Summer staple returns

Old Home Week 2022 moves into high gear after two-year absence

Chucky Kelly whistled loudly as he carefully assembled pieces of the merry-go-round on Aug. 9 at the Old Home Week grounds in Charlottetown.

Not even a steady rain could douse his spirits.

“I love this, I love this life, I’m thrilled to be back,’’ the Saint John, N.B., native, a 15year veteran with Campbell Amusements told Saltwire Network.

The midway and Old Home Week return this year, Aug. 12-20, to the Provincial Exhibition following a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rides and games once again fill up the area that usually serves as one of two parking lots for Eastlink Centre.

“I’ve missed being out here, I really have,’’ Kelly said. “I love everything about this job — the setup, the tear down; I love all the people we all meet and I’ve missed them. I’ve missed being with my (Campbell Amusements) family. But, I’ve really missed making all of the kids happy.’’

This is the 17th stop on the summer calendar this year for Campbell Amusements. Kelly said the reception they’ve been getting all over central and eastern Canada has been heartwarming.

“We’re a staple for families at the exhibitions and we feel that all the time, especially this year coming back.’’

Sandra Hodder Acorn, general manager of Old Home Week, said she’s feeling a

mixture of relief and anxiety.

“I’m thankful we’re returning to some sort of normalcy after two years of the pandemic and thankful that families can get back together and enjoy things like the midway and the harness racing,’’ Hodder Acorn said Aug. 9 as she supervised the set up. “We’ve got a little bit of anxiety going just because we’re starting up after two years. I mean, it’s been three years since we’ve set up so we’re going by memory and lots of notes.’’

Hodder Acorn said organizers are taking extra public safety measures with the anticipation of thousands of people walking around over the eight days.

“We bought 15 new handsanitizing stations to go with what we had previously. We will also be doing enhanced cleaning of all common surfaces on a more regular basis. Masks are encouraged, but they are not mandatory. And, there are no capacity restrictions whatsoever.’’

Large coloured arrows will also be displayed on the floor directing people to specific areas of the exhibition in an effort to avoid large groups of people congregating.

As for events and activities, everything that has been a part of previous exhibitions is back, including livestock, children’s entertainment, 4-H and horse shows.

“As a mom, I can’t wait to watch my kids show in the beef show and in the 4-H show, to be in the arena, do the mom thing and take lots of pictures,’’ Hodder Acorn said.

HARNESS RACING

There will be three trials for the 63rd Gold Cup and Saucer race, with two taking place on Aug. 13 and the final one on Aug. 15.

The draw for the trials, which features 22 horses, was held Aug. 9 at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park. The top three finishers from each trial advance to the $100,000 final on Aug. 20.

Lee Drake, manager of racing and broadcasting for Red Shores properties in P.E.I., said some of the horses in the field are on a level Islanders are used to seeing, such as Sintra, Laughagain Hanover, Twin B Tuffenuff. Drake added the new $100,000 purse, up from $60,000 last year, added some extra incentive for horse owners.

“It puts it at another level,’’ Drake said. “If you’re coming to compete here you have to bring your A game. It was and continues to be the hardest race to win.”

Fred Macdonald, who writes a harness racing column for The Guardian, said there’s more quality in the three trials that in previous years.

“Sintra is coming out of Toronto and was second in 1:50 flat the other night,’’ said Macdonald. “I love it.’’

For perspective, the track record in Charlottetown was set by Y S Lotus, which won the 2016 Gold Cup and Saucer in 1:50:1.

Macdonald’s son, James, the leading driver in Canada, is coming to Charlottetown to drive Sintra.

Macdonald said, as always, the weather will play a big factor in whether the track record falls. “But, we have the field to do it,’’ he said.

“If you’re coming to compete here you have to bring your A game. It was and continues to be the hardest race to win.”

Lee Drake