Harness racing in Summerside, P.E.I. will celebrate 150 years of live competition as Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway opens for the 2026 season with a special Victoria Day program on Monday afternoon, May 18.
The Prince County oval has a 12:30 p.m. (ADT) opening post time for the Monday card with the top class hitting the track in race 10 of the 11-dash presentation.
The original home of harness racing in Summerside, the Summerside Trotting Park situated in Travellers Rest, P.E.I., held its first races 150 years ago in 1876 before action began its current home of the Summerside Raceway in 1886.
With 150 years of history in the rearview mirror, the afternoon opener has Marc It Up with rail control as the 5-2 morning line favourite for trainer/driver Jaycob Sweet and owners Blair MacLauchlan and Jeff Lilley of Charlottetown and Marc Gallant of Summerside, P.E.I. The four-year-old son of Sunshine Beach-On The Minute Mark will look for his first win of the 2026 campaign. His main rivals are pegged as Millenium Seelster (Nick Oakes) and Woodmere Chella (Dana Sweet).
In top class action, season-debuting Doc Awesome receives top billing in the $5,500 feature event from post three for local connections, trainer Darla MacEachern, who co-owns with Allen Gaudet and Mike Cameron. David Dowling will drive the six-year-old All Bets Off-Direct Macawesome gelding, who won his qualifier this past Monday, collaring rival Sauble Attack at the wire.
The Paul Biggar-trained Sauble Attack is always a top contender when he races at Red Shores Summerside and will hold down post four with Ken Murphy listed to drive the eight-year-old Bettors Delight-Ambrosia Seelster gelding in his return to action.
Louie The Great (Corey MacPherson) from the Les Waite barn gets post one after a win in 1:55.4 in his latest start at Red Shores Charlottetown. Other entries include Bentley (Paul Langille), Tony Too Tall (Brady Sweet) and Howmac Charmer (Ryan Desroche).
The "Backstretch Beat" has selected Doc Awesome to deliver in his seasonal debut: “Doc Awesome lived up to his name in 2025, especially later in the season, where he racked up a string of second-place finishes to give him 12 on the campaign. He had a solid final panel [of :28.2] in his qualifier and from post three we’ll treat him as the one to knock off.”
Play at home at hpibet.com or take in all the action live at the track. For race programs, live video and more, go to redshores.ca.
To view Monday's harness racing entries, click the following links: Monday Entries - Summerside Raceway // Program Pages (courtesy TrackIT).
(With files from Red Shores)