This Saturday at Charlottetown Driving Park (CDP) is the $60,000 Gold Cup and Saucer; the biggest race in the Maritimes. It means so much to win the Gold Cup & Saucer that many trainers and drivers that come from PEI wish for the opportunity to return to Charlottetown during Old Home Week to win this race. You may scoff about the excitement of a $60,000 race but to the people who race at CDP, this race may as well be the Hambletonian. After all, the bottom class at CDP goes for $700. Probably the closest thing we have to Old Home Week is the Delware County Fair.
You may ask what kind of racetrack can this be; purses like this makes Thunder Ridge look good. Well, racing at CDP is actually racing heaven. People who race in the Maritimes are racing not for the money but for the love of harness racing; much like racing was in the United States back when the horse was king. Some of the top horsemen that race(d) in the United States got their start racing on Prince Edward Island; Joe O'Brien, David Pinkney Jr., and Wally Hennessey quickly come to mind. Occasionally, a horse that gets their start racing in the Maritimes finds their way to success in the States. Waveore made his way down from Charlottetown to Yonkers and found success in the top classes.
For a taste of the Gold Cup and Saucer, here is last year's race:
Dean at PullthePocket went to Charlottetown earlier this week and writes of his experience; you should read his comments.
The Gold Cup and Saucer is that big of a race the Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) will be offering wagering on the Charlottetown card that day. Sadly, I am not aware of any track or ADW in the States which will be offering wagering on the program.
As with many of the Canadian tracks, Harness Racing PEI offers the program for the Gold Cup and Saucer card. Once the program is finalized it will be available here. If your racetrack or ADW does not offer wagering on the Charlottetown card, you will be able to watch the race as Harness Racing PEI offers live video streaming. The Gold Cup racing program begins at 7:00pm ADT (6:00pm EDT).
Old Home Week at CDP is an experience not to be missed. I hope one day to be able to experience it in person. If you like harness racing just for the gambling it is probably not for you. But if you love harness racing the sport, you should add it to your 'must do' at least once list.
Old Home Week. Racing as it ought to be.
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