This Saturday’s main event at Cal Expo has been named for Bill Conlin, the longtime sportswriter, editor and columnist for the Sacramento Bee who passed away in 1997 at the age of 84.

“Bill Conlin, quite simply, is a legend, a real newspaperman who loved his work and his hometown of Sacramento like no other,” related Sacramento Bee columnist Debbie Arrington.

“With great wit, he covered sports (and more) in this city for six decades, first at the Sacramento Union, then The Bee. He knew everyone – from Ronald Reagan to Al Davis – and was a daily presence in The Bee's sports section until his retirement in 1985.

“Through it all, harness racing remained one of his favourite sports, both to cover and to watch as a fan.”

Arrington noted that when Conlin passed away in June of 1997, Cal Expo’s harness drivers paid tribute to him in the winner’s circle before the first Bill Conlin Memorial, which was won by the great pacer and sire Little Steven.

“It’s wonderful that Bill’s name still lives on at Cal Expo in a sport he truly loved,” Arrington added.

(Cal Expo)