PEI Matinee Racetrack Development Project

The first matinee race of the season, scheduled for Saturday, May 21st at Prince County Exhibition, has been cancelled due to poor track and weather conditions. It has not been rescheduled at this point.

April 19 Matinee Racetracks Directors’ Meeting

Present: Orville Willis (O’Leary), Clair Sweet (O’Leary), Melvin Gamester (member at large), Jennifer Parsons (member at large), Robert Parsons (member at large), Ed Doucette (Kensington), Lowell Large (Pinette), Raymond White (Pinette), Jay Noye (member at large), Allan Shaw (Alberton), Kent Oakes (Department of Agriculture), Wayne Pike (PEI Harness Racing Industry Association).

Kent Oakes opened the meeting by confirming that, pending the passing of the present budget, the money contributed by the government would remain the same as last year, $15,000 for travel allowance to the matinee tracks and $2,500 administration, at total of $17,500.

Wayne Pike gave a history and summary of the new report on harness racing, a report that shows a thriving harness racing business on the Island and the need for a creation of 8 new committees to continue the forward momentum. The report also complimented the grass roots success of the matinee racetracks and their contribution to the health of provincial racing, a positive attitude towards racing, and their value in attracting youth and family.

Discussion of the Status of 2010 Changes

The travel incentive was discussed at length, with Clair Sweet proposing a change to $25 per horse and $50 for horses shipped 50 kilometres or more. The motion was passed.

A no whipping or no whip rule was established at the 2010 meeting and this rule was discussed, especially the hardship to trainers with young horses. Consensus was to keep the “no whip” rule and enforce it by withholding travel incentive and points. Several additions to the rule, such as drinking before or during the races, kicking and similar actions having the potential to upset spectators were added. It was agreed that a horseman who was racing a young horse for experience and needed to carry a whip would be allowed to race but would not be eligible for points or travel incentive.

The question of unfit horses was brought up and it was decided that a press release should be issued explaining that unfit horses could and would be refused entry by any individual track.

Women’s racing is to be encouraged at O’Leary and Pinette, as well as the two tracks that created special races for women in 2010, Kensington and Tyne Valley.

New Business:
Top Class Horses: The horses in the top class of each Challenge Series were traditionally not eligible for points. Jay Noye requested that they be awarded points and be given their own race at the Finals at Summerside. It was decided that a fourth Final would be created and one horse racing in the Challenge Series from each track would be eligible, according to points, as well as two or more, as neccessary, from horsemen shipping in to race at the Challenge Series.

Jay Noye has volunteered his time to update the Matinee Racetracks website, including entries and results from each track.

A Family Day was suggested for a Matinee Race to be held at Summerside Raceway, which would include an open paddock and rides on the double seater jog carts.

Allan Shaw announced that the racetrack at Alberton was applying for help with improvements to the track and stabling area and was planning to create a West Prince Racing Museum on the site. Because the Prince County Exhibition has gone from four days to three, Alberton has lost a matinee race date and he requested an extra date in May. This date was approved and will be the first Challenge Series date.

Raymond White stated that Pinette Raceway was switching their traditional Wednesday evening racing to Sundays for 2011.

2011 Race Dates

May 21 Alberton 2 p.m.
June 11 O’Leary 2 p.m.
June 19 Pinette 1:30 p.m.
July 9 O’Leary 2 p.m.
July 23 O’Leary 2:30 p.m. Potato Festival
July 30 Alberton 2 p.m. Prince County Exhibiton
August 7 Pinette 1:30 Kilted Pace
August 7 Tyne Valley 12 Noon Oyster Festival
August 21 Pinette 1:30
August 28 Kensington 2 p.m.
September 10 O’Leary 2 p.m. Childrens Wish
September 21 Summerside Finals

A change in the format of the government sponsored Travel Allowance was made at the 2010 Matinee Racetracks Directors Meeting. The owner of each horse racing at any of the Challenge Series races in 2010 would receive a cheque, regardless of mileage.
Not all of the tracks hosting the series turned in the names and addresses of the participants. Cheques have been mailed to everyone whose address was recorded. If you participated in the 2010 Challenge Series at Pinette, Alberton, Kensington, O’Leary or Tyne Valley and have not received a cheque, please call Susan at the Matinee Office, at 902-894-6511.

