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Teen sisters named rising stars in Island harness racing

Two teenage sisters were honoured Saturday night as rising stars in Island harness racing, receiving a new award aimed at encouraging young people to take up the sport.

Nicole Reeves, 15, and Gillian Reeves, 13, are grooms at the Red Shores racetrack in Summerside and were back at the stables working Sunday morning.

"We were the first ones to ever get this award, so it was amazing that we started this award this year for younger people. I was bawling and so was my sister," Nicole Reeves says.

The rising star award was sponsored by the Prince County Horsemen’s Club and presented by Frank Banks, a horse owner at the racetrack. The sisters were given jackets, a plaque and had their groom fees renewed.

"We're trying to get young people interested in the sport," Banks says. "There doesn't seem to be that many young people getting into it any more and we're trying to keep things going."

Nicole Reeves says she'll remain one of those young people still keen on harness racing and hopes she has a long career.

"I'm hoping to stick with it over the years and when I'm Frank's age I hope that I can still be in this business," she says.