The circuit of Red Shores in Prince Edward Island is small – just Charlottetown and Summerside – but the history is long and the passion is deep. And it looks like a lovely place to visit, not just for the horse racing. As it says on the Red Shores website:
The Charlottetown Driving Park first opened it doors for standardbred harness racing October 2, 1889. It’s been an amazing journey that has touched every Island community over the years. Horse racing has been a major part of our island heritage. Visitors from around the world come to Prince Edward Island to experience an island tradition and visit the Kentucky of Canada.
I’ve put it on my “wish list” although I might have to sell a horse or two to get there! But looking at views of the racetracks and surrounding town and countryside, someone from Cambridge New Zealand would feel quite at home.
Here in New Zealand, I know about Red Shores thanks to one of our much loved mares, Driving The Dragon or “Sam” as we knew her – she ended up there in August this year (2016) after being exported in March the previous year and racing for trainers Carmen Auciello at Yonkers for 2 wins in the $10k race bracket, and briefly with Rene Allard and has now thrived under the care of Canadian trainer/driver Jason Hughes (“the Blue Knight stable”) to win 6 of her 7 races to date for him, 5 in a row, the other race being a third. Sure, these are low stakes races, but she also performed superbly for Hughes in the Atlantic Mares Final run at the oldest Canadian standardbred racetrack in Summerside, just week or so ago, for a stake of $15,000, and then backed up for another win at her home track in Charlottetown. In the Atlantic Mares Final she went out about 2nd favourite, from the widest post, powered around to take the lead and never gave the others a look in. Maybe a wee holiday next for the big girl?
Off the gate fast from a wide drawn, Driving The Dragon swooped around to lead.
Comes home with a wet sail. Go Sam!
That was so “Sam-ish” for those of us who watched her string of 3 wins in a row down here in New Zealand – two at the tight Manawatu track and the last one at the galloping grass track in Wairarapa, which is wide and long.
So now I have found her race replays are on Red Shores website, we’ll be watching her races with a lot of pride and support – “Go Sam!” And wishing we were up close and personal to meet the Blue Knights team and give Sam a big hug. You never know. If you are reading this Jason, get in touch.
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