The 2012 Atlantic Sires Stakes Stallion Roster is now available.

The listing will be updated as new stallion registrations are received.

The Atlantic Breeders Crown champions were crowned on Sunday afternoon, as the Atlantic Sires Stakes championship weekend drew to an exciting close at Red Shores Race Track and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The Atlantic Breeders Crown featured the best two and three-year old pacers and trotters of the Atlantic Sires Stakes season and race fans were treated to some thrilling racing action as $130,000 in purse money was handed out to the weekend’s top performers.

Capturing the title of top three-year-old pacing colt was Pictonians Souwest and driver Mike Stevenson in a time of 1:56.2 for owner Daniel Ross of Belfast, PE.  This is the second time the colt received the title of Atlantic Sires Stakes champion, as he was crowned the best two-year-old pacing colt in 2010.

Honey Do Jigtime was crowned the three-year-old pacing filly champion when she and driver Clare MacDonald crossed the finish line in 1:57.1.  The filly is owned by Morah Kerr of Greenfield, NS, and Phonsie MacEachern of Port Hood, NS.  The filly now boasts 12 wins out of 16 starts this season and had never missed the board this year.

The title of two-year-old pacing colt went to Astronomical Union with driver Marc Campbell holding the lines, setting a new lifetime mark of 1:57 for owner Reginald MacPherson of Stratford, PE.

The two-year-old pacing filly event went to Pictonian Amanda and driver Mike Stevenson setting a new lifetime mark of 1:57.4.  The ownership papers for this filly are held by Daniel Ross and Bill Bell of Belfast, PE.

The Sunday afternoon race card also included two Atlantic Sires Stakes trotting Invitational events.  Maple Leaf Spirit took top place honours in the three-year old event for owner-driver-trainer Ralph Annear.  Steven Sorrie of Montague, PE, also shares the ownership of this three-year-old filly.  The race time of 2:00.3 was a new lifetime mark for Maple Leaf Spirit and it equaled the track record for three-year-old trotting fillies.

The two-year-old trot invitational went to My Daisy Duke and driver Ronnie Gass in a time of 2:05.1 for owner Jonathan MacDonald of North Wiltshire, PE.

The Atlantic Breeders Crown weekend of champions also saw four families honoured for their tremendous contribution and commitment to sport of harness racing.  The Clifford Garland family of Newfoundland and Labrador, the MacQuarrie family of Nova Scotia, the O’Brien family of Prince Edward Island and the Dr. George Irving family of New Brunswick were all recognized at the Atlantic Breeders Crown Banquet on Saturday evening.

The best in Maritime harness racing will be showcased this weekend as the Atlantic Breeders Crown gets underway at Red Shores Race Track and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The Atlantic Sires Stakes championship weekend will feature the best two and three-year-old pacers and trotters of the 2011 race season.  The Atlantic Breeders Crown has become a premier event in Maritime harness racing and $130,000 in purse monies will be handed out to the weekend’s top performers.

The Atlantic Breeders Crown weekend includes the prestigious Championship Finals on Sunday afternoon, with each of the four pacing divisions going for $24,000 in purse money.  Two trotting Invitational events will also take place on Sunday, with each event going for $7000, and the pacing Consolations will go on Saturday afternoon.  Post time for both the Saturday and Sunday race cards is 1 pm.

Other events during the weekend include the Atlantic Classic Yearling Sale and the Atlantic Breeders Crown Banquet, honouring a year of excellence in Atlantic Canadian Harness Racing.

The Atlantic Breeders Crown racing action will be carried on the Bell-Aliant Race Day World Broadcasts at www.redshores.ca.

By Lee Drake

Charlottetown, PE - Four Atlantic Canadian harness racing families will be recognized for their long time contribution to the regional industry during Atlantic Breeders Crown on Thanksgiving weekend.

The weekend of Champions features the best two and three year-olds colts and fillies in the region with consolations Saturday October 8. Post time is 1pm. The finals will be held on Sunday October 9th beginning at 1pm. The Sunday event also features the Metro Building Supplies Invitational.

The Host Committee has released the families who will be honored at the awards banquet. The O’Brien family of Prince Edward Island, the Dr. George Irving family of New Brunswick, the Clifford Garland Family of Newfoundland and Labrador and the MacQuarrie family of Nova Scotia will be recognized for their contribution to Atlantic harness racing.

These presentations will be part of the gala awards night, Saturday, October 8th at the Rodd Royalty in Charlottetown, PE. Tickets are $30 per person and can be reserved by contacting Red Shores Race Office at 902.629.6636, the rewards desk at Red Shores or the Charlottetown Vet Clinic.

The Rodd Royalty, the host hotel, is offering a special rate at their newly renovated property. The reservation number is 902.894.8566.

By Lee Drake

The plans are being released for the Atlantic Breeders Crown weekend in Charlottetown for Thanksgiving Weekend.

The weekend of Champions features the best two and three year-olds colts and fillies in the region with consolations Saturday October 8. Post time is 1pm. The finals will be held on Sunday October 9th beginning at 1pm. The Sunday event also features the Metro Building Supplies Invitational. The action will take place at Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park. The horses, who accumulated the most points in Atlantic Sires Stakes action throughout the season, will compete on the Bell-Aliant Race Day show. The broadcast is at www.redshores.ca 

Ken Warkentin will make the trip to Prince Edward Island for the event. The Toronto Ontario native has been a member of the broadcast team and media department at the Meadowlands Racetrack since 1991.

Four Atlantic Canadian harness racing families will be recognized for their long time contribution to the regional industry. Those families will be released shortly. The Atlantic Veterinary College will also present the lifetime achievement award at the banquet.

