by Jack Ginnetti

Plainville, MA — Although the winners of the Beckwith Memorial and the Stanley Bergstein Pace grabbed the spotlight at Plainridge on Labor Day, there was plenty else to cheer about.

U. S. Senator Scott Brown commented how kids and families had gathered along the grandstand and clubhouse areas for a good time. He said he had just returned from a nine-day trip abroad and it was time to turn the country around.

Senator Richard Ross also attended the Labor Day spectacular and promised his continued support of a casino bill.

Steve O’Toole, Plainridge general manager, won the $3,000 first prize in the Legends Driving Series. That marked career win 986.

Another of the major highlights of the afternoon was the dedication to the Wall of Fame of Joseph Hartmann pictured in a live-like setting at a round table complete with a Plainridge program. It drew this response from CCO Gary Piontkowski, “my friend Joe, that’s the way I remember him.”

Fittingly, Gary’s friend Peter Blood rolled to an easy win in the opener. He now has 1,102 career wins.

Adding to the splendor of the day was the call to post by Ed Nowak, dressed in his colorful red coat and gold hat.

All in all, the 2010 racing extravaganza produced the biggest crowd of the season and enabled horsemen who spent the season at Plainridge the opportunity to be a part of the 15th edition of the Beckwith Memorial Pace which produced increased purses to them.