The Grand Circuit's weekly overview highlights its upcoming races at Harrah's Hoosier Park, MGM Northfield Park, Indiana State Fair and Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at Charlottetown Driving Park.
This Week: Dan Patch Invitational, Harrah’s Hoosier Park, Anderson, Indiana; Carl Milstein Memorial, MGM Northfield Park, Northfield, Ohio; Fox Stake, the Ralph Wilfong, the Horseman Stakes and the Hoosier Stakes, Indiana State Fair, Indianapolis, Indiana; and Gold Cup and Saucer trials, Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at Charlottetown Driving Park, Charlottetown, P.E.I.
Schedule of Events: An extremely busy week of Grand Circuit action kicks off this Wednesday (Aug. 10) as The Indiana State Fair will host one day of Grand Circuit racing with the feature being the $55,670 Fox Stake for two-year-old colt pacers. The co-featured event is the $45,797 Ralph Wilfong for two-year-old colt trotters. The Hoosier Stakes for two-year-olds will see two divisions in the $28,540 two-year-old filly trot and single divisions in the $26,726 two-year-old filly pace, the $26,314 two-year-old colt pace and the $23,564 two-year-old colt trot. The Horseman Stakes for three-year-olds features single divisions in the $35,388 three-year-old colt trot, the $32,088 three-year-old colt pace, the $27,832 three-year-old filly trot, and the $27,832 three-year-old filly pace.
Friday night (Aug. 12) at Hoosier Park will feature the $315,000 Dan Patch Invitational for older pacing horses.
On Saturday (Aug. 13), Northfield Park will host the $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial for three-year-old pacers. Also on Saturday, Red Shores Racetrack & Casino will host two of three trials for the Gold Cup and Saucer for older pacers. The third trial will be held on Monday (Aug. 15).
Complete entries for the U.S. races are available at this link. Entries for the Red Shores Racetrack & Casino races are available at this link.
Last Time: The biggest upset in Hambletonian history. A trainer sweeping the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks, and a driver winning the Hambletonian in his first drive for his second million-dollar win of the year. The 2022 Hambletonian will go down in history as one of the event's most memorable editions. To read the complete recap, click here.
Grand Circuit Standings: In 2022, the Grand Circuit leaders in three categories (driver, trainer and owner) will once again be tracked on a points system (20-10-5 for the top three finishers in divisions/finals and 10-5-2 for the top three finishers in eliminations/legs). Winbak Farms is the sponsor for the 2022 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the leaders (through the races on Aug. 6, 2022):
Drivers: 1. Dexter Dunn – 656; 2. Tim Tetrick – 549; 3. Yannick Gingras – 429; 4. Todd McCarthy – 413; 5. David Miller – 345.
Trainers: 1. Tony Alagna – 366; 2. Ron Burke – 356; 3. Ake Svanstedt – 342; 4. Nifty Norman – 261; 5. Brett Pelling – 212.
Owners: 1. David McDuffee – 125.9; 2. Schooner II Stable – 100; 3. Courant Inc. – 94; 4. Brad Grant – 76.3; 5. Hot Lead Farm – 75.
Looking Ahead: Grand Circuit action will be taking place next week at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, Red Shores Racetrack & Casino and Woodbine Mohawk Park. Pocono will host four events for three-year-olds — the Earl Beal Memorial (colt and gelding trot), the Max C. Hempt Memorial (colt and gelding pace), the James Lynch Memorial (filly pace) and the Delmonica Hanover (filly trot). Red Shores has the Gold Cup and Saucer final for older pacers. Woodbine Mohawk Park has eliminations for the William Wellwood (two-year-old open trot) and Peaceful Way (two-year-old filly trot).
(With files from Grand Circuit)