It was another chilly night, but the speeds were hot at Hanover Raceway. Saturday’s race card included a $10,000 Preferred 2 Pace and Trot won by Lyons Geoff and Fa Mulan
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Lyons Geoff only had two races in 2009, but showed he was in good shape and jumped out for a wire-to-wire victory in the Preferred Pace in 1:55.2, just over one second off the all time track record.
Excel Nine (James McClure) rode the pocket to finish four and a half lengths back in second and Oakley Seelster (Bruce Richardson) was third.
Lyons Geoff, a four-year-old son of Astreos, is owned by Geoff Lyons Mound of Burford, Ont. and was driven by Eddie Green for trainer Bruce Goit. He scored his first seasonal win and ninth of his career pushing his bankroll to $176,577.
Goit had a perfect night scoring three training wins on the 11-race card. Cameo Morley (1:57.1), also driven by Green, won his third race assignment and Whitesand Macgyver (1:57) won the fifth race with Trevor Henry. The Caistorville, Ont. resident has recorded 16 wins and $100,000 so far this year and 141 with over $1.1 million in purse earnings in his career.
In the Preferred Trot, Fa Mulan, driven by Bruce Richardson got away third, but then blasted to the lead before the half and won by three and three-quarter lengths in a time of 1:59.1.
Sam Nelson (Trevor Henry) came on for second and Apeachtoremember (James McClure) rounded out the top three.
Richard Griffiths trains the four-year-old daughter of Berndt Hanover for Ming K and Irene Siu of Richmond, B.C. The win was his second of the year and 12th of his career bumping his bankroll to $118,019.
Hanover was hoping to host a Jeff Gordon NASCAR simulator, but the vehichle’s operator was not allowed to cross the border. Instead, Hanover Raceway did a draw among the radio contest winners, and Sue Donaldson and Mary Ward each won two tickets to the Charlie Major Concert on Saturday August 15th at the Hanover Fair.
Tickets are now on sale at several locations including the Hanover Raceway Restaurant Bar, for just $20. Opening the concert will be Settler’s Creek from Dundalk, and
rising country star Willie Mack.
Next Saturday, Hanover feature’s its fourth annual Hockeyville night. Kids 15 and under wearing a hockey jersey can fill out a ballot to win one of four bicycles courtesy of Hanover Canadian Tire and Hanover Raceway. Post time is 7:15 p.m.
To view Saturday’s results, click here.
(With files from Hanover Raceway)