There were some very generous sponsors for the door prizes at the PEIHRIA & Matinee Tracks awards banquet this year and everyone present was very appreciative. The companies and individuals that donated door prizes in 2010 are:
Phillips Feed Service
By The River Bakery & Cafe
Kensington Country Store
Clows Red & White
Clarence Farm Services
Circle K Hunter River
Save Easy, Kensington
Murphys Pharmacy, Kensington
Maritime Tack & Supply (Chuckys)
Hunter River Pharmacy
Greenhawk, Charlottetown
Charlottetown Veterinary Clinic
Kensington Veterinary Clinic
Agro Co-op, Charlottetown
Traction
Kenmac Energy
Blois & Uldine Dickieson
Byron & Mary Gamester
Bobby McDougall
Kent Building Supplies, Bloomfield
KFC, Bloomfield,
Price Choppers, Bloomfield
O’Leary Farmers Co-op
Grecos, Bloomfield
O’Leary Auto Parts
O’Leary Guardian Drugs
Bloomfield Cat Dealer
Vinnys Restaurant, O’Leary
Green Diamond John Deere, O’Leary
Terry & Bridgette Shea

A big “thank you” to all of the generous sponsors.

Red Shores at Charlottetown Driving Park was the venue for the annual PEI Harness Racing Industry Association and Matinee Racetrack Dinner and Awards Banquet on December 7th. Awards were won by the top points earners, both human and horse, in the 2010 Challenge Series at the five matinee tracks across the Island and the Honorable Wes Sheridan, Minister Of Finance, was on hand to present the trophies to the winners.
Scott MacPhail of Montague received the Sportsman Of The Year award for his long, meritorious service to the matinee program, working tirelessly since its inception towards promotion, infrastructure upgrades and youth involvement.
Top points drivers in the Challenge Series this summer confirms the value of the program to attract youth, as Amateur Driver of the Year went to 21-year-old Devon Wallace of Alberton, Driver Under 21 Division was won by 18-year-old Brandon Darrach of O’Leary and the Rookie Of The Year (Driver) was 12-year-old Ryan DesRoche of O’Leary.

The 2010 Matinee Challenge Series winners are:
Owner of the Year: Robert Parsons for Miller Miller
Amateur Driver Of The Year: Devon Wallace
Driver Of The Year, Under 21: Brandon Darrach
Rookie Of The Year: Ryan DesRoche
Sportsman Of The Year: Scott MacPhail
A Division Champion: Sammys Luck
B Division Champion: Stracor
C Division and 2010 Matinee Champion: Glengyle Cody

From 2010 matinee awards

Devon Wallace - Driver Of The Year

From 2010 matinee awards

Brandon Darrach, Driver Of The Year, Under 21 Division

From 2010 matinee awards

Ryan DesRoche, Rookie Of The Year

From 2010 matinee awards

Robert Parsons, Owner Of The Year

From 2010 matinee awards

Scott MacPhail, Sportsman Of The Year

From 2010 matinee awards

Kerry Shea, Rising Star Award

The Matinee Tracks and PEI Harness Racing Industry Association banquet will be held at Red Shores/Charlottetown on Tuesday, December 7th. Social hour is 6 p.m., buffet dinner will start at 7, and awards will be presented at approximately 8:30.
Tickets are $20 each and must be reserved in advance. Deadline for registration is December 1st. Everybody is welcome. Please contact Wayne Pike at 569-1682 or Susan Whelan at 894-6511.

The top eighteen are:
Jasperfriendlybear
Miller Miller
Ellie Mae
Misty Fog
Glengyle Cody
Butterscotch Belle
Howmacs Starshark
Rags to Britches
Sherwood Dexter
Sammys Luck
Only A Rose
Step On Nanny
Rivervue Janeen
JK Crusher
Gold And Chances
Windemere Dawn
Stracor
NS Empress
First also eligible is Funs New Lady. Please let me know if any of these horses cannot race in the final so that the next elgiibles can move in.

