The 2021 season of harness racing at Hanover Raceway concluded on Saturday (Sept. 18) with a number of special races and award presentations.
Tell Us More was not to be denied in the feature celebrating the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society’s 25th anniversary. Leaving from post two, Austin Sorrie had the veteran on top early and they paced by the opening quarters in :28.2 and :58.4.
As they approached the three-quarters Eataams Sportsbaby came calling and the two were neck and neck at the 1:27.1 third panel. The challenger tucked in behind the leader through the final turn but came right back out down the stretch but Tell Us More had a little more left and held him off to win in 1:58.1. The beautiful grey Westridge Warrior came on to be third.
The win was the fifth in 15 outings this year for the 11-year-old gelding owned and trained by Jim Wilson. Bred by Karin Olsson Burgess and her father-in-law, the late Bob Burgess (who also raced his sire Tell All), Tell Us More has 177 lifetime starts for $374,000 in earnings.
Every racetrack in Ontario is celebrating OSAS’s 25th anniversary with a special race during the 2021 season. Today’s event was the eighth so far, with Flamboro (September 30), Western Fair (October 8), Mohawk (October 23) and Rideau Carleton (October 28) remaining on the schedule.
SOS Nostoppinmenow (Bruce Richardson) lived up to his name in the Ethel Fritz Memorial Pace, stalking pacesetter Dress To The Nines (Colin Kelly) first up from just before the half and getting up in the stretch for a one-length victory.
Five-year-old SOS Nostoppinmenow (Shanghai Phil - Star Siren) is owned and trained by Walter Tymcio of Dundalk, Ont. The win was the gelding's first of the season and seventh of his career.
During the card, Hanover made presentations to a number of award winners for the 2021 season, another successful one for the Grey County oval.
"We're very grateful for all of the support we've received this season, both from our fans and the horse people who support our racetrack with their horses and their talents," said Hanover GM Steve Fitzsimmons. "We've had two excellent seasons back to back and we are very excited to continue to grow and innovate and try to make our product and customer experience as top notch as we can, whether you're watching at home or on site at the racetrack."
Ab Fleishauer Horse of the Year Award - Old Buck
The eight-year-old Ameripan Gigolo gelding has never been better than he's raced recently, chalking up six wins in eight seasonal starts at Hanover Raceway, including a sizzling 1:56 score that equalled his lifetime best. His run included winning four weeks in a row with dominant scores. The gelding has stashed away $12,540 at Hanover for owners Gregory Mason of Mulmur and his owner/trainer Jim Stewart of Orangeville.
This award was named in honour of one of the founding members of Hanover Raceway, who also was a horse owner and Judge.
Claimer of the Year - Shadow Dreamer
The nine-year-old Shadow Play mare has been a very consistent performer in the $7,000 claiming ranks at Hanover Raceway, notching four wins and four seconds in 11 seasonal starts, along with $11,780 in earnings.
She established a new lifetime mark earlier this season with a 1:56.4 score over the oval for trainer John Kennedy for Megan Card and Brad Lichty of Elmira and Rick Howie of Perth.
Bud Fritz Rising Star Award - Travis Henry
Travis Henry has been among Hanover Raceway's leading drivers for the entire 2021 campaign, wrapping up the meet with 12 wins in 99 starts and more than $73,000 in purse earnings.
The Embro resident continues to show both driving talent and horsemanship and has put himself on a positive trajectory upwards to becoming a regular driver on the Woodbine Mohawk Park circuit one day. He has 1,658 career wins and $10.6 million in lifetime driving earnings, but continues to refine and work hard at his craft to make himself a better driver, making him a very worthy recipient of the Bud Fritz Rising Star Award.
The Bud Fritz Rising Star Award is awarded to an up-and-coming trainer or driver who races at Hanover Raceway and who shows strong potential to continue to grow and become a star in our industry in the future.
Top Dash Winning Driver and Top Percentage Leading Driver - Bob McClure
Canada's 2020 O'Brien award winner for Driver of the Year has been on fire at Hanover, with an incredible .559 UDR and a 42 percent win percentage. His wins at Hanover Raceway this season include winning his first Balanced Image title courtesy Sea Can and four wins piloting Horse of the Year Old Buck among others.
Dash Winning Trainer and Ray and Lue Leifso Award (Leading Non-Driving Percentage Trainer with top UTRS - Minimum 15 seasonal starts) - Terry Gallant
Gallant concluded the season at Hanover with .531 UTRS, besting John Kennedy. These same two trainers battled it out until the final race of the season last year, with Kennedy edging by Gallant in the final race. This award was named in remembrance of Ray and Lue Leifso, who raced here consistently and were massive supporters of the Raceway in its early days. Their family connection to the Raceway continues to this day, as their son Dean is Hanover Raceway's Chairman.
To view the results from the Saturday card at Hanover, click the following link: Saturday Results - Hanover Raceway.
(with files from Hanover and OSAS)