NS Harness Racing Industry

Gamester/Pinkney kicks off at Northside Downs Saturday August 3, 2024.

PEI leg is Tuesday August 20, 2024 at Summerside Raceway

Best of luck to all the participants!!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/wHy84buQUvV6Ampd/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Best of luck to Redmond Doucet and David Dowling. Have fun and enjoy!!
We will be cheering you on.

On behalf of the Nova Scotia Harness Racing Industry Association our sincere condolences to Nick Oakes and your family.

Kent Oakes Passes Trot Insider has learned that former Standardbred Canada Chair, longtime Director and prominent harness racing industry participant Kent Oakes of North Wiltshire, P.E.I. passed away on Friday, June 28 at the age of 64.

Harness the Hope 2024

Mark your calendars!!!

Doucet Wins 2024 Atlantic Regional Driving Championship From one of the nation's smallest tracks to the national — and possibly international — stage. It sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but lightning has struck twice for Nova Scotia's Redmond Doucet.

Congratulations to Redmond Doucet!!

Doucet Wins 2024 Atlantic Regional Driving Championship With a three-win performance, Nova Scotia's Redmond Doucet topped the leaderboard in the 2024 Atlantic Regional Driving Championship, held on Saturday, May 25 at Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park in Charlottetown. P.E.I. and will advance to the 2024 National Driving Cha...

https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2024/05/19/provincial-exhibition-grandstand-named-longtime-agriculture-supporter

Provincial Exhibition Grandstand Named for Longtime Agriculture Supporter | Government of Nova Scotia News Releases News release Provincial Exhibition Grandstand Named for Longtime Agriculture Supporter 19 May 2024 | 11:30 AM Agriculture Dr. Richard (Dick) Huggard (contributed) Nova Scotians can now enjoy exhibitions, races and other events at the newly renovated and newly named Dr. Richard (Dick) Huggard Grandst...

The NSHRIA Annual General Meeting will take place Thursday June 20, 2024 6pm at the Microtel Inn & Suites 62 Nova Landing West River

The Nova Scotia Harness Racing Industry is pleased to announce that the Phil Pinkney Memorial Stake funding contribution will increase to $100,000 for the 2024 racing season.

The additional funding is part of the $350,000 from the Government of Nova Scotia that was announced by the Minister of Agriculture, Greg Morrow on April 12, 2024 at the Inverness Raceway annual awards banquet.

The Phil Pinkney Memorial Stake, formerly known as the Nova Scotia Stake, was first introduced to the stake program in 2007. The Phil Pinkney Memorial Stake supports Nova Scotia foaled or sired, or 100% Nova Scotia owned.

This is great news for the stake program and the Nova Scotia breeders, owners, and trainers who continue to support our industry.

The Nova Scotia Harness Industry would like to thank the Honorable Minister Greg Morrow and Honorable Alan MacMaster for their support.

The Nova Scotia Harness Racing Association is pleased to announce additional funding for the 2024 season. The announcement was made at the Inverness Raceway annual awards banquet on April 12, 2024.

Minister of Agriculture, Greg Morrow announced that the Government of Nova Scotia is providing an additional $350,000 to enhance the current purse money, which includes stakes and overnight purses at all three Nova Scotia tracks.
Finance Minister Allan MacMaster who was also in attendance announced that the Irish Road Horsemen’s Association in Port Hood would be receiving a grant of $55,000 for improvements around their training track.

On Sunday April 21, 2024 at the Atlantic Standardbred Breeders Association annual general meeting, NS President Rosanne Langille announced the Atlantic Sires Stakes would see the Nova Scotia funding contribution increase to $400,000. Langille stated this is great news for the sire stake program and on behalf of the ASBA directors we want to thank the NSHRIA. We would like to, especially thank the Honourable Minister Greg Morrow and Honourable Minister Allan MacMaster, their support to the Nova Scotia Harness Racing Industry. It has been greatly appreciated during the last two years.

There will also be an added contribution to the Phil Pinkney Stake for the 2024 race season and all three tracks: Inverness Raceway, Northside Downs and Truro Raceway will see an increase to their overnight purse pools.

This is welcoming news to the NSHRIA and good news to our owners, drivers, trainers, grooms, volunteers, and fans who support our Industry. These investments go directly back to the rural economy through the purse money, feed purchases, breeding, and veterinary fees.

Congratulations to Paul Langille who was the winner of leading trainer for the PEI C**t Stakes program for 2023 and to Saulsbrook Farms who was selected as leading breeder. Awards were based on wins in the program for 2023.

The Nova Scotia Harness Industry has a spot available for the Broodmare Incentive Fund for our Nova Scotia Breeders.

If you are interested please reach out to Debbie Francis by Thursday March 21, 2024 for details.

[email protected]

Applications are due today!

Nova Scotia Foal Incentive Announced The Nova Scotia Harness Racing Industry Association (NSHRIA) has announced that it will be introducing a Foal Incentive for 2023 that supports breeding initiatives in Nova Scotia.

The Nova Scotia Harness Racing Industry Association (NSHRIA) has announced that it will be introducing a Foal Incentive for 2023 that supports breeding initiatives in Nova Scotia.

The Foal Incentive has been made possible by funding received from the Department of Agriculture for the 2023/2024 budget year for breeding initiatives.

To be eligible for this incentive, the dam must have resided in Nova Scotia for 183 days during the 2023 foaling year and the foal must have been born in Nova Scotia in 2023.

The deadline to register foals by submitting an application form is Dec. 31, 2023. Payment will be sent no later than Feb. 28, 2024.

