As the status of this summer’s Old Home Week has been the topic of a local media report, Trot Insider has been in contact with Red Shores/Atlantic Lottery Corporation. The organization has stated that live harness racing at the Charlottetown Driving Park and both the World Driving Championships and World Trotting Conference will not be affected, regardless of the outcome.
According to an article by the CBC, on Wednesday, April 26, the PEI Provincial Exhibition Board voted on a motion to suspend the 2017 edition of Old Home Week. The exhibition presented its position to its partners today (Thursday, April 27). The exhibition’s partners include Red Shores, the Eastlink Centre, and the Prince Edward Island Harness Racing Industry Association.
Red Shores/Atlantic Lottery told Trot Insider that, “There has been some media reports concerning the future of the Old Home Week event on Prince Edward Island. The partner groups involved have received communication from the Provincial Exhibition Board regarding their decisions to suspend their portion of the 2017 event. We are working to understand the concerns and remain supportive of the Old Home Week event.
“Regardless of the outcome, Red Shores would like to assure our patrons that a full slate of racing will occur at Red Shores from August 10-19, 2017. This includes welcoming the world to Prince Edward Island for the World Driving Championships and World Trotting Conference.”
In one of the local reports, PEI Provincial Exhibition President Strothard Rodd said, "Old Home Week has been around for 129 years. I've been a director of Old Home Week for about 20-some years." He later added, "My heart is in Old Home Week.”
(With files from the CBC and Red Shores/Atlantic Lottery Corporation)