Exhibition Drive, a documentary focusing on the nine-day countdown to the final race of the Gold Cup and Saucer, was released this week
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Exhibition Drive is an exciting sports documentary that examines the importance of harness racing in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island during the city's most exciting time of the year as it is witnessed through the eyes of those involved. Set to the backdrop of Charlottetown coming alive with racing fever, the film focuses on harness racing as a shared cultural experience for a large number of Charlottetown’s diverse citizens, providing a window into Charlottetown’s unique love for the sport and into the uniqueness of Charlottetown itself. The film was shot during Old Home Week in August of 2011.
Running at just over an hour in length, Exhibition Drive was produced by Charlottetown natives Jeremy Larter and Jason Arsenault, with Arsenault directing.
"When we started Exhibition Drive we were complete outsiders to the sport and industry," Arsenault told Trot Insider. "Through the process of making the film we discovered how open and accommodating the people in harness racing were to our documentary.
"Initially we had the idea of making a racing documentary, but I think what stands out the most is how much those involved love the sport and how committed they are to its survival. We hope that Exhibition Drive is a film that gives insight into harness racing in Prince Edward Island and harness racing in general. As filmmakers we wanted to capture the people, atmosphere and thrill of Old Home Week and the Gold Cup & Saucer."
Excellent job! The Harness
Excellent job! The Harness Racing Industry needs more positive coverage like this.
I haven't missed an Old Home Week in 30 years & to be able to watch this documentary is almost like being there again & reliving some great times. The interviews were great & to be able to see the passion that everyone has for wanting to be a part of Old Home Week & the Gold Cup & Saucer is amazing. Every driver, trainer, & owner want to be a part of that final field of horses heading to the gait @ 12:00 on Gold Cup night.
I would love to see an annual documentary of Old Home Week & the Gold Cup & Saucer.
awesome job to the people
awesome job to the people involved getting this documentry done about the horseman and women involved in pei and the community itself, also great job on macdonald boys allot of talent there.
Thanks for all the feedback
Thanks for all the feedback everyone! We really appreciate people watching and enjoying the film!
Trevor Cahill This film was
Trevor Cahill
This film was so well done! Congratulations to the people who made it possible to create such an awesome film about one of Canadian harness racing's greatest traditions!
awesome video!
awesome video!
enjoyed your documentary on
enjoyed your documentary on the Gold Cup and Saucer, I watched it 3 times - well done. my grandmother & aunt designed and made the first Gold Cup & Saucer outfits the Gold Cup girls wore. The tradition is alive and well on the Island for Old Home Week. The Island certainly comes alive for those 10 days.
Great job.i enjoyed it
Great job.i enjoyed it
Great job. Left me wanting
Great job. Left me wanting to see more. We need more stuff like this to promote the game.
This is a fantastic piece
This is a fantastic piece that truly conveys the history, pageantry, excitement and importance of this race to the community and the sport in Canada. GREAT job! I must add that I've always had a secret dream to drive a standardbred - the footage shot from the race bikes may have cured me of that. They're really moving out there!
FANTASTIC JOB JASON AND
FANTASTIC JOB JASON AND CREW...I WATCHED IT TWICE...YOU REALLY CAPTURED THE WHOLE ATMOSPHERE OF OLD HOME WEEK RIGHT DOWN TO GIRLS WASHING SADDLE PADS . I REALLY LOVED THOSE PICS FROM THE RACE BIKES. I NEVER THOUGHT BRIAN MAC WAS THAT SHARP A HANDICAPPER...:)
DON JOHNSTON
Thanks for all the comments
Thanks for all the comments everyone! Glad you enjoyed. We learned so much about the racing community this summer; an incredible experience for us.
Jason Arsenault
great job on this
great job on this documentary it brought back great memories from 2010&2011 our first experience competing in this race thanks to the efforts of Ron&John Macdonald two great horseman from PEI hopefully we will be back again next year what a great race&show thanks again JAN&PETE(JP STABLES)
Speaking of O'Brien
Speaking of O'Brien Awards:
Since this is a category judged by professionals - I have no doubt Exhibition Drive is a prime contender for 2012. You would be hard pressed to find anything similar that so personifies everything that is great about the true spirit of Harness Racing and what it means to the ordinary folks and rank and file horse people. This industry may be in trouble as some say; I assure you - it will never be in trouble on the Island.
And now you also know why Prince Edward Island is called 'The Kentucky of Canada'.
Well Done. Shows the great
Well Done. Shows the great people and there passion for horses. Horse people need to watch this more often and remember the message. Money won't buy you a GOLD CUP. Thanks P.E.I.
Awesome job on capturing the
Awesome job on capturing the committment, dedication, love of the industry. The horse owners, trainers, grooms, drivers and fans put their all into making Old Home Week a special event. I want to thank these two men who made this documentary - well done. You captured the heart of why this is such a special event in Atlantic Canada - from the multi generations who participate in the industry - to the owners who take their horses East to race, to the drivers who come "home" to race to the fans who keep the industry going and the great announcers that do such a great job keeping the fans engaged. Thank you.
Great! Great! Great! I loved
Great! Great! Great! I loved it. It's so nice to see the young adults who are now carrying the flame of harness racing. If only Prince Edward Island could be cloned throughout Canada.