Part Shark's Owners Say Thanks

After finishing second in the Gold Cup & Saucer with Secret Weapon in 2009, Jim Lehman was floored by the Island hospitality offered to him by PEI's harness racing community

. When he was fortunate enough to come back to the race this year, he thought there was no way the experience would surpass his previous visit.

Turns out Lehman was wrong. And pleasantly surprised.

"We were down last year with Secret Weapon, the people down there just treated you phenomenal," Lehman told Trot Insider. "We said it will never be as good as last year, and turned out 10 times better than last year. The people of PEI live horse racing down there."

Lehman's Secret Weapon Stables were so appreciative of their experience, they took out an ad in Charlottetown's Guardian newspaper last Saturday to thank everyone involved with their Old Home Week trip.

"When those horses come out in the lights, it sends a tingle down your spine. We did this to thank PEI and to thank everyone for their
hospitality."

Lehman is still amazed at the crowd in attendance at Red Shores Charlottetown for the Gold Cup & Saucer.

"I was in the dining room, I looked down onto the tarmac - it was full, you couldn't move. We needed bodyguards to get us down from the dining room to get to the winner's circle."

"For the connections to take out the ad it's just a great gesture on their part," said Red Shores Racing Experience Manager Brett Revington. "It shows everyone that their efforts don't go unnoticed and everyone Saturday seemed to have an extra jump in their step after seeing the thank you.

"It's recognition such as this that makes this event so rewarding. We definitely want to build upon this momentum not only for old home week but year round as well."

Revington is still in his first year with Red Shores and, even after working for Woodbine Entertainment Group and Western Fair, states he has never been a part of something like Gold Cup & Saucer night.

"The whole week was great, you could feel each day building with excitement and there was a buzz in the air. The final night was something I've never be a part or witnessed with over 10,000 people on site. The race lived up to its billing and to set a track record capped everything off right."