served at the track. Geraldine recalled that women’s groups usually served these dinners.

In addition to Charlottetown, Historian Father Francis Bolger lists St. Peters as one of nine* communities on the Island that have given rise to the Island’s reputation as the “Kentucky of Canada.” (44) With several racetracks dotting the Island as early as the 1880s, the Island now has

more horses and more people involved with the horse industry per capita than any other province in Canada. (45)

In the late 1920s the first race track was built in St. Peters. Geraldine MacDonald recalled that the racetrack was built on land owned by her father, George MacInnis. (46) Albert Quigley provided financial help and Danny MacDonald from Forest Hill worked to help build the track. Thirty to forty volunteers helped build the track, and it is estimated that two races were held every summer.

With the onset of the depression, the racetrack closed in the early 1930s. After it closed, George MacInnis continued to farm the land, but according to Claire Logan, “We never disturbed the track, and only farmed the back part of it. The best blueberries around grew in the center field of the track.” (47)

St. Peters Raceway. circa 1950. Photo courtesy of Claire Logan.

E— The eight other “popular places” listed by Francis Bolger for horseracing are Montague, Georgetown,

Pmelte, Upton, New Arman, Summerside, Northam, and Kensington.

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