The 2026 live harness racing season at Truro Raceway begins this Friday evening, May 22 with post time for the opener set for 6:30 p.m. (ADT).
Truro Raceway's meet includes 18 race days on various Friday evenings (6:30 p.m. ADT post) and Sunday afternoons (1 p.m. ADT post) through Nov. 8. To view the complete racing schedule, click here.
The season will feature multiple stakes events, beginning with the Donnie & George Turner Memorial for three-year-old pacing colts and fillies on June 12. The Nova Scotia half-mile track will host multiple legs of the Atlantic Sires Stakes (July 3, July 5, July 24) and Phil Pinkney Memorial (Oct. 11, Oct. 25) in addition to the Frank & Beth Stanfield Memorial for three-year-old pacing fillies on July 5 during Atlantic Grand Circuit Week and the Carl & Marg Mackenzie Memorial for three-year-old pacing colts and fillies on Oct. 11.
The Opening Day feature will cap off a seven-race program with a field of seven top pacers facing off in the $2,500 Winners Over, headlined by Bettor On Than Off, the 2025 Truro Harness Horse Owners Association's Horse of the Year. Trained and owned by Danny Romo, the seven-year-old Bettors Delight-Lights Go Out gelding defeated the top pacers at Truro eight times last year and hit the board in a total of two-thirds of his 24 starts. He has drawn the inside post for his season's debut with Ernie Laffin in the sulky.
Friday's featured field includes some of Bettor On Than Off's familiar foes from last year, the Trevin Shive-trained Bronx Drifter (post two), Like A Glove (post four) from the Marc Whebby stable and Darren Crowe trainee Nova Scotia Strong (post seven), who has most recently been racing in Ontario and will look to pick up where he left off in his Truro return after winning the 2025 meet's final edition of the Winners Over.
Truro Raceway's perennial leading trainer George Rennison will send out four starters from his stable during Friday's card while Keith Legge, who clinched his first Truro driving title in 2025, will launch his title defense with four drives.
Fans can once again enjoy on-site food and beverage services throughout the facility. Longtime restaurant operator Ron Roode returns to manage the popular Top Of The Turn Restaurant on the upper level of the grandstand, featuring daily race-day specials and racetrack favourites. On the lower level, fans will find Jim’s Corner, named in honour of longtime horseman Jim Chambers. The quick-service venue will offer convenient food options for enjoying an evening at the races.
Returning to the wagering menu this season is Truro Raceway’s popular Pick 5 wager, featuring the lowest Pick 5 takeout in Canada at just 12 per cent. The Pick 5 begins in race one each race card.
Also returning for 2026 is the free-to-play Truro Survivor Contest, where one winner each week will receive a $100 HPIbet deposit. Fans can enter online once race programs are posted on Truro Raceway's website at truroraceway.ca.
Truro Raceway Limited representative Corey Pickrem commented on the many changes and preparations that have taken place at the Bible Hill, N.S. oval over the past several months.
“There’s been a tremendous amount of change on the NSPE [Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition] grounds where Truro Raceway operates,” said Pickrem. “Following the departure of the Central Nova Scotia Civic Centre Society, our staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly over the past several weeks and months to ensure we are ready for opening day. We are extremely proud of the work this team has put in and excited to showcase our product to fans both on and off the track this season.”
Truro Raceway extends its sincere thanks to longtime track photographer Blaise Duff for his years of dedicated service to the industry. As Duff moves on from the role, the raceway is pleased to welcome Shelby Ryan as the new track photographer and Brand Ambassador for the 2026 season.
Returning to the announcer’s booth for his remarkable 41st season is veteran race caller Joe Kelly, whose voice has become synonymous with harness racing in Truro. Joining Kelly on the track's media team this season are Rocky Schurman and Kurt Hughes, both familiar faces to Maritime racing fans through the Red Shores Race Day broadcast.
Truro Raceway also acknowledges the tremendous support it receives from the local and regional business community. Fans are encouraged to check out the track's backstretch signage, race-day program and live broadcasts to learn more about the businesses that support harness racing in Truro and throughout the Maritimes. Fans unable to attend live can follow the action online through hpibet.com or truroraceway.ca.
Established in 1875, Truro Raceway proudly stands as one of the longest continuously operating harness racing tracks in North America, carrying forward a rich tradition of Maritime racing excellence for more than 150 years.
To view Friday's harness racing entries, click the following links: Truro Raceway - Friday Entries // Program Pages (courtesy of TrackIT)
(Standardbred Canada & Truro Raceway)