The organizers of the inaugural Gamester-Pinkney Cup have announced that the event has received tremendous support from young drivers throughout the Maritime region.
Any driver 30 years or younger with less than 100 wins that wished to participate was asked to submit their names and 12 aspiring driving stars applied. Organizers have decided to accept all entries and split the competitors into two groups of six.
The July 12 date during Governor’s Plate Week racing at Red Shores Summerside in Summerside, P.E.I., will see Team Gamester comprised of Taylor Doyle, Damian MacLellan, Brady Sweet, Jaycob Sweet, Zach Conway and Kyle Mason compete in two six-horse races. The top driver of that competition will be awarded the Byron Gamester Memorial Trophy while the top three drivers will advance to a newly minted final that will be held August 16 during Old Home Week at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Dunsan Farms of Warren Grove, P.E.I. will cover the cost of a new summer driving suit for the winner of the Gamester Cup leg.
“There was no finer gentleman in Island harness racing than Byron Gamester,” said Nicholas Oakes of Dunsan Farms. “He was a huge supporter of the matinee program and helping aspiring drivers accomplish their goals of getting behind the starting gate. I can only imagine how pleased he would be to see such a strong turnout for an event being held in his honour.”
Truro Raceway in Bible Hill, N.S., will host the second leg on July 19 during Grand Circuit Week racing featuring Team Pinkney comprised of Brett Leblanc, Kyle Gillis, Luke Armstrong, Zach Mullins, Leander Beaton and Ryder Matthews-Rennison with the top three advancing to the Old Home Week final. The winner of that leg will be presented with the Phil Pinkney Memorial Trophy and will receive a new helmet courtesy of the Ben Hollingsworth Stable of Ontario that will be painted free of charge by Leblanc Designs of Truro, N.S.
“Phil would never admit it, but he’d be proud,” Hollingsworth said of the incredible turnout for the competition. “He was always the first one to help anyone young. Even here in Ontario people come up and tell me stories of them growing up down home and Phil helping them out. Lots of people learned in Phil’s barn and it’s only appropriate there’s something to help push the next generation forward.”
The winner of the Old Home Week final will be awarded the Andrew Family Memorial driving trophy and will receive a complimentary race bike powder coating from Wicked Powder Coating in Miscouche, P.E.I.
Organizers would like to thank the generous support of sponsors Meridian Farms of Calgary, Alta., Peter Francis Insurance Services and Red Shores along with the co-operation of the P.E.I. Harness Racing Industry Association and the Nova Scotia Harness Racing Industry Association.
(PEI Harness Racing Industry Association & Nova Scotia Harness Racing Industry Association)