It was a perfect night weather-wise and for speed as the Ontario Sires Stakes were back at Hanover Raceway for its final Thursday night race card of the season.

Eight divisions of two-year-old filly pacers hit the track, and it seemed as though as the temperature got cooler outside the horses got faster on the track. James MacDonald, fresh off a visit to P.E.I. for the Gold Cup and Saucer, started the night off with a win in Race 2 behind Lady Rei in 1:58.2.

Macdonald’s charge got away fourth behind quarter pole leader OK Firefly, driven by Robert Shepherd in :29.1. Shepherd led past the half in 1:01 and the three-quarter’s in 1:30 flat only to be overtaken by MacDonald just before the wire in 1:58.2.

MacDonald made it back-to-back wins winning Race 3 behind Miss Coco Luck for owners Dan and Kim Sergeant of Straffordville. After the Race Dan Sergeant said his two-year-old raced in the Gold series at Rideau but going into the final she came up a little sick and had no luck.

"We decided to bring her here tonight and she raced really good. It’s her first lifetime win so it was worth the trip for sure.”

Miss Coco Luck won wire-to-wire in times of :29.1, 1:01.1, 1:29.4 and the mile in 1:58.

Race 4 was won by Foolish Mind for driver J Harris and owners Sue Marie Gangell of Simcoe and John Devito of New York in a time of 1:56.2.

Race 5 went to Keystone Maddie for driver Robert Shepherd and owners Dan Lagace and Michelle Gagne of Cambridge.

Race 6 was won by Snowbird for driver Keith Oliver and owners Lorne and Jean Keller of Exeter in 1:56.3.

Race 8 went to Twilight Seelster for driver Mike Horner and owner Brad Wilson of Lambton Shores in 1:56.

Race 9 was won by Expresso Yourself for driver Keith Oliver and owners Robert Mcintosh of Windsor and former NHLer Paul Ysebaert of Mooretown in 1:56.1, and the final OSS race of the night went to Racey Miss for driver Marcel Barrieau and owner Hudson Standarbreds of Hudson Quebec. Barrieau had the fastest mile of the night in the final leg and led from start to finish in times of 27.4, :57.4, 1:26.2 and the mile in 1:55.3.

Afterwards Barrieau says every time he comes to Hanover his experience has been good. He said although he ended up winning the mile convincingly, it was a bit of a tug of war with his fellow competitors right up until the three-quarter mile marker. As for the horse's future, Barrieau says although she raced good tonight, she hasn’t been that consistent so he’s not sure what to expect from her in the future.

Over 500 fans turned out for the final Thursday night card, which also wrapped up the final night of the August handicapping contest. The winner was Gord McMann of Kincardine who ended up with $143.30 in virtual winnings, while 2nd place went to Jessica Breadner of Markdale with $128.70, and 3rd place went to Bob Swannell of Owen Sound.

Live harness racing continues on Saturdays including a couple of special events in September. September 1 is CKNX night, where a lucky fan will walk away with a 50" Panasonic TV courtesy of CKNX and Modern Appliances, and on September 8 it's the 10th annual ALL TROT NIGHT, including the Balanced Image final, OSS three-year-old Filly Trotters, the Walker Memorial Trot. Abbey Road C will be on hand for fans to take their picture with the first ever Dream Of Glory winner, who is now retired.

Hanover Raceway is also holding a fundraising golf tournament at Homestead Resort on September 5. The four-person scramble will start at 1:00 p.m. and money raised will go to the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society for retired racehorses. Contact Hanover Raceway GM Gord Dougan to register.

To view results from Thursday's card of harness racing at Hanover, click the following link: Hanover Thursday Results.

(Hanover)