Hi, this is Fred Wallace with ” Off the Wire “.
Saturday afternoon the 2020 harness racing season at Hanover Raceway comes to a conclusion with a 10 race card.
There will be a number of prominent racing names in the spotlight during the course of the season finale.
The Fritz Family, well known and well regarded locally and far beyond in the sport, will have a couple of central moments.
Race # 7 on the card will be the annual Ethel Fritz memorial Pace.
Plus, as part of Hanover’s Year End Awards, a new trophy will be presented; the award labelled as the ” Bud Fritz Rising Star Award “.
Had the Bud Fritz Award been around 10 to 15 years ago, there’s a good chance Doug McNair’s name would be on it.
McNair, who in the opinion of many is Canada’s top driver, has been a regular this season at Hanover Raceway.
Hanover’s new start time of 2 pm makes it feasible for McNair to race Saturday afternoons at Hanover and also compete later on Saturday nights at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
McNair’s 2020 season at Hanover has been dominant and he leads the Top Driver competition by 20 wins going to the finale on Saturday.
Overall for Hanover Raceway, it’s been a somewhat conflicting year.
Their many alterations have increased the betting handle by a huge margin and the new start time has attracted a number of marquee drivers.
Yet, thanks to COVID 19, they’ve also had limit attendance and inform some of their longest and most loyal fans that they are restricted from actually being on the property.
Here’s to a great finale at Hanover Raceway this weekend and to a ” normal ” race season in 2021.
I’m Fred Wallace