It’s going to be a big night on Wednesday, October 6 at Red Shores Summerside Raceway. That is when the Prince County Horsemen’s Club will recognize its founding member, Eric Johnston, who will be celebrating his 80th birthday with a full evening of trackside presentations in honour of horses he has owned over the years.
The feature race is named for Johnston’s former recorder holder Exclusives in Race 13. The evening’s first race is named after Poppa Long, the first horse Johnston ever owned. The card, scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m., will stage two more legs of the Red Shores Fall Classic Series, presented by Howmac Farms Ltd.
The Exclusives Pace has attracted some heavy hitters. Barrett Jackson, owned by Edwin Moase of Little York and driven by Kenny Arsenault, will square off against Rich Raider and Mark Bradley for owner Tyler Deroches of Summerside. Rymar Chief, Timeless Hanover, Rebel Ryan, Victory Creed, Gauloise Duharas and Pictonian Pasadena will round out the field.
Pan Cushion has been established as the morning line favourite in the Eric Johnston Appreciation Night Pace, which has been cared as Race 14. Paphos and Louie Fernandez will also be gunning for top spot.
Johnston, who has been with the club since the Prince County Horsemen’s Club was founded back in March 16, 1961, will be trackside for the cooler presentation.
Click here to view the entries.
(With files from Red Shores)
Happy Birthday,
Happy Birthday,
Congratulations on your night. Thank you for my first Grand Circuit win with After The Fact at Roosevelt Raceway in 1980, I hope this birthday was as much fun as that special night was for both of us.
Bill O'Donnell
I think that Eric Johnston
I think that Eric Johnston is extremely worthy of this honour. I've always known him to be the number one promoter of harness racing in PEI, particularly Summerside and even more particularly, Matinee racing on the island.