Drivers begin racing at the Governor’s Plate eliminations at Red Shores at Summerside Raceway on July 13. A new directive by the Maritime Provinces Harness Racing Commission, requiring 10 per cent of all purse earnings be distributed among drivers and trainers, has come as a surprise to P.E.I.’s harness racing community. Jason Simmonds/File The GuardianArticle contentA decision by the Maritime Provinces Harness Racing Commission to require a minimum payout of purse earnings for drivers and trainers by Jan. 1, 2026 has earned mixed reviews from the industry in P.E.I., according to MLA Kent Dollar.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentOn Nov. 24, the commission announced a directive that all racetracks in the Maritimes must pay five per cent of all purse earnings to licensed horse trainers and an additional five per cent of earnings to licensed drivers.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentThe harness racing commission set Jan. 1, 2026 as the implementation date for the rule change.Article contentSpeaking during question period on Nov. 26, Dollar said this decision was made without any consultation with members of P.E.I.’s harness racing industry.Article content“Not even Red Shores, who distributes the purse money, was given a heads-up on this. Their decision to mandate 10 percent purse earnings split equally between drivers and trainers was simply imposed on the industry,” Dollar told the legislature.Article contentDollar asked his Progressive Conservative colleague, Finance Minister Jill Burridge, what the province has done to ensure the Maritime Provinces Harness Racing Commission properly consults the industry.Article contentArticle contentPC MLA Kent Dollar recently asked in the P.E.I. legislature about a change to the way harness racing purses are distributed.Article contentCommission authorityArticle contentBurridge called the commission’s directive a “pretty rushed decision.”Article contentArticle content“We did send some correspondence to the commission directly, stating that we would expect better consultation with industry prior to making a decision of this nature,” Burridge told the legislature.Article contentArticle contentBurridge also said the harness racing commission conceded that their consultation “could have been stronger.” But she said the organization ultimately has the authority to implement the rule change.Article contentIn an interview after question period, Dollar said the tight timeline between the harness racing commission’s Nov. 24 announcement and the Jan. 1 deadline has led to confusion and stress.Article content“I don’t know if I’m for or against this rule. And the horsemen that have been calling me – they don’t know whether they’re for or against because they haven’t received enough information on it,” Dollar said.Article contentHe said he would like to see the implementation delayed to Feb. 1.
MLA says P.E.I. harness racing industry caught off-guard by purse rule change
