One of the few bright spots in Michigan harness racing will take place on Tuesday, July 27 at the Ottawa County Fair in Holland, Michigan
. The prestigious Wolverine Futurity featuring the State’s top two and three-year-old trotters and pacers will face the starting gate and race on the swifthalf-mile Fairgrounds track in scenic west Michigan.
It all began in 1942 in Croswell, Michigan, with total purse money less than $900 for the trot and pace divisions. Winning time for the inaugural pace was 2:16. Three years ago at Holland, Shark Dressed Man, cruised the oval in track record time of 1:55.1.
Things have certainly changed, as has the racing climate in the Wolverine State. Fast forward to 1980 after the Futurity spent four years at Kinross. A Fair would ‘bid’ to get the rights to host the Wolverine and generally a couple thousand dollars would do the trick. Holland, with some significant harness racing roots and connections entered the picture and bid the then enormous fee of $10,000 to bring the race to the Ottawa County Fair where it has remained ever since, being approved by the Department of Agriculture and the Michigan Harness Horseman’s Association.
During its 30-year run at the west Michigan facility, the track itself has become one of the finest of all Fair tracks, barns have continually been improved, the grandstand got covered and the marriage of great racing and great times at a great Fair became well known and widely appreciated.
Purses are estimated to be in the $17,000 range, not too shabby all things considered (a few short years ago purses neared $30,000 in each division). As an added attraction, a minimum of $2,500 will be awarded to lucky race fans for picking winners on the night’s program. Fans will simply select their favourites, enter them on an appropriate entry form contained in the racing program and from the pool of those correctly picking the winner in each race, a drawing will take place with prizes of $25, $50, $75 and $100 awarded. It’s proven to be quite a crowd pleaser at the Fair that has no wagering on its races.
The Wolverine Futurity is many things to many people and it all takes place at 7 p.m. Tuesday night in the Tulip City, located just 2-1/2 hours from Chicago to the west and Detroit to the east, along the West Michigan Shoreline.
Further information on the Fair can be found at www.ottawacountyfair.com.
(Ottawa County Fair)