Canadian Harness Racing Returns

Published: June 5, 2020 02:29 pm EDT

After pausing due to the coronavirus pandemic, the first Canadian Standardbred track returned to action on Thursday (June 4) in Prince Edward Island and the on-track activity ramps up in a big way this weekend.

A total of 11 tracks will be in action across four provinces from Friday through to Sunday. Here's a look at what's on tap for Canadian harness racing this weekend.

SUNDAY, JUNE 7

Dresden Raceway in Dresden, Ont. kicks off its race season with a 1:00 p.m. (EST) post time and a ten-race card. The co-features on the card are a pair of $4,800 pacing events in the eighth and tenth races.

Important Links: Entries - Live Video

Rideau Carleton Raceway in Ottawa, Ont. will host its first card of racing since the COVID-19 shutdown with a 10-race card that starts at 6:30 p.m. (EST). Seeyou Men (PP1, Guy Gagnon) gets the nod as the 2-1 choice in the $9,200 Mot Listed Preferred Trot, while National Debt (PP8, Pascal Berube) is the morning line choice in the co-featured $9,200 Not Listed Preferred Handicap Pace.

Important Links: Entries - Live Video

Georgian Downs hosts its second card of racing since harness racing's shut down with an eight-race card that kicks off at 6:00 p.m. The card features a pair of $11,500 Preferred 2 events to close out the action, with What A Rush (PP3, Brett MacDonald) the 2-1 favourite in the Preferred 2 Trot and Born Of Fire (PP3, Jonathan Drury) the 2-1 choice in the Preferred 2 Pace.

Important Links: Entries - Live Video

RECAPS FROM SATURDAY, JUNE 6

Charlottetown Driving Park: Despite interference and moving three-wide at the halfway point, Screen Test had more than the field could handle when taking the $3,000 Preferred Pace at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park on Saturday (June 6)....read on

Exhibition Park Raceway: It took more than some moisture from Mother Nature to dampen the spirits of the harness racing community in New Brunswick as live racing returned to Exhibition Park Raceway in Saint John, N.B. on Saturday (June 6)....read on

Georgian Downs: Trainer-driver Shawn Steacy sent Hello Love to the front and faced little challenge when taking the $10,500 Fillies and Mares Preferred 2 Pace, the featured event on the eight-race card opening the Georgian Downs meet Saturday (June 6)....read on

Hanover Raceway: Hanover Raceway entered the 2020 harness racing season with a shift to an afternoon post time in hopes that the half-miler could gain some additional exposure in a less crowded time slot. The results show that customers were most certainly more aware....read on

Hiawatha Horse Park; Off at odds of 18-1, Beauty Is Blind popped pocket to light the board bright in the first evening back racing at Hiawatha Horse Park Saturday (June 6)....read on

Kawartha Downs: Driver Reg Gassien, last season's leading driver, steered the winners of the first and last races of the 10-race welcome back card at Kawartha Downs on Saturday (June 6)....read on

Woodbine Mohawk Park: Evenwood Sonofagun, in red-hot form when racing suspended, resumed from where he left off and turned in the performance of the weekend with a stunning 1:49.2 victory in the $36,000 Preferred Pace at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday (June 6)....read on

RECAPS FROM FRIDAY, JUNE 5

Truro Raceway: Veteran East Coast pacer Distinctiv Rusty picked up where he left off last year, winning his season’s debut on Opening Day of Truro Raceway’s 2020 harness racing meet....read on

Grand River Raceway: While the fans weren't in the stands, Grand River Raceway kicked off its 2020 season with a 10-race card on Friday evening (June 5) in Elora, Ont.....read on

Woodbine Mohawk Park: A spectator-free Woodbine Mohawk Park played host to its first card of live racing in 78 days on Friday evening (June 5)....read on

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