Charlottetown Driving Park
Encyclopedia
The Charlottetown Driving Park (CDP), located in Charlottetown
, Prince Edward Island
, Canada
is a harness racing
track for racing standardbred horse
s.
(amalgamated into Charlottetown in 1996). The facility soon established itself as one of the premiere race tracks in eastern Canada.
The track is an oval dirt surface standardbred race course. Its original judge's stand built in 1889 still stands on the inner field, having been restored in 1999. The starting gate, dating to 1948 and the first of its kind in Canada, was also restored to operational use in 1999.
During the third week of August, the CDP hosts "Old Home Week
", Prince Edward Island's annual provincial agricultural exhibition running 15 racing programs over 9 days. A newer tradition since 1960, "Old Home Week" culminates in the running of the "Gold Cup and Saucer" finale at the end of the exhibition - a race which has drawn celebrities and royalty and locals alike.
The CDP grandstand originally housed a restaurant and enclosed and open viewing areas for both winter and temperate season racing.
In 1990, the adjacent Charlottetown Civic Centre
was built onto the CDP complex. A fire in the early 1990s among the wood-constructed horse stables led to the building of many new concrete stables, although urban development pressures around the CDP site may lead to horse owners being forced to practice their animals at another site on the outskirts of Charlottetown, leaving the CDP as primarily a race facility.
The roof of the CDP grandstand was heavily damaged by Hurricane Juan
on September 29, 2003. This development is believed to have spurred the CDP's redevelopment by the provincial government into a racino
.
and have been redeveloping the CDP with an improved track, lighting and a gaming facility containing Electronic Gaming Devices (EGD); such facilities are commonly termed racino
s.
The gaming area is referred to as an Entertainment Centre, the name of the entire facility is the Charlottetown Driving Park Entertainment Centre (CDPEC). The gaming floor has 210 slot machines; including twenty stand-alone progressive slots, a self-serve simulcast betting area and six Texas Hold 'Em Poker tables featuring a Royal Flush Progressive Jackpot.
The CDPEC held the two biggest outdoor concerts ever on PEI. In 2006, hosting the Black Eyed Peas, Pussycat Dolls and others. Aerosmith and Cheap Trick, among others, then played the venue in the summer of 2007.
Today the CDPEC calls itself "Atlantic Canada's Fastest Racetrack" and is the centerpiece of Prince Edward Island's harness racing industry.
Charlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
, Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
is a harness racing
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
track for racing standardbred horse
Standardbred horse
Standardbreds are a breed of horse best known for their ability to race in harness at a trot or pace instead of under saddle at a gallop. Developed in North America, the breed is now recognized worldwide for its harness racing ability...
s.
History
The CDP opened on October 2, 1889, at a site along the west bank of the Hillsborough River in the rural community of ParkdaleParkdale, Prince Edward Island
Parkdale is a neighbourhood of the city of Charlottetown in central Queens County, Prince Edward Island, Canada.Parkdale's location immediately northeast of Charlottetown and southeast of Sherwood saw it grow from being a rural farming community in the Queens Royalty to become a village on November...
(amalgamated into Charlottetown in 1996). The facility soon established itself as one of the premiere race tracks in eastern Canada.
The track is an oval dirt surface standardbred race course. Its original judge's stand built in 1889 still stands on the inner field, having been restored in 1999. The starting gate, dating to 1948 and the first of its kind in Canada, was also restored to operational use in 1999.
During the third week of August, the CDP hosts "Old Home Week
Old Home Week
Old Home Week is a practice that originated in the New England region of the United States similar to a holiday or festival. In its beginning in the 19th-20th century it involved a municipal effort to invite former residents of a village, town, or city - usually individuals who grew up in the...
", Prince Edward Island's annual provincial agricultural exhibition running 15 racing programs over 9 days. A newer tradition since 1960, "Old Home Week" culminates in the running of the "Gold Cup and Saucer" finale at the end of the exhibition - a race which has drawn celebrities and royalty and locals alike.
The CDP grandstand originally housed a restaurant and enclosed and open viewing areas for both winter and temperate season racing.
In 1990, the adjacent Charlottetown Civic Centre
Charlottetown Civic Centre
The Charlottetown Civic Centre is a combined hockey arena, trade and convention facility located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.-History:...
was built onto the CDP complex. A fire in the early 1990s among the wood-constructed horse stables led to the building of many new concrete stables, although urban development pressures around the CDP site may lead to horse owners being forced to practice their animals at another site on the outskirts of Charlottetown, leaving the CDP as primarily a race facility.
The roof of the CDP grandstand was heavily damaged by Hurricane Juan
Hurricane Juan
Hurricane Juan was a significant hurricane that struck the southern part of Atlantic Canada in late September 2003. It was the tenth named storm and the sixth hurricane of the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season. Juan formed southeast of Bermuda on September 24, 2003 out of a tropical wave that tracked...
on September 29, 2003. This development is believed to have spurred the CDP's redevelopment by the provincial government into a racino
Racino
A racino is a combined race track and casino. In some cases, the gambling is limited to slot machines, but many locations are beginning to include table games such as blackjack, poker, and roulette....
.
Charlottetown Driving Park Entertainment Centre
Faced with declining revenues for race betting, the provincial government looked at options for redeveloping the CDP. Following damage to the facility by Hurricane Juan, the government entered into an agreement with the Atlantic Lottery CorporationAtlantic Lottery Corporation
The Atlantic Lottery Corporation , currently branded as simply Atlantic Lottery or Loto Atlantique, is an organization that operates lottery games in Atlantic Canada. It is owned jointly by the four Atlantic provincial governments: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland...
and have been redeveloping the CDP with an improved track, lighting and a gaming facility containing Electronic Gaming Devices (EGD); such facilities are commonly termed racino
Racino
A racino is a combined race track and casino. In some cases, the gambling is limited to slot machines, but many locations are beginning to include table games such as blackjack, poker, and roulette....
s.
The gaming area is referred to as an Entertainment Centre, the name of the entire facility is the Charlottetown Driving Park Entertainment Centre (CDPEC). The gaming floor has 210 slot machines; including twenty stand-alone progressive slots, a self-serve simulcast betting area and six Texas Hold 'Em Poker tables featuring a Royal Flush Progressive Jackpot.
The CDPEC held the two biggest outdoor concerts ever on PEI. In 2006, hosting the Black Eyed Peas, Pussycat Dolls and others. Aerosmith and Cheap Trick, among others, then played the venue in the summer of 2007.
Today the CDPEC calls itself "Atlantic Canada's Fastest Racetrack" and is the centerpiece of Prince Edward Island's harness racing industry.