The 20th edition of The Maritimer, scheduled for Saturday, August 30 at the Exhibition Park Raceway, renews old partners.

The NBSBOA Inc. is excited to announce the Saint John Exhibition Association as a co-sponsor of this year’s event. Saint John is celebrating The Exhibition's 125th year in the community

What makes this so special is that many of their board of directors were in the winner’s circle as owners and friends in 1995 when Gemini Gazelle and Stephen Mahar toured the EPR oval to win the first event in 2.00.1. Gemini Gazelle later reduced her record to 1.54.1 in the mid-west. Island Quisite p 5 1.56.1, a lifetime winner of $187,503 that won the 1997 event, went over $100,000, a record for two and three-year-old horses racing in the Maritimes at that time.

Speaking for the group, Willard Jenkins agreed that The Maritimer has benefited the Exhibition and the city of Saint John for the last 20 years, and was extremely pleased to top up funding to match the inaugural 1995 purse of $32,540; thus continuing the tradition of the largest purse event in New Brunswick and one of the largest purses offered to this age group in the Maritimes.

The Maritimer has been part of the regional Triple Crown for three-year-old fillies since its inception. There are only three races in the region that have overall winners for this age group. The NBSBOA Inc. also shares co-sponsors with Standardbred Canada, which has been part of The Maritimer since the organization’s arrival in the region.

(With files from NBSBOA Inc.)