by Heather Blackwell, for Western Fair Raceway

London, ON — Western Fair Raceway is pleased to announce their 2010 stakes schedule anchored by their signature event, the C$225,000-plus Molson Pace in May.

Introduced in 1972, when the C$7,500 event was won by Hall of Famer Jack Kopas and Key Ones Uno in 2:04.3, the race has grown to become one of the premier free for all events for pacers in North America.

Last year’s Molson Pace was worth C$283,000 and was won by Stormaway. This year’s final will be presented on Friday, May 28, the final live racing card of the Spring Meet at the London, Ontario track. That race card will also feature the C$40,000 (added) finals of the City of London Series for both pacers and trotters.

The second annual Forest City Pace will be one of the main attractions of Western Fair’s Fall Meet, which begins on October 15. The mare companion race for the Molson Pace, being for open female pacers, last year’s inaugural event was worth C$189,000 and was captured by Southwind Madonna.

In addition to Western Fair sponsored stakes, the track will also host numerous Ontario Sire Stakes events during the 2010 season including the eight C$100,000 Grassroots Championships on October 23 which corresponds with the eliminations for the Forest City Pace.

Information on all of Western Fair’s stakes events, including nomination deadlines and conditions, are available at www.westernfair.com/race/stakes.html.

Western Fair’s 2010 Stakes Schedule
May 14–City of London Trotting Series, first leg, C$7,500 (div.)
May 14–City of London Pacing Series, first leg, C$7,500 (div.)
May 21–City of London Trotting Series, second leg, C$7,500 (div.)
May 21–City of London Pacing Series, second leg, C$7,500 (div.)
May 21–Molson Pace Eliminations, C$20,000
May 28–City of London Trotting Series Final, C$40,000 (added)
May 28–City of London Pacing Series Final, C$40,000 (added)
May 28–Molson Pace Final, C$225,000 (added)
Oct. 22–Middlesex County Pacing Series, first leg, C$7,500 (div.)
Oct. 22–Middlesex County Trotting Series, first leg, C$7,500 (div.)
Oct. 23–Forest City Pace Eliminations, C$15,000
Oct. 29–Middlesex County Pacing Series, second leg, C$7,500 (div.)
Oct. 29–Middlesex County Trotting Series, second leg, C$7,500 (div.)
Oct. 30–Forest City Pace Final, C$125,000 (added)
Nov. 6–Middlesex County Pacing Series final, C$40,000 (added)
Nov. 6–Middlesex County Trotting Series final, C$40,000 (added)