Hanover Raceway opened its 2016 season with a great crowd on Saturday (June 4) and Secret Muscle got the night rolling by winning the first race as the 4-5 favourite.
Owned, trained and driven by Charlie Ward of Hanover, Ont., the four-year-old son of Muscle Mass got away second from the outside post and stayed behind Attitude To Burn until just before the third quarter pole when he took over the lead. Those two trotters battled down the stretch with Secret Muscle coming out on top by just under a length in a mile time of 2:03.
There were several great finishes on the Saturday card including a four-wide battle down the stretch in the fifth race, eventually won by Lawmen Reign, owned trained and driven by Ross Battin of Monkton, Ont.
Bruce Richardson, Brad Forward and Clark Stacey each piloted two horses to victories on the night, and the Tendr-pizza mile was won by Terry Fritz, who owns trains and drives last year’s local Horse of the Year, Preppy Art, who won the nightcap in easy fashion in 1:58.4.
Hanover Raceway plays host to 'Pepsi Night at the Races' next Saturday, June 11. Close to $2,000 in prizes will be given away, including a patio set, BBQ, lawn mower, golf equipment and more. Post time next Saturday night is 7:15 p.m.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Hanover Raceway.
(With files from Hanover Raceway)