The Atlantic Breeders Crown finals are set for the Sunday afternoon program while the consolation races highlight the Saturday afternoon card at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park. Both programs begin at 12:30 p.m. on the special championship weekend, while the Atlantic Breeders Crown banquet is set for Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Top Of The Park at Red Shores.
Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway will hold a special card Monday starting at 1 p.m.
The main action is in Charlottetown, but the weekend truly starts Friday afternoon at the Crapaud Exhibition Grounds with the Atlantic Classic Yearling Sale featuring more than 100 entries to be sold starting at 2 p.m.
The sale features the first crop by Elm Grove Farm's Varadero Hanover as the son of Somebeachsomewhere has four yearlings catalogued to sell. Malicious will also have his first crop sell this year. The resident of Windemere Farms in Hampshire will be remembered by Island race fans for starting his career off in Charlottetown in an impressive 1:56.4 qualifier as a two-year-old in 2009 with trainer Dr. Ian Moore in the bike.
Ontario sire Sunshine Beach will also sell a member of his first crop with Woodmere Farms of Marshfield selling a filly out of Skylark Hanover.
P.E.I. Scene
The Island's leading driver, Marc Campbell, hit a career milestone Wednesday night in Summerside as he visited the winner's circle for the 1,900th time in the race bike.
Rising Fella delivered the moment for Campbell in a 1:59.1 mile for trainer Jansen Sweet of O'Leary. Campbell is set to smash all previous records in Island racing with 114 wins in Charlottetown already this season before Thursday night's action.
With 195 wins across the Maritimes this season, Campbell is set to crack the 200-win plateau for the second straight year after winning 213 races in 2016. The last person to accomplish this was Gilles Barrieau in Saint John, N.B., as he won more than 200 races in 2005, 2006 and 2007 while the last person to win more than 200 races before Campbell was Todd Trites in the 2008 season.
A record Campbell may also be able to break during the weekend is Kenny Arsenault's overall earnings record for a single season in Atlantic Canada. Arsenault earned $484,052 in the bike during the 2009 season while Campbell currently sits at $464,848 in earnings for 2017.
The one record likely out of reach for Campbell is the overall dash record in a single year in Atlantic Canada as Steve Mahar won 284 races in 1990. With the reduced racing opportunities available in a season in the region, the chances of that record ever being broken are slim.
Nick's Picks
Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park:
Race 1 - Colossal Killean
Race 2 - Van Zant
Race 3 - Ticked
Race 4 - Jetta Flys
Race 5 - Pappy Go Go
Race 6 - Painted Pony
Race 7 - Elm Grove Misty
Race 8 - Freddie
Race 9 - Half Cut
Race 10 - Jetster
Race 11 - Traces Of Purple
Race 12 - Ramblinglily
Race 13 - Tobinator
Race 14 - Carracci Hanover
Nicholas Oakes' column appears in The Guardian each Friday. He can be reached at nicholasoakes@hotmail.com.
