compete in the Atlantic Regional Driving Championship are Gilles Barrieau, Marc Campbell, Mike Downey, Paul Langille, Keith Legge, Corey MacPherson, Zach Mullins and Mark Pezzarello.

The 2026 Governor’s Plate week is slated for July 12-18 at Summerside, culminating in the $50,000 Governor’s Plate Final, presented by Summerside Chrysler Dodge, during a special 5 p.m. supercard at the Prince County oval.

The popular P.E.I. Colt Stakes Graduate Series, presented by the P.E.I. Standardbred Breeders Association in partnership with new sponsor Red Shores, continues to spotlight the region’s rising stars and developing talent. Nominations for the series are due June 9 at the Red Shores race office.

Red Shores and the PEI Harness Racing Industry Association are unveiling a brand-new signature event during Old Home Week celebrations in Charlottetown — The Sapphire, presented by the Fox Group.

The Sapphire will be contested on Aug. 17 during Old Home Week for a $30,000 purse per division. To be eligible for The Sapphire, mares must make a minimum of two starts in Atlantic Canada leading into the event in accordance with conditions for the Atlantic Aged Pacing Mares Series.

Old Home Week will also feature the Birthplace of Confederation event in honour of Wilma MacLure, presented by the City of Charlottetown.

Red Shores is also announcing changes to the traditional Gold Cup & Saucer post parade for 2026, with an emphasis on enhancing safety for both horses and drivers while preserving the prestige and pageantry of one of Canada’s signature harness racing events.

“The safety of the horses and drivers is our number one priority,” said Lee Drake, Red Shores Manager of Racing, Marketing & Sales. “We have heard from many trainers and drivers who feel the horses are out there too long. We feel we can keep all the prestigious components of the signature race and make it safer for the horses and drivers.”

Under the proposed changes, horses and drivers will leave the paddock and walk down the backstretch while the Island Hymn is being sung before entering the racetrack for introductions under the spotlight. Following their individual introductions, horses will have the opportunity to leave the track with their care teams under the supervision of the judges and paddock officials while the remaining starters are introduced.

The field will then return to the track for the traditional score down and warm-up prior to the start of the Gold Cup & Saucer final.

A major event for locally produced talent is set for Sept. 5 with the $16,000 P.E.I. Colt Stakes Graduate Series Gold final for pacing horses and geldings.

The Premier’s Cup will return as one of the marquee events on the summer calendar at Red Shores as the culmination of the P.E.I. Invitational Series, which will have eight events followed by the $50,000 final on Oct. 10. The Atlantic Classic Yearling Sale is set for 11 a.m., on Oct. 9 at the Crapaud Exhibition Grounds in Crapaud, P.E.I.. The sale will be followed by a dazzling Oct. 10 card starting at 5 p.m., featuring the Premier’s Cup, the $16,000 Island Oceans Trot Final, presented by Burkie By The Bay Stables, the $50,000 Standardbred Canada Atlantic Aged Pacing Mares final and $12,000 finals of the P.E.I. Colt Stakes Graduates Series Grassroots divisions.

In conjunction with the 60th anniversary of the Atlantic Standardbred Breeders Association, the Atlantic Breeders Crown Weekend of Champions will be hosted a week earlier this year with consolation races on Oct. 2 and the Atlantic Breeders Crown finals on Oct.3. The Championship weekend will be presented by the P.E.I. Standardbred Horse Owners Association starting in 2026. There will be no racing on Thanksgiving Sunday, Oct. 11 this year.

The Home Hardware Maritime Breeders Stakes, sponsored by Metro Home Building Centre and High Tide Home Hardware Building Centres, hits the track on Oct. 15 with the trotters at Charlottetown and Oct. 17 with the two- and three-year-old pacers.

Additional announcements surrounding the 2026 racing calendar and stakes conditions can be found on Redshores.ca.

(Red Shores)