The Atlantic Provinces Harness Racing Commission has learned that additional horses stabled at at Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park have been exposed to strangles bacteria, as confirmed by enhanced testing.
At a meeting on Tuesday (Feb. 23) that included the Atlantic Veterinary College, Charlottetown Veterinary Clinic, Prince Edward Island Harness Racing Industry Association, Atlantic Provinces Harness Racing Commission and Red Shores, it was agreed that immediate and strict protocol will be implemented on the grounds of the Red Shores Charlottetown property.
Effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday (Feb. 25), The Red Shores Charlottetown property, including all barns and the ship-in area, will implement a track-wide lockdown with no horses being allowed to ship on to the grounds until further notice. Horses may only leave the premises if they have a clearance letter from their veterinarian of a negative test taken within seven days prior to their departure.
The Prince Edward Island Harness Racing Industry Association and the Maritime Breeders Association would like to remind participants of the changes in conditions to the Island Breeders Series Stake and Maritime Breeders Stake commencing in 2021. A summary of these changes are below and they can also be viewed on the Standardbred Canada Online Staking Guide.
Changes to conditions for the
Maritime Breeders Stake are as follows:
a) Commencing in 2021, the Maritime Breeders Association has changed the format of its Trot Divisions to be split by sex provided there are a minimum of three fillies and three colts in each age group. The stakes administrator reserves the right to adjust the purse so that the greater portion of the overall purse for that age division will go to the sex group from that division with more entries. The Starting Fees for the Trot Division in 2021 have also increased from $100 to $200.