The first ever Harness the Hope PEI is set to kick off Saturday (July 27) at Red Shores Charlottetown with proceeds directed to the Canadian Cancer Society in support of breast cancer.
Harness the Hope originally began 13 years ago with the Dustin family in London, Ont. at Western Fair and has now made its way to the east coast. Led by Samantha Gallant, the event at Red Shores has been assembled by a local committee to help raise awareness and funds that will stay on the Island.
Fundraising initiatives include the Winning Key Contest with five grand prizes, combined value of over $5,000. Keys that unlock prize boxes can be purchased for $20. If a key unlocks a box, the winner gets the prize inside. There is also a large penny auction, silent auction, apparel, accessories, baked goods and more. Twelve sponsored race presentations will take place with each winning horse and connections to receive a commemorative blanket. The evening will feature many special trackside presentations and even the Bouncy Pony stakes featuring harness racing drivers riding inflatable ponies after the third race.
RollwithitHarry Racing has also become an integral part of fundraising for this event. The team at Woodmere Farm is giving the opportunity to become an honourary racehorse owner for a season by purchasing a share of racehorse and stallion RollwithitHarry for $60, with 100 percent of shares being donated to Harness the Hope PEI. Shareholders get exclusive access and privileges during the season. Shares can be purchased on race night until the sixth race. If you’d like to support from afar, you can send an e-transfer to [email protected] to become a shareholder.
For those interested in attending or supporting this event, please visit the Harness the Hope PEI Facebook page. Donations can also be made directly online by visiting the Harness The Hope page on Red Shores' website.
A cagey veteran will take on a pair of four-year-olds fresh off the biggest trips of their lives in the Preferred Pace for the on-track feature on Harness The Hope night.
Slated as the thirteenth race, the $3,100 Preferred is presented by McWade Racing and Bayfield Street Alumni. Euchred is pegged as the morning line favourite from post three with David Dowling back in the bike for owner Kayla Habicht Walker of Inverness, N.S. The seven-year-old son of Shadow Play has hit the board in his last four outings since his last win on June 15, but will be looking for the top spot once again in Saturday’s contest. Half Cut has rail control as the four-year-old son of Stonebridge Terror was just a third-place finisher Saturday evening in the Lindsay Construction Cup Invitational at Truro Raceway in Nova Scotia, pacing his own mile in 1:52.4 for driver Mark Bradley and trainer Tom Weatherbie.
Sock It Away was superb his last start in the Preferred Pace at Red Shores Charlottetown but has post seven to contend with for driver Marc Campbell and trainer Kevin MacLean. The four-year-old son of Pang Shui was never better than he was that night as he took a new record of 1:53.2.
Race analyst Les MacIsaac agrees with the morning line analysis and will side with Euchred to land on top of the ticket.
“Euchred hasn't been able to set up shop on the front end in recent starts and that's greatly contributed to four straight races without a win, an eternity for this guy,” MacIsaac said. “He has a much better chance of getting there [Saturday night] from this favourable post and if so, it could be all over.”
Also in the field is Screen Test (Corey MacPherson), Bugsy Maguire (Adam Merner), Czar Seelster (Kenny Arsenault) and Burn Out Hanover (Dale Spence) and Rollwithitharry (Gilles Barrieau). The Rollwithitharry racing team will also present a cheque in honor of Harness The Hope after ownership shares were sold on the stallion to raise money for the fundraiser.
A field of five female drivers, dressed in pink, will compete with five female horses to kick off Harness The Hope night in the first race. The top female driver in Eastern Canadian harness racing, Clare MacDonald, has the rail with Scoot Out Of Here, while Charlottetown’s Ambyr Campbell leaves from post two with HP Rubis Joyce. Avid Yankee has post three with Ontario catch-driver Natasha Day flying in for the night, and Nova Scotia’s Tammy MacKay drives Cougar Gal from post four. Completing the field is Marie Brooking of Ontario driving Bugtown Superstar from post five.
Driver Gilles Barrieau will be special guest on the Inside Track with host Lee Drake. The interview segment will air at 5:35 p.m. on the Red Shores broadcast.
For live programs, and further details go to Redshores.ca. To view entries for Saturday's card, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Red Shores Charlottetown.
(with files from Harness The Hope and Red Shores)