The Dream Of Glory Trot eliminations were staged in front of a very large crowd Saturday night at Hanover Raceway.
The top two finishers in each of the four eliminations advance to the final, which carries a purse in excess of $60,000, on Sunday, August 3 at Hanover.
The big winner on the night was driver Trevor Henry, who won a total of five races on the card and qualified a horse in all four Dream Of Glory Trot elimination races.
After finishing second with Richard Moreau trainee Kremlin to his brother Wayne Henry, who shares ownership on the first and fastest elimination winner, Warrawee Promesse (1:57.3), Trevor promptly won the next three elimination races. He was victorious with Massacaia (1:59.4) for owner Gestion Jean Yves Blais of Montreal, Que., filly Wings Of Ballykeel (2:00.3) for owner Ballykeel Racing of Tillsonburg, Ont., and Aventure (1:58.3) over Wayne's Tothepointe James for Illinois owner Orville Rursch. Both Massacaia and Wings Of Ballykeel are trained by Moreau while Aventure is conditioned by Bill Budd.
Interviewed trackside, Trevor Henry admitted he was leaning towards driving Aventure for the Dream of Glory Final.
In other news from the track, Marit Valstad of Norway won the Norway v.s. Canada Racing Under Saddle challenge taking Radical Dreamer to victory in what is believed to be a record 2:03 for RUS on a half-mile track.
Valstad said the show of support at Hanover Raceway was terrific and her hope is the series continues to grow similar to what occurs in Scandinavia.
Hanover Raceway made a presentation to Bruce Richardson during the evening for surpassing the 3,000 career victory mark last week at Hanover. Richardson said although winning an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Final at Grand River Raceway was among his career highlights, so have been his victories in the Walker Memorial Trot at Hanover.
Dream of Glory Final Day kicks off next Sunday, August 3 with a BBQ and live band starting at 5 p.m., Clydesdale wagon rides for fans, a celebrity horse for petting and pictures, and a huge BEM fireworks display after the races. Up to 10,000 people are expected to attend. Post time next Sunday is 6:30 p.m.
The post position draw for the Dream of Glory Final is listed below.
1. Massacaia
2. Tothepointe James
3. Verdi
4. Erin Hall
5. Warrawee Promesse
6. Kremlin
7. Wings Of Ballykeel
8. Aventure
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Hanover Raceway.
(With files from Hanover Raceway)