The winner's circle gathering for the 2026 Bud & Ethel Fritz Memorial Pace on Saturday, Sept. 12 at Hanover Raceway had a bit more to celebrate when Travis Henry brought back a victorious Bettorbeflyin.

The $12,500 feature on the season-closing card, the Bud & Ethel Fritz Memorial featured fireworks and a popular winner. After Heza Handy Man (Mike Horner) plowed his way to the top, Travis Henry looped 3-5 choice Bettorbeflyin back to the lead and cleared through a :28 opening quarter. Up Joeys Credit (Samuel Fillion) applied pressure to the new leader almost immediately, and kept the heat on the public choice through a :57.2 half and 1:26 third station to take a slight lead on the outside. Bettorbeflyin beneiftted from the inside advantage, however, and fought back to win by three parts of a length with the mile timed in 1:57.1. Summer Dancer (Brady Galliers) finished third.

A son of Bettors Delight-Fast Flyin Mach, Bettorbeflyin is trained by Bud & Ethel's son, Dale Fritz of Walkerton, Ont., and he co-owns the eight-year-old gelding with William Wyatt of Kincardine, Ont. and Randy Hyatt of Walkerton, Ont. Now three-for-six in 2026, Bettorbeflyin picked up his 20th career victory to edge closer to the $200,000 mark in career earnings. He returned $3.40 to win.

Dale wasn't the only Fritz making headlines on Saturday. Sophomore pacing colt Smilin Pete prevailed in the fourth race for owner-breeder-trainer-driver Terry Fritz of Walkerton, and that victory — his fourth of the year locally — clinched AB Fleishauer Horse of the Year honours at Hanover for the son of All Bets Off-Underground Queen.

After posting five wins at Hanover last Saturday, Travis Henry came back with an encore performance to close the meet with 10 wins over the final two cards to just miss the overall dash win title at Hanover for 2026. On Saturday, Henry connected with Outlawgrandetorino (1:58.2; $2.90) in the second, Bettorbeflyin in the third, Azucar Jack (1:58.2; $5.70) in the sixth, Domain Seelster (2:01.2; $2.10) in the ninth and Arrakis (2:02.2; $4.10) in the penultimate dash to total 14 local victories on the year — one behind the 15 posted by Brady Galliers as he captured his first Bud Fritz Leading Driver Award.

In addition to Galliers and Smilin Pete, Hanover Raceway also recognized the following award winners for the season during the 2026 finale on Saturday.

• Dash Winning Trainer - Jacob Roberts (11 wins)
• Top Percentage Winning Driver - Tyler Borth (0.449 UDRS)
• Ray and Lue Leifso Award (non-driving trainer award) - Kevin Stephens
• Claimer of the Year - Heres The Thing

For the full results from the final card of harness racing in Hanover for this season, click the following link: Saturday Results - Hanover Raceway.

(Standardbred Canada)