Please fill out the application and submit to one of the following NSHRIA board members: Chantel Langille at [email protected] or Debbie Francis at [email protected].

Click here for a copy of the application form.

(With files from NSHRIA)

Reminder the deadline is fast approaching December 31, 2023

Get your foal applications submitted!!

Nova Scotia Foal Incentive Announced The Nova Scotia Harness Racing Industry Association (NSHRIA) has announced that it will be introducing a Foal Incentive for 2023 that supports breeding initiatives in Nova Scotia.

Broodmare Incentive Draw is at 10am and will be live streamed

Deadline for Notice of Intent for the Broodmare Incentive program is Friday December 8, 2023.

Please reach out to [email protected]

Deadline for the Notice of Intent Broodmare Incentive program is Friday December 8, 2023.

Please email Debbie.Francis@

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NSHRIA Shares Update On Strategic Plan The Nova Scotia Harness Racing Industry Association (NSHRIA) has reported that it is currently working on a three-year business plan and strategic plan to present to government for consideration for the 2024/2025 racing season.

Nova Scotia Breeders we have announced a foal incentive program for 2023 foals. This was made possible through funding received from the Department of Agriculture for breeders incentives.

Nova Scotia Foal Incentive Announced The Nova Scotia Harness Racing Industry Association (NSHRIA) has announced that it will be introducing a Foal Incentive for 2023 that supports breeding initiatives in Nova Scotia.

Family Nominations for Atlantic Breeders Crown

Charlottetown, PE - The Host Committee of the 2023 Atlantic Breeders Crown will once again recognize Atlantic harness racing families for their long-term contribution to the industry.
One family meeting the criteria will be selected from each of Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Awards sponsored by the Province of Prince Edward Island will be presented as part of the Atlantic Breeders Crown Banquet on Saturday, October 7th, at the Top of The Park, Red Shores Charlottetown.
The harness racing industry and general public are invited to submit nominations to the evaluation committees in each province for consideration for recognition. Nominations should be in written form, and detail how the nominated family meets the suggested criteria:
50 years of family involvement in Atlantic harness racing
at least one family member still active in the industry in some capacity
achievements on an Atlantic/Canadian scale as a breeder, owner, trainer, driver or builder
public recognition for outstanding contributions to Atlantic harness racing (e.g., National or Provincial Halls of Fame)
success in major Atlantic Canadian races (e.g., track records, stakes or invitational wins, significant milestones, prolific success of several family members)
longevity of success of family member(s)
The evaluation committees reserve the right to submit nominations as well. Nominations are due by September 5, 2023.
The evaluation committees, which have been established in each province, will select one family per Atlantic province to be honoured. Since its initiation in 2001, the following families have been recognized:
New Brunswick
Alexander, Armstrong, Barrieau, Belliveau, Breau, Bishop, Doherty, both Cerdic Downey and Milton Downey, Goguen, Goodine, Irving, Jones, Kirkpatrick, MacDonald, Mahar, Nicholson, Queen, Stevenson and Trites families.
Nova Scotia
Daniels, Davis, Ellis, Ferguson, Getto, Gillis, Haley, Jamieson, MacLeod, MacDonnell, MacKay, MacKinnon, MacQuarrie, Pinkney, Polley, Rankin, Ratchford, Smith, Whebby and Wilson families.
Prince Edward Island
Andrew, Annear, Arsenault, Bernard, Chappell, Gass, Hennessey, Kelly, Mike and Paul MacDonald, MacGregor, MacPhee, O’Brien, Pineau, Poulton, Smallwood, Cyril Smith, Don and Ian Smith, Taylor, Whelan and Willis families.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Cliff Garland, Dennis Galway, and the Deering, Dillon, Dooling, Downing, Forward, McDonald, Merner, Oliver, Pack, Ryan, Sheppard and Williams families.
Please forward nominations to:
Prince Edward Island
Jerry McCabe, ABC Host Committee
Phone: 902-218-1225
Email: [email protected]
Nova Scotia
Debbie Francis, Nova Scotia Harness Racing Industry Association
Phone: 902-790-1885 or 902-798-1134
Email: [email protected]
New Brunswick
NBSBOA
President Sam Hodgin
506-647-1888
Email: [email protected]
Newfoundland and Labrador
Aubrey Williams, NHHOA
Email: [email protected]
(Atlantic Breeders Crown)

Congratulations to Kyle Mason who finished top of the leader board for the Pinkney amateur series at Truro Raceway.

Kyle received the Pinkney Memorial Trophy along with a gift certificate for a Helmet painting kindly donated by Ben Hollingsworth and Grattan.

Tickets will be available on Friday and Sunday on a new harness. $5 for one or $20 for five. All proceeds from this fundraiser go to Harness the Hope. A big thank you to Won’t Backdown Stable and Leading Technology for donating the harness.

Congrats to Monica Sutherland winning the first leg of the Gamester/Pinkney Amateur Series. The second leg to take place August 6,2023 at Truro Raceway.

We are getting closer for Harness the Hope Days at our tracks!

The industry will also be hosting a silent auction on Facebook. Stay tuned for more details!

A huge thank you to the horsepeople who entered their horses for the Gamester Pinkney Amateur Race in Truro for Tuesday evening.

Truro worked very hard to secure 7 horses for the Pinkney series and we greatly appreciate the support of Truro and our horsepeople. We will go with 1 division and plan to have a second division in August.

Please support our upcoming future stars, we want to promote our youth, they are our future.

Again thank you to the owners and trainers who made this happen.