Two young women with deep roots in the harness racing industry and aspirations of careers in veterinary medicine have been named the 2026 recipients of the Kent Oakes Memorial Bursary, presented by Red Shores and the Prince Edward Island Harness Racing Industry Association (PEIHRIA).

Shayna Toll of New Haven, P.E.I. and Karleigh Ward of Charlottetown, P.E.I. were selected as this year's recipients of the bursary, which honours the memory of Kent Oakes and supports young people involved in harness racing as they pursue post-secondary education.

Oakes, a winner of the Cam Fella Award and member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall Of Fame, was a familiar face throughout the Island's harness racing community and was known for his willingness to lend a helping hand. Whether assisting around the barn, helping on race nights or offering advice and encouragement, he had a deep love for his family, friends and the sport of harness racing.

The bursary was established to carry on that legacy of generosity while investing in the next generation of the industry with each recipient receiving $7,500 this year.

Toll is currently in her first year of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown.

A lifelong participant in harness racing, Toll spent three years working as a groom for Julie Walker Stables before relocating to Prince Edward Island two years ago. Since moving to the Island, she has operated a small stable of her own, training and managing Standardbreds competing at Red Shores Charlottetown and Summerside. Toll has also worked as a race-night groom and remains involved in the industry as an owner and breeder. She recently stepped away from training to focus on her veterinary studies but hopes to return to managing a racing stable later in her education.

Her long-term goal is to use her veterinary training to improve equine health and welfare within harness racing, with an emphasis on preventative medicine, early recognition of health concerns and the well-being of Standardbreds throughout their racing careers and into retirement.

Ward, meanwhile, is continuing a family tradition that spans three generations in the harness racing industry. The Charlottetown resident is a dedicated Standardbred owner who has spent much of her life around the racetrack and barn. Her involvement includes the daily care, feeding, grooming and training routines of her horses, along with helping on race nights.

Ward is currently in her first year of a biology degree with plans to pursue veterinary medicine. She also volunteers with a veterinarian to gain practical experience and further develop her understanding of equine health.

Her ambition is to build a career working with horses in sport, combining her lifelong experience in harness racing with veterinary education to advocate for responsible horse care, injury prevention and the quality of life of equine athletes.

Both recipients share a commitment to improving the future of Standardbred racing through education, hands-on experience and a strong focus on animal welfare. The selection of Toll and Ward is particularly fitting given their shared ambition to become veterinarians and dedicate their professional lives to the horses that are central to the harness racing industry.

The Kent Oakes Memorial Bursary recognizes the importance of supporting young people who are committed to remaining involved in the sport while furthering their education. Through the continued support of Red Shores and the PEIHRIA, the bursary ensures Oakes' memory and his spirit of helping others will continue to have a positive impact on the harness racing community for years to come.

(Red Shores)