The Raceway at Western Fair District is gearing up for what promises to be one of the biggest days in Canadian harness racing this season when it hosts the Molson Pace program on closing night, Friday, May 27.
More than $500,000 in purses will be offered up on the 12-race program which will get underway at 7:05 p.m.
The highlight will be the $150,000 Molson Pace Invitational that will feature many of the sport’s best older pacers. The headliner is expected to be Canada’s reigning Horse of the Year, State Treasurer, who will be looking for an unprecedented fourth straight Molson title. He will meet reigning American Horse of the Year Wiggle It Jiggle It in an early-season test this Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack.
The race office has been busy scouting the older pacing division in recent weeks and has started sending out invitations. Other confirmed starters will be announced in the coming days.
For the second straight year, the ‘Molson’ program will feature a powerful undercard which includes the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold divisions for three-year-old colt pacers. It will provide fans with their first look at this year’s crop of the province’s finest glamour boys. The 2016 edition at The Raceway produced stellar performances from Go Daddy Go (1:53.1), Sportskeeper (1:53) and Windsong Leo (1:54.1).
A quartet of City of London Series finals will also be contested that night with more than $150,000 up for grabs for three-year-old colts and fillies on both the trot and pace.
New this year will be a pair of $12,000 (added) claiming finals for $6,000 claiming pacers (both male and female) as part of the newly-formed Alliance Series of races as well as an added-purse Junior Invitational Pace.
“It’s certainly our biggest night of the season and we want to finish it off on a high note,” said racing manager Greg Blanchard. “As always, we have a lot going on that night in terms of promotions but we want the racing on track to be the focal point. We’re working hard to put on the best program possible and hope to have something for everyone.”
The wagering menu will also be bolstered with the addition of a third Super Hi-5 wager that night. There will be a trio of guaranteed pool wagers offered up as well including the early Pick-3 ($5,000), early Pick-4 ($10,000) and late Pick-4 ($15,000). All of these wagers come with a low 15 per cent takeout rate.
The Raceway also wishes to remind horseplayers that it will host a special matinee program of live racing this Saturday beginning at 1:15 p.m. as part of Kentucky Derby Day. Following live racing, fans can stick around and watch the network broadcast of the Kentucky Derby on The Raceway’s new state-of-the-art infield video board.
(The Raceway at Western Fair District)