$250,000 Massachusetts Trot slated for July 28

by John Furgele

Plainridge Park is a harness facility/racino in Plainville, Massachusetts, which for years has operated in relative obscurity.

No more.

The 5/8 mile oval announced last week that on July 28, they will host the $250,000 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot. If you’re a fan of harness racing, and in particular, big events, this is welcome news. And, with Hambletonian Day taking place a week later on August 5, the timing is perfect. Trainers and horses can use this race to prep for the next Saturday where there will be 10 stakes races on the Hambletonian Day card.

The race will be for open trotters and many of these may run in the Cashman Memorial on August 5 at The Big M. Plainridge is the only harness track in Massachusetts and buoyed by the casino is holding its own. And, with thoroughbred racing at Suffolk Downs all but scuttled, Plainridge is looking to pick up the horse racing void.

The race will help put Plainridge Park on the racing map. For the most part, purses are on the small side, but adding a $250,000 race with perhaps more to come indicates that Massachusetts means business when it comes to harness racing.

The 2017 racing season at Plainridge begins on April 10 and the 125-day card concludes on November 24. For the most part, Plainridge races on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday with post times ranging from 1 to 4 pm.

The track, at 5/8 mile produces some speedy times for ordinary pacers and trotters and with $250,000 on the line, times in the low 1:50s are certainly not out of the question.

For more, visit http://www.plainridgeparkcasino.com/racing

See you at the races!

Reach me at harnessracing@gmx.com