These presentations will be part of the gala awards night, Saturday, October 8th at the Rodd Royalty in Charlottetown, PE. Tickets are $30 per person and can be reserved by contacting Red Shores Race Office at 902.629.6636, the rewards desk at Red Shores or the Charlottetown Vet Clinic. Tickets go on sale Friday afternoon.

The Rodd Royalty, the host hotel, is offering a special rate at their newly renovated property. The reservation number is 902.894.8566.

The Atlantic Sires Stakes two-year-old pacing colts were the highlight at Inverness Raceway on Sunday afternoon.

Junebugs Baby captured the first of two $9860 “A” division events with driver Greg Sparling holding the lines in  a time of 2:01.  The brown pacing colt is owned by Fraser Turnbull of Dominion, NS and John Turnbull Jr. of Glace Bay, NS.  Coming home second was Pondside Thunder and driver Bernard McCallum and third was Mr Thompson and Mike Stevenson.

Meanwhile the second Atlantic Sires Stakes event on the race card saw the first place finisher Lyndale Royal being placed sixth for interference on another horse.  The placement resulted in Athletic Putnam and driver Bernard McCallum being place first for owner Shawn Putnam of Great Village, NS.  Second place was awarded to Island Lexus and Danny Romo and third went to Obamanator and Mike Stevenson.

Atlantic Sires Stakes racing action now takes a short reprieve until October 1st when the two-year-old pacing fillies meet for competition at Exhibition Park Raceway in Saint John, NB.

The season will then come to an exciting close with the Atlantic Breeders Crown Championship weekend, which will see the best two and three-year-old pacers and trotters in the Maritimes meet at Red Shores Charlottetown Driving Park on October 8th and 9th.

Majian Dillon with James Ripley in the bike won the lone two-year-old Atlantic Sires Stakes event at Inverness Raceway on Wednesday evening taking home the winner’s share of the $12,800 purse.  The chestnut gelding is owned by Marylea Ripley of Amherst, NS.  Coming home second was Sweetwater Rukkus and driver Ralph Annear and third place went to My Daisy Duke and Ronnie Gass.

Meanwhile Maple Leaf Sprit crossed the finish line first in the three-year-old trot event for owner-driver Ralph Annear.  Second place honors went to West River Victory and driver Clare MacDonald and finishing third was B J High Meadow and Bert Honkoop.

Atlantic Sires Stakes racing action returns to Inverness Raceway on Sunday afternoon when the two-year-old pacing colts meet for competition.

Points earned in each Atlantic Sires Stakes trotting event and all “A” pacing events go towards earning a coveted spot in the season ending Atlantic Breeders Crown.  This year’s championship weekend will be hosted by Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park on October 8th and 9th.

Atlantic Sires Stakes two and three-year-old trotters will take centre stage at Inverness Raceway on Wednesday evening, as large purse pools are up for grabs.

Both age divisions will each go in one division, as the competitors attempt to capture the winner’s share of the $12,800 purses.  Wednesday events are the final opportunity for the trotters to earn points to gain entry into the season ending Atlantic Breeders Crown.

First race post time on Wednesday is 6:30 pm.

Atlantic Sires Stakes racing action will return to the Inverness oval on Sunday afternoon when the two-year-old pacing colts roll into Town.

Atlantic Sires Stakes pacing colts will take centre stage at Exhibition Park Raceway in Saint John, NB, this week.

On Tuesday the two-year-old pacing colts will meet for competition, as three “A” divisions will each compete for a purse pool of $7440.  There will also be one “B” division on the afternoon race card.  Post time on Tuesday is 4 p.m.

Meanwhile the three-year-old pacing colts will take to the Saint John oval on Friday afternoon.

Points earned in each Atlantic Sires Stakes “A” division event go towards earning a spot in the season ending Atlantic Breeders Crown.  This year’s event will be hosted by Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park on October 8th and 9th.

The three-year-old pacing fillies kicked off a full slate of Atlantic Sires Stakes racing action at Red Shores Charlottetown Driving Park on Saturday with some definite highs and lows on the afternoon race card.

Honey Do Jigtime and driver Clare MacDonald captured one of three $8840 “A” division events equaling the track record for three year-old pacing fillies and setting a new lifetime mark of 1:55.1 for the filly which is owned by Morah Kerr of Greenfield, NS, and Phonsie MacEachern of Port Hood, NS.

Clare MacDonald also captured another “A” division event with Force of Fire in a time of 1:56.2 for owner David Jackson of Great Village, NS.

The final “A” division event on the race card was declared a No Contest due to an accident at the start of the race.  The three-year-old filly Acton Normal caught a shoe leaving the gate and fell down throwing driver Shane Bernard from the bike.  Bernard was transported to hospital with a possible concussion and Acton Normal suffered scrapes and bruises but was not seriously injured.

Atlantic Sires Stakes racing action will resume at the Charlottetown Driving Park on Monday afternoon when the three-year-old pacing colts meet in three “A” divisions going for substantial purse pools of $9180 each.  There will also be 4 “B” division events on the card each going for $2500.  Post time on Monday is 1 pm.

The Atlantic Sires Stakes will continue to be a highlight of Old Home Week racing action on Prince Edward Island on Tuesday when both the two and three-year-old trotters compete.  Meanwhile, the Charlottetown Driving Park will play host to the two-year-old pacing colts and fillies on Wednesday and Thursday.

For live broadcasts and more go to www.redshores.ca and for complete racing results visit www.standardbredcanada.ca.