Dream Of Glory Day, which is chuck full of promotions and racing action, will kick off Saturday, July 31 at Hanover Raceway with an outdoor BBQ and a live performance by the band The Red Rascals
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Children in attendance can take part in a colouring contest to win prizes based on their age category. There will also be draws for rides in the Tara Oaks Carriage, which will parade the horses in Races 1 through 10.
Several Ontario tracks are sending their mascots to Hanover, and they will be racing in a 200-yard dash after Race 6.
Race 10 is the feature race, the $100,000 Dream Of Glory Championship. This year's event will include five horses with local ties, including three trained by Paul Walker of Owen Sound, Ont.
Paul, the son the Hall of Famer Allan Walker, has chosen to drive Carscot Review, one of two fillies in the race. The other is another Paul Walker trainee, MadenCanadaMatters, who will host Ross Battin in the racebike from Post 1. Battin is the only driver to have won the Dream Of Glory championship more than once.
The morning line favourite is Krakatoa, who will be driven by Randy Fritz, who won the Dream Of Glory with Random Solution in 2008 and will be looking for his second championship. Krakatoa recorded the fastest win time of the four eliminations.
After the races, Hanover will celebrate its ninth annual Dream Of Glory final with a huge BEM fireworks display on the infield. Close to 5,000 people are expected to attend.
On Sunday, fans can take a tour of the backstretch, learn about the health and nutrition of horses, how to train horses, and get a chance to drive a standardbred on the Hanover track with a professional driver. The free open house and BBQ will run from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 1.
To view the entries for Dream Of Glory Day at Hanover, click here.
(With files from Hanover)