The official countdown to the 2015 Gold Cup & Saucer will be launched Saturday when live racing returns to Red Shores’ Charlottetown Driving Park.
The legendary oval will kick off its season with a first-race post time of 6 p.m.
It’s going to be a busy day at the track with a host of new promotions, special trackside presentations and the famous Kentucky Derby live from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
The evening’s featured dash will head to the gate for Race 9, which carries an estimated 8:17 p.m. AST post time. Tempo Seelster, owned, trained and driven by Vince Poulton, Charlottetown, is the early favourite at odds of 5-2 on the morning line.
The field has some other heavy hitters, including JRs Hurricane (to be driven by Gary Chappell), who had a sparkling resume in 2014 with 26 top-three finishes from 38 starts, which included 12 victories. Pole-sitter Outside The Wire will make his season debut for trainer Craig Avery and driver Jason Hughes. The top class also includes Veronicavermillion (Neil Bambrick), Carnivore (Walter Cheverie) and Miracle Matts (Corey MacPherson).
Campbell could grab the early lead in the season’s rankings when he handles newcomer Fly With Max from Post 6 in the PEI Poker Challenge pace (Race 1). The four-year-old pacer comes in from Flamboro Downs for owners Wade Peconi, Stanchel and Nicholas Peconi Jr., Lakefield, Ont.
Customers will be greeted to a list of new promotions including the Super High 5, Pick 3 and Pick 4. On-track players will be offered the Pick 5, Wild Horses tags on Races 2-10 with jackpots and ‘set for summer’ promo where customers have a chance to qualify to win weekly prizes with the grand prize of $1,000 a week for 10 weeks being drawn on the first day of summer (June 21).
To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at the CDP, click the following link: Saturday Entries – Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)