Maritime harness racing tradition thrives on P.E.I.

As harness racing on Prince Edward Island continues to flourish during old home week, in other Maritime provinces, the sport is struggling.

This week marks the biggest harness racing week of the year for Island horsemen, culminating Saturday night with the Gold Cup and Saucer race.

With the Truro Raceway in neighbouring Nova Scotia on the brink of closure and the Fredericton Raceway struggling to lure more people to the track, the sport continues to thrive on P.E.I.

Horseman Earl Smith has been in the business for 45 years and has some insights into the Island’s racing success.

"We're lucky that Atlantic Lotto came along, and gave us a boost, and built a nice plant up for us," said Smith.

In 2005 the provincial government and horsemen partnered with the Atlantic Lottery Corporation to create the Red Shores Racetrack and Casino operating in both Charlottetown and Summerside.

"The annual revenues ... with the addition to harness racing P.E.I., it's just under $20 million for both properties and the profits for the last couple of years has just been under $1 million," said Mike MacKinnon, speaking for the Atlantic Lottery Corporation.

Finance Minister Wes Sheridan said the Red Shores model needs  government subsidies to work.

The province contributes just over $2 million per year. Sheridan said a study conducted two years ago shows that investment pays off.

"For every dollar that P.E.I. put in as a government, it returned $10 back to the economy. So that's the type of thing that allows us to continue to support harness racing, allows us to have the heritage and culture of P.E.I. continue to flourish here," he said.

"The casino needs us and we need the casino," said Smith.

Mickey Burke, 77, and his family have 275 horses and race mainly out of Pennsylvania.

They've come this year for the Gold Cup and Saucer Race, the Island’s biggest race of the year.

"It's one of the premiere races. It's on an equal — probably, in prestige with The Little Brown Jug in Delaware, Ohio," he said.

"You don't come here to make money, you come because you’re gracious for the fact that you were even invited and just to have a good time and if we win everything we might break even."