Live harness racing returns to Century Mile this weekend starting with an eight-race program on Friday, Sept. 25 at 6:35 p.m. (MDT).
Opening weekend will feature Alberta's Preferred pacers with the distaffers in action in Friday's $14,500 fourth race feature, headlined by Poker Queen from the Gerry Hudon stable. The five-year-old Betting Line-Hedgie Blue Chip mare hit the board in all by one of her races over the summer while competing strictly in the Mares Preferred class at Century Downs, including a career-best 1:52.3 victory last time out back on Aug. 28. Co-owner Phil Giesbrecht drives the mare, who will start from the middle of the five-horse field, which includes familiar foes Byby Baby Byby (Mike Hennessy), Sandras Mystery (Drew Campbell), Outlawguns N Roses (Nathan Sobey) and Little Rhys Chick (James Jungquist).
For opening day, the Finish Line Restaurant, suites, second-floor lobby and Paddock Room will be closed to the public for a private event. The outdoor apron will be available.
Racing will continue at the Edmonton, Alta. mile oval on Fridays, Saturdays and Wednesdays through mid-October before switching to a two-day weekly racing schedule on Fridays and Saturdays through the end of December, with the exception that there will be no racing on Christmas Day (Friday, Dec. 25) and there will be a New Year's Eve (Thursday, Dec. 31) program. Post time is 6:35 p.m. (MT). To view the full list of Century Mile race dates, click here.
To view Friday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Friday Entries - Century Mile / Program Pages (courtesy TrackIT).
(Standardbred Canada)