By Nicholas Oakes For Red Shores
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – History was written under the Saturday night lights at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park, where Gilles Barrieau piloted an astonishing nine winners on the 14-dash program, capped by Twin B Tuffenuff’s Preferred Pace shocker in 1:52.3.
The night began with Barrieau sending rookie Cattle Call ($4.20) straight to the point in Race 1, and the two-year-old never looked back, stopping the clock in 1:57 for trainer Ronnie Matheson.
That victory set the tone for what was to come.
Race 3 was more Barrieau as the New Brunswick native guided freshman Woodmere Mahomes ($2.10) to an effortless score in 1:57 for his own stable. Then in Race 4, Barrieau bided his time with No Mo Fear ($3.10) before springing late to deliver in 1:57.1 for trainer Paul Doyle.
By Race 5 the momentum was undeniable for the New Brunswick Sports Hall Of Fame Driver, as Evil Lou ($4.40) turned on the jets in 1:54.4 for trainer Mike McGuigan, marking Barrieau’s fourth victory of the night.
In Race 7, Barrieau was soon back at it as he cut the fractions with Rockemsockem Scott ($4.60) to win in 1:54.4 for trainer Matheson, then came right back to the winner’s circle in Race 8 with Check Your Source ($5.20), scoring in 1:56.4 for trainer Adam Merner.
Barrieau answered again in Race 11 by rating Jewels Dragon ($6.70) perfectly on the front end, stopping the clock in 1:55.2 for trainer Landon Campbell.
Veteran pacer Ashes To Ashes ($3.50) added more to the tally in Race 12 with a 1:56.2 triumph from the Matheson Barn, giving Barrieau his eighth winner of the night – matching his previous personal best set on December 2, 2006, at Exhibition Park Raceway in Saint John, N.B., and erasing the former Red Shores Charlottetown single card record of seven wins set by Barrieau on Sept. 19, 2015 and tied by David Dowling in 2022.
But history demanded more this time, and Barrieau delivered in the race 14 finale. Barrieau lined up with Twin B Tuffenuff ($11.90) from post 8 in the $5,000 Preferred Pace. The veteran pacer left hard from the outside to strike front then released the heavily favoured Bee Two Bee (Driven by Jason Hughes), back to the lead to stalk from the pocket heading to the half. Twin B Tuffenuff and Barrieau pounced in the stretch drive and roared past to win in 1:52.3 for trainer Matheson’s fourth of the night, this time for owner Patrick Morris of Charlottetown. It was not only the fastest mile of the night, but also Barrieau’s ninth winner – a feat never before accomplished in modern day Maritime racing.
The victory eclipsed the long-standing modern day eight-win marks in Atlantic Canada. Mike Lachance accomplished the feat on August 3, 1982, during a 16-dash super card at Fredericton Raceway, while Steve Mahar matched it on September 8, 1993 at the same New Brunswick oval. Barrieau himself had equaled the benchmark with eight wins at Exhibition Park Raceway in 2006. His nine-win masterpiece now stands as the all-time P.E.I. driving record for a single card and the modern Maritime record. Joe O’Brien’s 11 victories at Truro Raceway 83 years ago in 1942 remains the historic goal post on the all-time Atlantic Canadian ledger.
From start to finish, the September 6, 2025 card belonged to Barrieau.
Live racing continues Tuesday evening at 6 P.M., at Red Shores Summerside.
For more go to Redshores.ca.
