PEI Harness Racing Industry Association

PRESS RELEASE – August 16th., 2007

TROTFEST

A Celebration of The Trotter

September 20-21st, Prince Edward Island

 

One hundred and forty years ago two trotters squared off in a match race on Prince Edward Island and the event drew thousands of racing fans to the opening of the Summerside track to see the duel between Black Pilot and Hernando. Trotting races have been contested on Prince Edward Island ever since and have become a feature of what is the tradition of Island harness racing.

 

In recent years the number of trotters has been in decline while on the other hand the pacing breed has continued to grow. Efforts are underway to restore the trotting gait to its former glory and an event called Trotfest will be the focus of activities in its inaugural year. Trotfest will feature a program of races at the trotting gait as well as a trotters only yearling sale as a segment of the Atlantic Classic Sale. There will also be a stallion showcase featuring the trotting stallions standing on Prince Edward Island and some special events to commemorate the history and demonstrate the beauty of the trotter.

 

The trotting races will be scheduled for Thursday evening, September 20th. The Colonel Dan Trotting Derby will be the feature race and will be contested by the top trotters in the region as well as, hopefully, from our neighbours in Quebec and Maine. The Derby will be raced in eliminations and a final on the same day and will be a late closing event with a nomination deadline of September 1st.

 

The top young trotting horses in the Maritimes will be showcased in four divisions of the PEI Colt Stakes. The older horses will compete in races of different distances including the inaugural edition of the “Prix de l’Ile”, a two mile event raced from a European style standing start similar to the start of Europe’s biggest race the Prix d’Amerique. This will be a first in North America.

 

The Trotfest yearling sale will take place at a beautiful new show and sale facility called Gingerwood in Stanhope, PEI, and will see upwards of 25 yearlings as well as several in foal trotting broodmares go through the ring on the Friday evening at 5.00pm. The sale will be preceded on Friday afternoon with a lunch reception on the grounds of the magnificent Murphy residence and hosted by the PEI Colt Stakes organization, founded over 70 years ago as the Goodwill Trotting Club, followed by the viewing of the consignments as well as a stallion showcase and other events in the Gingerwood arena.

 

All events will be sponsored and firms or individuals interested in becoming a sponsor for any of the events can obtain a sponsorship form from the PEIHRIA website at http://www.peiharnessracing.com  or by calling Wayne Pike, Manager of PEIHRIA at 902-569-1682, Fax to 902-569-1827 or e-mail to peracing@isn.net

 

For those interested in hearing more about Trotfest a general meeting is planned for Monday, August 20th at the Farm Centre in Charlottetown, starting at 7.30pm. The Trotfest Steering Committee of Brian Andrew, Norman Hall, Faye Webster and Wally Wood will be on hand to answer questions and to enlist support and sponsors for the various activities involved in putting on this special event.

 

Information – Norman Hall 902-368-2340 PEI Colt Stakes

                        Wayne Pike  902-569-1682 PEI Harness Racing Industry Association

TROTFEST SPONSORSHIPS

 

Corporate Event Name Sponsorship                                                                                  $10,000

A corporate name will be linked to that of Trotfest and be part of all advertising and promotional components including the feature race, The Colonel Dan Trotting Derby, named after Colonel Dan MacKinnon, a founding member of the United States Trotting Association and former President of the Charlottetown Driving Park. $5,000 goes toward the purse for the Derby (est. Total purse - $10,000)

 

Race Sponsors - Sponsors will provide an added purse contribution and trophy to one of the races named in their honour. Sponsor amounts will be added to regular overnight purses for the class together with any additional purse funding from entry fees, stakes organizations or other government sources. All starters in overnight classes at distances over one mile will receive a minimum of $100.

 

                                                                        Estimated Purse                    Sponsor Value/Race

 

Colonel Dan Trotting Derby                        $10,000                                                           $5,000

Late Closer – $100 Nomination due September 1st

 

Prix de l’Ile                                                    $5,000                                                             $ 3,500

A two mile event with up to 12 starters from a standing start.                     

                                                                                                                       

Two Year Old Trotters        

The PEI Colt Stakes – 2 divisions                  $8,000/division                                               $ 1,500

                                                                                                                       

Three Year Old Trotters

The PEI Colt Stakes – 2 divisions                  $8,000/division                                               $ 1,500

                                                                                   

Aged Trotters – if sufficient entries

The Senior Trot                                               $2,500                                                             $ 1,000

Open Handicap by earnings, one and a half mile event

 

The Junior Trot – 2 classes                              $2,000                                                             $ 1,000

4 Year old and younger, seeded by age and handicapped by earnings, one mile events

 

Other Events - To be held at Gingerwood.   Sponsor value can include cash, merchandise and/or trophies          

                                                                                   

Stallion Showcase –  Island trotting stallions on parade                                                      $ 1,000

 

Roadster Show – Trotting in harness judged on presentation.                                              $ 1,000

 

 

 

 

TROTFEST SPONSORSHIP REQUEST FORM

 

Event to be Sponsored – Order of Preference

 

  1. ___________________________________________

 

  1. ___________________________________________

 

  1. ___________________________________________

 

  1. ___________________________________________

 

In addition to the Sponsor amount what additional contribution to the sponsored activity or the overall Trotfest event is proposed ?. Please attach information.

 

All sponsors will be recognized in all promotion and event coverage.

 

SPONSOR NAME     ______________________________________________________

 

CONTACT                 ______________________________________________________

 

ADDRESS                 ______________________________________________________

 

PHONE                      ________________________  FAX  ________________________

 

AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE

 

_______________________________________________

 

Sponsor amounts will be billed prior to the event to the contact address above.

 

Sponsors should advise the Trotfest Committee of any specific merchandising, announcements, logos or other branding required for their sponsored event. Sponsor Appreciation booths will be located both at Gingerwood and the Charlottetown Driving Park and Entertainment Centre (CDPEC) for the display of any Sponsor brochures or other promotional material. Arrangements can be made for individual sponsor booth space if desired based on availability and scope.

 

Sponsorships will be allocated subsequent to the deadline for submissions of August 31st, 2007 and based on assurance of the financial sponsorship commitment in writing and any additional contributions noted in the submission. Joint sponsorships are welcomed.

 

Return this form by August 31st to:

 

Trotfest Committee, Box 571, Charlottetown, PEI, C1A7L1