Spotlight On The Grand Circuit
The Grand Circuit's weekly overview highlights its upcoming races at Charlottetown Driving Park, Woodbine Mohawk Park and Pocono Downs.
This Week: Earl Beal Memorial, Max C. Hempt Memorial, James Lynch Memorial and Delmonica Hanover, Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; Gold Cup and Saucer final, Red Shores Racetrack & Casino, Charlottetown, P.E.I.; and William Wellwood and Peaceful Way eliminations, Woodbine Mohawk Park, Milton, Ont.
Schedule of Events: A busy Saturday afternoon (Aug. 19) of Grand Circuit racing for three-year-olds will take place at Pocono with main events and consolations for the Earl Beal Memorial (colt and gelding trot), Max C. Hempt Memorial (colt and gelding pace), James Lynch Memorial (filly pace) and the Delmonica Hanover (filly trot).
The Beal has a $300,000 main event and $200,000 and $100,000 consolations; the Hempt also has a $300,000 main event and $200,000 and $100,000 consolations. The Lynch features a $250,000 main event and $125,000 and $75,000 consolations, while the Delmonica Hanover also has a $250,000 main event and $125,000 and $75,000 consolations.
Also on Saturday, Red Shores Racetrack & Casino will host the $100,000 Gold Cup and Saucer final for older pacers.
Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday features three $30,000 William Wellwood Memorial eliminations for two-year-old male trotters and two $30,000 Peaceful Way eliminations for two-year-old filly trotters.
Complete entries for the Pocono races are available by clicking here. Entries for the Red Shores Racetrack & Casino are available by clicking here and Woodbine Mohawk Park races are available by clicking here.
Last Time: Purchased privately following a runner-up performance in the Cane Pace at The Meadowlands, Seven Colors showed his new connections just how good he was with a jaw-dropping world-record victory in the $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial at MGM Northfield Park on Saturday (Aug. 12). Click here for a complete recap.
For a list of 2023 race winners on the Grand Circuit, click here.
Grand Circuit Standings: In 2023, the Grand Circuit leaders in three categories (driver, trainer and owner) will once again be tracked on a points system (20-10-5 for the top three finishers in divisions/finals and 10-5-2 for the top three finishers in eliminations/legs). Winbak Farms is the sponsor for the 2023 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the leaders (through the races on Aug. 12, 2023):
Drivers: 1. Dexter Dunn – 525; 2. Yannick Gingras – 512; 3. Scott Zeron – 415; 4. Tim Tetrick – 391; 5. David Miller – 344.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 657; 2. Ake Svanstedt – 422; 3. Nancy Takter – 293; 4. Linda Toscano – 252; 5. Marcus Melander – 231.
Owners: 1. Diamond Creek Racing – 165.9; 2. Burke Racing Stable – 121.7; 3. Hudson Standardbred Stable – 100; 4. Mark Ford – 98; 5. Ken Jacobs – 92.5.
Looking Ahead: Grand Circuit action will be taking place next week at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Mohawk Park will host several stakes including the William Wellwood and Peaceful Way finals for two-year-old trotters, the Nassagaweya for two-year-old male pacers, the Eternal Camnation for two-year-old filly pacers, the Casual Breeze for three-year-old filly trotters, and eliminations in the Maple Leaf Trot for older trotters and the Canadian Pacing Derby for older pacers.
(Grand Circuit)