CDPEC Hosts Driving Championship on Saturday
Harness Racing PEI Sports
By Lee Drake
Charlottetown, PE – The Charlottetown Driving Park Entertainment Centre will host the annual driver’s championship during Horsemen and Horsewomen’s day on Saturday. Post time is 1pm. The special day is presented by the PEI Standardbred Horse Owners Association. Customers can expect prize giveaways, promotions and an eight race competition featuring eight of the top drivers in the leading dash winners and top percentage categories. The driving park will hold a special trackside ceremony after race 6 in honor of the late Paul MacDonald. The harness racing driver died after last week’s race program.
The drivers suiting up in the competition include season leaders Kenny Arsenault, Marc Campbell, Gary Chappell and Jason Hughes. Terry Gallant and Joey Pineau represent the top percentage category with over 75 drives while Harold Sheppard and Steven Murphy round out field as top percentage with over 40 and less that 76 drives. The winner will receive the E.F. Acorn Memorial Championship trophy. All drivers in the series will donate their winnings to the Kurt Hughes. The Island driver remains in a Toronto hospital with serious spinal cord injuries.
The afternoon feature, presented by Hollylaine Island Farms, has a powerful field of contenders. Yankee Sun, who won last week’s event, has drawn the rail for the BM Stable, Grande-Dique, NB. Les MacIsaac, host of racing tips in the race program, is going with rail horse as his top choice. “He looked like he might have to pay the price for getting parked to that quick opening quarter last week but he showed the class of a 39 time winner by fighting every step of the way for the win,” said MacIsaac. “The spot on the pylons should eliminate any chance of a park job and since he remains at the same level we won’t rule out a repeat.”
The $1,900 class also includes Tanks A lot (Marc Campbell), Classie Albert ( Harold Sheppard), Edgewater RB (Jason Hughes), Rustleinthevines (Ken Murphy), KG Affair (Terry Gallant), Buck Barker (Brian MacPhee), Rebelryan (Gary Chappell)