It was a perfect day for the Children’s Wish Races at the Charles F Willis Racetrack in O’Leary. The warm sunshine brought out quite a crowd and the West Prince Horsemen’s Club presented the Children’s Wish Foundation with $264, the total of their gate receipts for the annual event.
The track was in great condition considering the past week of rain and the fastest race of the day was PW Fiesty winning the Wishmaker Pace in 2:08.1.
Results:
Race 1, sponsored by Matthews Lime
1.Little Ben, owned by Johnny Jones and driven by Stuart Tremere
2.Howmac Starshark, owned and driven by Freeman Coughlin
3.Windemere Dawn, owned by Byron Gamester, driven by Devon Wallace
Race 2, the Roger Coughlin Memorial
1.Black Lady, owned and driven by Stuart Tremere
2.Hawaiian Iceman, owned by Heather Gamester, driven by Clair Sweet
3.NS Empress, owned and driven by Terry Shea
Race 3, the Boyd Tremere Memorial
1.Rags To Britches, owned by Rick & Nancy Dunville, driven by Brandon Darrach
2.Glengyle Cody, owned by Connor & Tanner Sweet, driven by Steven Sweet
3.Sherwood Dexter, owned by Melvin Gamester, driven by Devon Wallace
4.Step On Nanny, owned by Byron Gamester, driven by Clair Sweet
5.Jasperfriendlybear, owned and driven by Terry Shea
Race 4, sponsored by Gardiner Feeds
1.Butterscotch Belle, owned by Rick & Nancy Dunville, driven by Brandon Darrach
2.Misty Fog, owned and driven by Stuart Tremere
3.Ellie Mae, owned and driven by Terry Shea
4.Only A Rose, owned by Heather Gamester, driven by Clair Sweet
5.Stracor, owned by Paige & Claudia Sweet, driven by Steven Sweet
Race 5, the Marne Kennedy Memorial
1.Rivervue Jameeen, owned and driven by Ryan DesRoche
2.Caitlyn Rose, owned and driven by Ralph Sweet
3.Millar Millar, owned by Robert Parsons, driven by Philip Desroche
4.JK Crusher, owned by Tenner Sweet, driven by Steven Sweet
5.Black Dragon, owned by Chris Wallace, driven by Devon Wallace
Race 6, the Wishmaker Pace, sponsored by Dickiesons Tire Recovery
1.PW Fiesty, owned and driven by Clair Sweet
2.Bonnaires Bubba, owned by Kristina McCourt, driven by Devon Wallace
3.Funs New Lady, owned and driven by Dana Sweet
4.Sammys Luck, owned by Robert Parsons, driven by Philip DesRoche

With just the race in O’Leary before the Finals on the 22nd, here is a list of the top points winners to date. This list is all horses, excluding top classes and has not taken into consideration the qualifications of 3 races and 2 different tracks. Please call Susan if you have any questions.
Jasperfriendlybear - 25
Miller Miller - 25
Ellie Mae - 24
Misty Fog - 22
Glengyle Cody - 21
Butterscotch Belle - 19
Howmacs Starshark - 19
Rags To Britches - 19
Sherwood Dexter - 19
Paper Boy - 18
Sammys Luck - 18
Only A Rose - 17
Step On Nanny - 16
Rivervue Janeen - 15
JK Cruiser - 14
Gold And Chances - 14
Windemere Dawn - 14
Bunny Wabbit - 13
Picture It - 13
Stracor - 13
Gascoine - 11
NS Empress - 11
Rebecca Dawn - 11
Tied at 10 points:
Acton Nervous
Fefifofum
Funs New Lady
Hawaiian Ice Man

The Wishmaker Pace in O’Leary has been rescheduled for Saturday, September 18th.
The Finals will be held in Summerside on Wednesday, September 22nd.