The return of trainer-driver Ed Hensley to Fraser Downs Racetrack is warmly welcomed by Director of Racing Jackson Wittup
.
“We’re getting one step closer to the start of the new season,” Wittup says. “Having Eddie back is a definite plus for all of us.”
Hensley rocked the local standardbred scene last year by winning both the top driver and top trainer awards by wide margins. His 159 driving wins resulted in earnings of $865,466 and his 118 training wins added $859,492 in earnings.
Hensley departed for the U.S. circuit a month before the harness racing schedule ended at Fraser Downs and still had no trouble sweeping both titles. Jim Marino finished in second place in the leading drivers division with 135 wins; Keith Clark was the second-leading trainer with 64 wins.
Wittup said that Clark and Gerry Hudon have been the first of the Northlands Park's contingent from Edmonton to confirm their Fraser Downs returns for the upcoming season.
While the opening three months (October, November, December) of the 2010-2011 schedule have been confirmed by the BC Horse Racing Industry Management Committee, Wittup is still awaiting word on the 2011 dates.
The schedule at this point shows 25 race dates beginning on Friday, Oct. 1 and running through to the end of December. Only two Saturday night cards are on the agenda: Oct. 2 and Oct. 9, both 7:00 p.m. starts. The rest of the dates are Friday nights (7:00 p.m.) and Sunday afternoons (1:15 p.m.) with the exception of Thursday, Nov. 11 - the traditional Remembrance Day card featuring BC Classic Day at 1:15 p.m.
For Friday's entries, click here.
(with files from Fraser Downs)