Phil Pinkney Stake

The Phil Pinkney Stake is a series of races for two- and three-year-old pacers and trotters who are Nova Scotia-foaled and/or sired and/or 100% owned by Nova Scotia residents. The races take place annually with events conducted at the main three provincial racetracks: Inverness Raceway, Northside Downs, and Truro Raceway. The stake is sponsored by the Nova Scotia Harness Racing Industry Association (NSHRIA) and Standardbred Canada (pacing fillies only). 

Phil Pinkney Memorial Stake 2022. Saulsbrook Mabel on the front and was the wire to wire winner in 1:59.0 on September 16th, 2022.
(Photo: Kaitlyn Wesley)

The Nova Scotia Series Stake was introduced in 2006-07, to support provincial Standardbred breeders and owners with racing opportunities for their young horses. The initiative was intended to add value to Nova Scotia-bred colts and fillies, create more interest in local racehorse ownership, and build the local harness racing fan base. Its founders also hoped that the stake could help improve the provincial simulcast product through competitive stake racing and fuller fields. The stake was renewed in 2007-08, with $25,000 allocated for the races in the provincial budget. The document also noted a growth in attendance at live races that season. 

In 2009-10, the Nova Scotia Series Stake put a special focus on developing more trotters, which are fewer in number than their pacing counterparts. An economic study commissioned for the NSHRIA found that racing had “a significant impact” in the economy, generating $11.6 million in provincial household income and $1.6 million annually in taxes for the government. Raising Standardbred racehorses was identified as a form of agriculture with aesthetic appeal, which can be practiced on land otherwise not suited to farming. 

As of June 2021, there were 54 pacers and 8 trotters foaled in 2019 who remained eligible to the two-year-old divisions of the Nova Scotia Stake for the 2021 season. There were 48 three-year-old pacers returning to compete in the series, including 2020 divisional winners Aspoonfulofsugar and Woodmere Stealdeal. Four three-year-old trotters were sustained for 2021, led by last year’s two-year-old champ Mr Finlay Ridge. 

Redlandbethanyjean captures the second leg of the 2 year old fillies in the Phil Pinkney Memorial Stake. Brodie MacPhee drove Redlandbethanyjean with a perfect wire to wire win including a new lifetime mark and track record for 2 year old fillies at Truro Raceway, 1:54.4 (Photo: Kaitlyn Wesley)