Get Wings leads all the way for milestone Summerside victory
On a warm July night built for speed at Red Shores at Summerside Raceway, Get Wings turned a front-end trip into a career milestone for two Islanders. The four-year-old, P.E.I.-owned pacer captured the 58th edition of the $50,000 Governor’s Plate on July 18, stopping the clock in 1:52.1 and delivering the coveted Summerside title to trainer Vaughn Doyle of Charlottetown and driver James Langille for the first time.
Doyle, a familiar face around Island barns and backstretches, has been involved in harness racing for over 40 years. As the winner returned to the paddock to a tangle of high-fives and photos, the long-time horseman was surrounded by family, including his daughter and his young grandson, a small tableau that said plenty about what the Plate means to Islanders who make their lives in the sport.
The result capped an evening where Get Wings did it the hard way: straight to the point. Sent to the front, the pacer controlled the pace and had just enough in reserve to fend off a late push, prevailing in a close finish. The Governor’s Plate — presented this year by Summerside Chrysler Dodge — has a way of summoning gritty efforts from local connections, and Thursday’s edition fit the mould.
Summerside’s signature race delivers again
Harness racing sits close to the heart of P.E.I.’s summer calendar, and the Plate final is its marquee moment in Summerside. The grandstand energy, the chatter along the rail, and the parade back to the winner’s circle are the familiar rituals that frame the night. For Doyle and Langille, finally matching their names to the Governor’s Plate roll of honour is the kind of hard-earned reward that threads together decades of early mornings and careful conditioning.
It’s also a reminder that the Plate remains a proving ground for Island-owned stock. A home-province pacer leaving with the trophy underscores how local ownership still finds a way to compete in one of Atlantic Canada’s most-watched harness events, even as fields deepen and miles quicken. The 1:52.1 clocking speaks to how sharp the modern Plate has become, yet the celebration that followed felt as traditional as ever — families gathered up close to the rail, a chorus of cheers rising over the wire, and hands extended to pat a winning noseband.
At a glance: 58th Governor’s Plate
| Winner | Get Wings |
|---|---|
| Trainer | Vaughn Doyle (Charlottetown) |
| Driver | James Langille |
| Purse | $50,000 |
| Time | 1:52.1 |
| Edition | 58th |
| Track | Red Shores at Summerside Raceway |
| Date | July 18 |
Why this Plate matters for P.E.I.
Beyond the winner’s circle, nights like this reverberate through the local scene. Trainers, grooms, and owners who call the Island home invest deeply in their stock, and a signature victory can ripple into future opportunities — from breeding decisions and sales to the next set of prospects stepping onto the track. It’s also a lift for Summerside’s racing economy: more eyes on the product, more reason for casual fans to stop by the track, and a stronger platform for sponsors who help keep the lights on and the gate rolling.
For those who follow the circuit year-round, the Plate is a measuring stick. A front-end score at Summerside against top company affirms a horse’s readiness for the grind to come. For the broader community, it’s a reminder that sport on P.E.I. remains personal, neighbourly, and close enough that you can still congratulate the connections on your way out of the parking lot.
What spectators took home from the night
- A home-province winner carrying Island colours in the province’s best-known summer race.
- A breakthrough Plate for veteran horseman Vaughn Doyle and driver James Langille.
- A sharp final time of 1:52.1, underscoring the quality on display at Red Shores Summerside.
As the lights tapered on the track and fans drifted into the night, the image that lingered was simple: a beaming grandfather, a proud daughter, and a youngster catching his first close-up of a champion. The Governor’s Plate is about pace and fractions, yes, but on P.E.I. it is just as much about moments like that — carried forward long after the photo is taken and the winner’s rug is folded away.
