Fraser Downs Racetrack is heading into the 'homestretch' of its 2009-2010 live harness racing season with just four weekends left on the schedule

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Two dates that are particularly important to jot down are Friday, June 11 – Robert Murphy Day – and Saturday, June 12 – a fundraiser in support of the Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation.

Robert Murphy, a prominent harness racing breeder and owner from Surrey, passed away last February 8 at the age of 77. Known by his popular Red Star moniker, Mr. Murphy’s horses earned well over $100 million by winning more than 1,200 standardbred races.

In 2008 the BC Standardbred Breeders Society proudly recognized Murphy and his wife of 57 years, Mary, by renaming the BC Breeders Stakes three-year-old races in their honour.

Fraser Downs Racetrack will salute Mr. Murphy on Saturday, June 11 with a race in his name and also the unveiling of the Robert Murphy Room.

Then on Sunday, June 12, Fraser Downs fans can let their hair down by celebrating ‘Rock ‘N Racing’ in support of the Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation. Racing will start at 6:00 p.m. with live music at 9:00 p.m. featuring three live bands: All About Jack, Drink the Fat and Keith Diamond and the Rockets. Tickets are only $25 and available at Guest Services or through Thornley Hayne Creative at 604-581-2827.

All Hail 'King' Eddie

Even though he has packed up his harness tack and is headed off to Indiana, Ed Hensley will win both the Drivers and the Trainers awards this year at Fraser Downs. Pretty incredible, huh? The guy has such a lead in both categories he can’t be caught!

Hensley drove to 159 wins for earnings of $865,466 this season and scored 118 victories as a trainer for earnings of $859,492. Hensley finished with 47 more driving wins than Jim Marino and 57 more training wins than Keith Clark.

(Fraser Downs)