Post positions have been drawn for Trials 1 and 2 of The Guardian Gold Cup & Saucer. The $12,500 trials will be contested this coming Saturday (Aug. 11) and Monday (Aug. 13), respectively, at Red Shores’ Charlottetown Driving Park.
The draw for the 59 edition of the stakes event took place Tuesday morning (Aug. 7) during a press conference at the Charlottetown Driving Park. The Gold Cup & Saucer is an open for pacers aged three years old and upward.
The $20,000 consolation will be raced next Friday (Aug. 17), while the $60,000 final will be the centrepiece of the CDP’s Saturday, August 18 program of live racing.
The Gold Cup & Saucer has attracted 14 entrants, and thus each trial will house a field of seven.
Trial 1 (Saturday, August 11)
(Post – Horse)
1 – Paparazzi Hanover
2 – Fool Me Once
3 – Somewhere Fancy
4 – Rockin In Heaven
5 – Father Of The Year
6 – Rose Run Quest
7 – Jackson K Down
Trial 2 (Monday, August 13)
(Post – Horse)
1 – Always N The Money
2 – Bet On Brett
3 – Lincoln James
4 – ASAP Hanover
5 – Newbie
6 – In Spades
7 – Czar Seelster
Red Shores has also announced that new this year — in recognition of the outstanding contribution to the Gold Cup & Saucer by the late Mike MacDonald – the winning driver of The Guardian Gold Cup and Saucer will be presented with the first Mike MacDonald Memorial Trophy. For more on MacDonald’s passing, click here.
The action will get underway this Thursday (August 9) with nine days of racing and 13 race programs leading up to the greatest show in harness racing on August 18.
The 2018 edition of Old Home Week will feature several new events to celebrate the past and highlight the future in regional harness racing.
Sobeys will sponsor two new special Old Home Week races, kicking off on Saturday, August 11 with the Sobeys Invitational, and culminating on August 18 with the Atlantic Canada Invitational, presented by Sobeys.
Anthony and Amy MacDonald – co-founders of The Stable (thestable.ca), a fractional ownership endeavour, will be teaming for a special promotion with their Guardian Gold Cup & Saucer starter, Lincoln James.
The Stable will offer 15 shares on their Gold Cup starter. Investors can head to thestable.ca and click on the Lincoln James promotion banner to be entered to win their chance to purchase a share. Each share can be purchased for $901 dollars (CDN). The 15 investors will be drawn by Tuesday and must purchase their share prior to the official draw of the race Tuesday August 14th. Head to thestable.ca for details.
On Wednesday, August 15, Red Shores will celebrate the race and breeding career of the sensational Somebeachsomewhere. During the race card, trophies, photos and other ‘Beach’ memorabilia will be on display for all race fans to enjoy, courtesy of co-owner Reg Pettipas and his wife, Louise. In addition, select race videos from Somebeachsomewhere’s record breaking performances will be broadcast. Post time will be at 7 p.m.
In 2018, PEI Harness Racing will recognize the history and horsepeople associated with Moncton, New Brunswick. On Thursday, August 16 from 4 to 6 p.m., a Moncton reunion will be held in the EastLink trade centre just off of the Red Shores main lobby. That will be followed by a very special event, ‘The Monctonian Pace,’ sponsored by the horse owners of the Moncton area, City of Moncton, David Lund and family, Dr. M.L. Patriquin and Moncton Standardbred Racing Association.
Throughout its nearly six decades of activity – and name changes from Moncton Raceway to Brunswick Downs and then Champlain Raceway – the Moncton track was known for record setting performances and the highest special event purses in the region. All those associated with the Moncton track over the years are invited to attend the reunion, bring along any materials they may wish to share, and celebrate memories.
In recognition of the outstanding contribution to the Gold Cup and Saucer by the late Mike MacDonald, for 2018 the winning driver in the Guardian Gold Cup and Saucer will be presented with the first Michael MacDonald Memorial Trophy. A five-time winner of the Gold Cup, Mike MacDonald was an annual competitor and major ambassador in the event.
In addition to these presentations and events, this year drivers will be competing for the Francis McIsaac Memorial Trophy, which recognizes the leading driver throughout the Old Home Week programs.
For more information on race dates, post times, promotions and broadcasts, head to www.redshores.ca.
(With files from Red Shores)