AUTHORITY: Rules of the Atlantic Provinces Harness Racing Commission (APHRC) and Standardbred Canada (SC) apply.
TO BE RACED AT: Prince Edward Island pari-mutual tracks after August 15th of the 2 and 3-year-old year.
FORMAT: Two legs for each of 2-year-old and 3-year-old pacing colts. Typically, Charlottetown Driving Park and Summerside Raceway will each host one leg of each division.
BREEDERS AWARD: as determined by the sponsor, shall be paid to two- and three-year old colts
whose certificate of registration indicates place of foaling to be Prince Edward Island and whose
dam resided on PEI for at least 183 days of the foaling year. (Residency requirement to be
verified by signed affidavit submitted to PEIHRIA preferably before December 1st of the foaling
year). These awards shall be paid by the PEI Harness Racing Industry Association subject to
funding made available from Government programs in support of the Island breeding industry.
QUALIFICATION: All declared entries must have met and continue to meet qualifying standards as set forth by the
Atlantic Standardbred Breeders Association or as amended by the participating racetrack with the
approval of the PEI Harness Racing Industry Association.
FUNDING: $180,000 Added ($90,000 at both 2 and 3). Host tracks add $1500 per Gold division and $1000 per
Grassroots division.
CONDITION CHANGES: The thresholds for the Joe O’Brien Stake for pacing colts have been changed to the following:
Events will be raced in Gold and Grassroots formats. If, at the time of declaration, the entry has
earned less than $10,000 lifetime for 2-year-olds and less than $20,000 lifetime for 3-year-olds
the entry may, at the owners’ discretion, compete in a Grassroots division. All other entries will
compete in a Gold division.
GENERAL CONDITIONS:
1.APHRC assumes no liability for purses, injury, damages, or loss to participants in this event.
2. For this program, PEI foaled shall be defined as: A foal whose place of birth on the applicable
Standardbred Canada/USTA registration certificate is indicated to be Prince Edward Island.
3. Each event is to be contested at one mile (1609 m).
4. Purse distribution for five or more finishers is 45%,25%, 15%, 10% and 5%; four finishers is
50%, 25%, 15% and 10%; three finishers 50%, 30% and 20%; two finishers 60% and 40%, and
one finisher is 100%.
5. All nominating, sustaining, and starting fees shall be added to the purses with no deduction
for clerical or managerial work, advertising, or publicity.
6. Events will be raced in Gold and Grassroots formats. If, at the time of declaration, the entry has
earned less than $10,000 lifetime for 2-year-olds and less than $20,000 lifetime for 3-year-olds
the entry may, at the owners’ discretion, compete in a Grassroots division. All other entries will
compete in a Gold division.
7. If more horses declare to start than are permitted in one dash on the track where the race is to
take place, the event shall be split into divisions with entries determined by Standardbred Canada
electronic draw. No division shall consist of more than eight entries. If two or more divisions are
required, the host track shall add the regular portion to each division.
8. Any entry changing gait after the sustaining fee(s) have been made will be transferred to the
new gait adopted, providing such request is in writing. The starting fees for the said entry shall be
applied to the new gait.
9. The PEI Harness Racing Industry Association, within its sole discretion, may from
time to time amend the terms, conditions, and/or to the purse structure of the Joe O’Brien
Memorial Stake of any kind whatsoever, including added money, as well as nomination and
sustaining payments and starting fees with the approval of the APHRC and proper notice given to
the industry, and the nominator agrees to be bound by such changes.
10. Should conditions beyond the control of the PEIHRIA prevent the racing of any event, the
PEIHRIA reserves the right to declare off any event and redistribute the money to those horses
currently eligible, or to transfer the event to another date, or to another track, or to do both.
11. Standardbred Canada and the PEIHRIA assume no responsibility for nominations or
payments made by mail which are not received. Sending payments by Registered Mail is
recommended. All payments must be post-marked no later than the said due date.
12. If an explicit interpretation of these conditions might not be acceptable to all parties, the
PEIHRIA Board of Directors reserves the right to interpret these conditions in an implicit manner
in accordance with the goals and objectives of the organization as may be established and
amended from time to time with the approval of the APHRC and proper notice given to the
industry.
