Hanover Raceway will welcome back eight of Ontario’s accomplished horsemen who began their careers at the Hanover, Ont. racetrack this Saturday, June 21.
The horsemen returning for Hanover's homecoming event and competing on the afternoon's 10-race card are Mark Etsell, Trevor Henry, Ryan Holliday, Bob McClure, Bruce Richardson, Garrett Rooney, Jason Ryan and Scott Young.
Hanover Raceway will also host its annual Open House on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon with tours in the backstretch and the Virtual Reality Harness Driving Experience, sponsored by Bill Galvin Racing Alliance.
The future stars of the sport will take centre stage during the matinee program in the Young Gunz Mini Horse Races, the first of three legs to be held this year at Hanover Raceway.
Hanover's Homecoming Stars
Mark Etsell is one of Canada’s top trainers with career earnings exceeding $11 million and more than 900 training wins. He is best known for conditioning two-time O'Brien Award-winning filly Adare Castle, a $10,000 yearling purchase who earned more than $1.4 million and took a lifetime mark of 1:52. Etsell consistently develops top talent to compete in the Ontario Sires Stakes program, including Mister Muscle and Sea Can, who captured the Dream of Glory Trot titles in 2017 and 2022, respectively.
Trevor Henry is a legend around Hanover with 10 driving titles at the Grey County oval. Henry’s 30-plus year career has included more than 7,700 wins. After dominating Ontario's "B" track circuit for many years, Henry made the move to Woodbine Mohawk Park and continued his winning ways, hitting major money milestones including $80 million. Known for his calm, intuitive driving style and relentless work ethic, Henry has been Canada’s winningest harness driver multiple times and captured the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup with Desperate Man in 2021.
Ryan Holliday has been a standout at Hanover Raceway. Since his career began in 2008, Holliday has racked up more than 1,100 career wins while earning $7.8 million in purses. In 2018, Holliday captured the Hanover Raceway dash title with 47 wins and led all drivers with $153,205 in earnings. He has always been a fan favourite at the Grey County oval and continues to be a great ambassador for the track.
Bob McClure is one of Canada’s most accomplished drivers, who made his first start in 2009 after growing up on Hanover Raceway’s backstretch and led the nation for wins for the first time in his career in 2016 with 576 trip's to victory lane. He’s amassed more than 3,500 career victories and $53 million in purse earnings. His resume is highlighted by marquee triumphs, including winning the sport’s premier race, the Hambletonian in 2019 aboard Forbidden Trade, earning the 2020 O’Brien Award as Canada’s Driver of the Year and claiming multiple Breeders Crowns.
Bruce Richardson has been a dominant presence at Hanover Raceway and around Ontario since the 1990s. He has delivered several standout performances at the half-mile track and shares Hanover's modern-day record for most wins on one card -- eight victories -- with Trevor Henry. Throughout his career at Hanover, Richardson consistently ranked among the top drivers, while capturing the dash and earning titles in multiple seasons and solidifying his reputation as one of the circuit’s all time greats. Richardson has visited the winner’s circle more than 3,600 times in his career and sports earnings close to $23 million.
Garrett Rooney rose through the ranks on Ontario’s "B" tracks after making his driving debut in 2003 and securing his first win in May 2004 at Hanover Raceway. Over the past few years, he’s hit his stride and posted career-best numbers driving horses to 294 win and more than $1.4 million in purses in 2024 alone, surpassing 1,900 career victories and $10 million in earnings earlier this year. In 2025, he continues to dominate at Ontario tracks, racking up driving titles every year.
Jason Ryan is a regular driver at Hanover Raceway who has built a strong career across Ontario tracks like Flamboro Downs, Western Fair Raceway and Georgian Downs, earning a reputation for consistency with more than 2,000 career wins and $13.4 million in earnings. In 2022, he not only pinned down the title of leading driver at Hanover Raceway with 29 wins from 103 starts and more than $100,000 in purses but also captured the top percentage driving award. Ryan regularly ranks among the top drivers at Ontario’s track circuits.
Scott Young learned his trade at Hanover Raceway and on the "B" tracks of Ontario, following in the footsteps of his father, renowned horseman Bob Young. Since starting his driving career in 2010, he has amassed nearly 1,400 career victories with purse earnings topping the $15 million mark. In 2020, Young teamed up with two-year-old trotting colt On A Streak to capture the $535,000 William Wellwood Memorial at Woodbine Mohawk Park. He returned to Hanover Raceway in 2022 to capture the Dream of Glory Trot with the Mark Etsell-trained Sea Can.
Post time for Saturday's harness racing card is 1:30 p.m.
To view Saturday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Hanover Raceway.
(With files from Hanover Raceway)